Things to do / Travel Guide
There are a few excellent wineries scattered around the Georgia and South Carolina coast region. Most of these wineries specialize in Muscadine wines from the Muscadine grape, a local variety native to and cultivated only in the South, of which there are white, black, and red varieties. Cultivation of this special grape for the sake of wine dates back to the Spanish of 16th-century St. Augustine, Florida. Muscadines grow all over the southeast, from Florida to North Carolina.
Wineries in Georgia
Meinhardt Vineyards and Winery in Statesboro, Georgia, specializes in Muscadine wines. They offer semi-sweet, sweet, and off-dry Southern Red Muscadine, with many different blends and variations. Of course, you come here for the wines; but if these beautiful Georgian vineyards - viewed at sunset, no less - don't have you planning your return trip, nothing will.
Wineries in South Carolina
Island Winery on Hilton Head Island was started by professional winemaker Dr. Georgene Mortimer. The winery features both Carolina specialty wines made with local fresh fruits and more traditional whites and reds. Their Praline Honey Wine is made from Georgia Tupelo honey and infused with praline flavors, this unique dessert wine won a silver medal at the 2006 HHI International Competition. Another silver medal winner from this same competition was for their Sangiovese; they used premium Napa Valley grapes and aged the Italian Chianti in American Oak for 10 months, giving this fine wine ripe cherry aromas and a perfectly balanced oak.
On “Charleston's back porch,” Wadmalaw Island, lies the Irvin-House Vineyards. This winery also specializes in Muscadine wines; there are four different varieties of the grape that are used to produce five different kinds of wine. These range from semi-dry to regular sweet, and include both white and red.
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