For the first trip of my #Take12Trips Challenge, my husband Ryan and I wanted an easy getaway from Atlanta. As is most often the case with us, we decided to head to the mountains and check out some vineyards. This time, we made our way up to Clayton, Georgia to try out Tiger Mountain Vineyards and Stonewall Creek Vineyards. Wineries? In Georgia? Yes, and you can check out reviews for the other vineyards we’ve visited here. The vineyards were great, but our favorite part of our weekend ended up being where we stayed – The Beechwood Inn, a luxurious Georgia mountain bed & breakfast with the most amazing chefs!
Tiger Mountain Vineyards
Located in the small town of Tiger, Georgia, Tiger Mountain Vineyards produces red and white wines from 100% Georgia-grown grapes in Rabun County. The vineyard was started in 1995 on a five-generation-old family farm. Tiger Mountain Vineyards grows six French vinifera varieties: Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Mourvedre, Petit Manseng, Tannat, and Viognier, as well as the Portuguese Touriga Nacional. In addition to the European varieties, they also grow the American Norton grape, native to Virginia.
Stop by their tasting room to try their 10 wines and enjoy a weekend lunch at their Red Barn Café. Tiger Mountain Vineyards is open year round, but we especially love visiting in the fall when you can enjoy the beautiful mountain views and changing leaves. Make sure you plan for time to stroll around the vines and take in the gorgeous scenery. There’s nothing more relaxing!
[Photos by Tiger Mountain Vineyards since it was a dreary winter day.]
Stonewall Creek Vineyards
Unfortunately for us, Stonewall Creek is currently closed for the season, so we didn’t get to enjoy it again on this trip. If you’re headed to the area though, you should definitely drop by. We love visiting them as well! They re-open for the season in March, and you can find more information here.
[Photo by Stonewall Creek.]
The Beechwood Inn
Every year, especially in the fall, we’re asked to recommend our favorite places to stay in the North Georgia mountains and in wine country. The problem: when we go, we’re usually staying with family or in a large cabin with lots of friends. That is neither romantic, intimate, nor unique. Up until now, we haven’t had a recommendation for a wonderful inn or small bed and breakfast. Friends, that has changed! This time, we found a place to stay!
The Beechwood Inn is in Clayton, Georgia, just under two hours north of Atlanta. It’s nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains and right along Tallulah Gorge State Park.
The 100 year old Beechwood Inn was so welcoming on a cold winter day!
The Atmosphere
The Beechwood Inn turns 100 this year, and its antique characteristics are present in the original wood floors and cozy fireplaces. We were pleasantly surprised by the decor. It had a rustic feel, and while it was filled with antiques, it wasn’t frilly, nor was it mountain-kitsch. It felt historically authentic.
Our room was spacious and comfortable. The fireplace, which operates on a timer so that you don’t have to worry about it, was a wonderful luxury to fall asleep next to. The king bed was incredibly plush, making it difficult to leave the next morning. I could have slept all day, but breakfast was waiting on us.
It doesn’t get any cozier than a fireplace!
The Food
Yes, let’s talk about the food! As soon as we saw that the owners, Gayle and David, went to culinary school in Dijon, France, we couldn’t contain our excitement! Having just recently returned from Burgundy, we were ready for an amazing meal! Every Saturday night, the Beechwood Inn throws an amazing six-course meal. Below is our menu from our trip:
Menu
Wine-Thirty: Local Fennel Sausage Crostini
with Beechwood Inn Wine
Appetizer: Gnocchi Souffles with Parmesan Cream with Fresh Herbs
with Vero Rosso Salento, Puglia, Italy
Salad: Local Sausage, Fresh Local Cheese, Candied Pecans, Organic Micro-Greens, Aged Sherry Vinaigrette
Entree: Pan Seared Steel Head Trout with White Wine Shallot-Caper Sauce, Charleston Gold Laurel Aged Rice, Steamed Roasted Winter Vegetables
with 2010 Colene Clemons Margo, Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains
Vini da Meditazione: Aged Gouda Cheese, Mugolio Pine Cone Bud Syrup
with 2012 Nardone Aglianico, Campania, Italy
Dessert: Gayle’s Molton Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Cream, Fresh Brewed Coffee and Herb Teas
Ryan and I live in Decatur, a wonderful location for Atlanta restaurants, and we make it a point to try new and exciting places. In that sense, we are very much spoiled. We also plan most of our trips abroad around eating, so trust me on this next part. This was quite possibly the best meal that we have ever had. It was, by far, the most well thought out meal that we have ever been served. Between each course, David walked us all through the ingredients. We learned about the local farmers who grew the micro-greens in our salad and raised the pigs for the house-made fennel sausage; we even learned the history of Laurel-Aged Charleston Gold Rice. Each wine pairing was excellent, and David explained their characteristics, their regions of origin, and the best way to taste our glass of Italian Nardone when paired with our cheese course. We shared a table with another couple, and they were equally impressed with such a fine dining experience outside of the city. While each description was mouth-watering, each bite was even more delicious.
Our Pan Seared Steel Head Trout with White Wine Shallot-Caper Sauce, Charleston Gold Laurel Aged Rice, Steamed Roasted Winter Vegetables
We brought home the 2012 Nardone Aglianico and the pine cone syrup from the Dolomite mountain region of Italy.
Breakfast was very impressive in its own right.
The Well-Deserved Awards
A Friend Afar calls this their “new favorite mountain home.” Ok, but seriously, you don’t have to take my word for it, even though food is my favorite. Here’s what everyone else is saying:
2007 – 2015: Wine Spectator Award of Excellence – The Beechwood Inn is consistently honored for having one of the most outstanding wine lists in a restaurant in the world.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine placed Beechwood Inn in the Top 5 Destinations “for your next wine and food-focused escape.” We agree, and we love how accessible it is from Atlanta.
The Honest Company names Beechwood Inn as one of the top Romantic and Eco-Friendly Destinations in the United States. Five acres of the property is designated as a bird sanctuary, and the Inn’s habitat is certified by the National Wildlife Federation’s worldwide network as a mini-refuge. How cool is that?!?
Atlanta Magazine named Beechwood Inn one of the Top 4 Cozy Inns in the South
They are also a member of Select Registry – Distinguished Inns of North America, which is comprised of the 400 finest Country Inns, Luxury B & B’s and Unique Small Hotels. As a member of Select Registry, Beechwood Inn is acknowledged to be one of the Best Bed and Breakfast Inns in North Georgia.
Thinking about a weekend getaway from Atlanta?
Pining for a cozy mountain retreat or a great home base for visiting multiple North Georgia vineyards? What are you waiting for? This is the best place we’ve seen! Sorry Mom, but I’ll be staying with David and Gayle at the Beechwood Inn the next time I come visit! I’ll treat you to dinner.
[Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. The Beechwood Inn gave us a free night’s stay, but all opinions posted here are our own. We really loved it and plan on visiting again soon!]
Nice article on Beechwood Inn. My wife and I (also Decatur residents) have stayed there 5 times now over the past several years. Every visit has been amazing. We usually stay 2 nights and incorporate long hikes, local shopping and vineyards to our stay. The meals are always exceptional. And while I wouldn’t consider myself a knowledgeable wine taster, David has always provided the knowledge I need during his descriptions. And his “tales” are usually quite good especially as he drinks more wine.
And as much as I always enjoy their Saturday evening meals, the breakfast, coffee and juice are right near my favorite part of Beechwood Inn.
Thank you so much, Ken. We absolutely loved it, and really enjoyed learning about our meals and the wine. Maybe we’ll see you there soon!