Roo Mountain Vineyards, Ellijay, GA

This is a part of our Winery Down Wednesday series, a simple way to discover a new winery every Wednesday with a casual write-up directly from me, Orson Hall (owner of Wine Tours by Design).

One of the favorite wineries for my clients is Roo Mountain Vineyards, just 10 minutes north of Ellijay. Wine and cider aficionados have flocked to Roo Mountain and its open-air tasting room. It’s very impressive, not just the ambiance but they have some nice wines as well. My favorite is their pricy Merlot, but a glass of Merlot won’t break the bank. Their hard ciders are also popular.

The name Roo comes from Rooster. The rooster was a symbol of good fortune and the start of a new day for the Cherokee Indians who once had rights to the property.

The owners, Michelle Raffaele and her partner Shawn Scott, built and operate Roo Mountain. They purchased the land in 2018 and invested some serious money in this winery, and you can tell. It has a breathtaking view with only a farm below and neither a subdivision nor cell-phone tower in sight. They have wonderful sunsets, and the view is spectacular in the fall.

The winery is in Gilmer County on Cowpen Mountain, the highest peak in the Cohutta Wilderness Area, 4,151 feet above sea level. They have a rooftop tasting area with a room downstairs for special occasions. On their rooftop tasting area, the wine is served out of casks instead of bottles. They recently opened an indoor/outdoor tasting and event center adjacent to the Rooftop. It’s beautiful.

With its cleared frontage on Old Flat Creek Road, the couple knew the property would be ideal for a vineyard. With the advice and help of a viticulturist out of Texas, they developed the vineyards right the first time around. They currently grow four varieties of grapes - Petite Verdot, Merlot, Petite Manseng and Chambourcin.

They are not family-friendly since you can’t bring your kids, so they get some blow back on that restriction. For those who don’t have children or can find a trusted babysitter, this is a winery to experience. The winery is also dog-friendly, but only for leashed, well-behaved dogs and on their patios. Dogs are not permitted at ticketed events.

Address and contact information:

1493 Old Flat Branch Road
Ellijay GA 30540
(706) 502-3935
https://roomountainvineyards.com