As North Georgia continues to welcome both wineries and breweries to the scene, there’s a lot more than libations to enjoy at tasting rooms across the map. These places invite groups to gather with an array of entertainment for guests of all ages. So, if you’re 21 and up, raise a toast, indeed—and plan for a fun-filled day the whole family can enjoy at a few of our favorite spots.
BUCKLEY VINEYARDS
A relative newcomer to the Ellijay vineyard scene, Buckley brings a modern farmhouse feel with a nod to nostalgia. (The vintage turquoise truck parked out front is fun for photo ops!) The tasting room opens up to a spacious covered pavilion, replete with a stacked stone fireplace and flat-screen TVs for all the sports fans in your group. There’s a selection of board games inside and a terraced patio outside with cornhole, fire pits and picnic tables for large parties. Favorite wines include the Classy Coco Chardonnay and The Frank Cabernet Sauvignon, plus Georgia craft beer, wine slushies and cider on tap. On weekends, you’ll find a food truck, and the venue is launching its first amphitheater concert series this summer. There are also two creek-side cabins onsite. 708 Henry Evans Road, Ellijay, 706-972-2080, buckleyvineyards.com
CARTECAY RIVER BREWING
Situated inconspicuously between Hwy 515 and the historic downtown district, this brewery claims a coveted spot on the Cartecay River, just south of where it meets the Ellijay. An outdoor deck and Beer Garden overlooking the water offers cornhole and, on weekends, live music and food trucks, while inside you’ll find games galore—Jenga, darts, arcade games and more. An extensive beer list, from seltzers and sours to pale ales and porters, ensures all the adults in your party can find something to suit their tastes. Bonus: It’s both family- and pet-friendly. 26 River Terrace, Ellijay, 706-395-8935, cartecayriverbrewing.com
CENITA WINERY
Farming has been in Greg and Carol Crumbley’s family for four generations, so it’s only natural their farm winery would make our list of family-friendly favorites. Perched on a hill overlooking the picturesque property, the tasting room offers sweeping views of the vines (planted on the family’s first dairy) and surrounding mountain views. There’s a playground to keep your little tagalongs entertained while you enjoy a glass of Chardonnay or Chambourcin on the expansive lawn, where you’ll find picnic tables, cozy seating clusters, a firepit and even hammocks. Along with estate-grown wines, you’ll also find offerings from Currahee Vineyards, as well as wine slushies and snack plates. A four-bedroom lodge onsite allows the whole family to enjoy a weekend on the farm. 591 Dock Dorsey Road, Cleveland, 706-8657478, cenitawinery.com
FAINTING GOAT VINEYARDS
There’s nothing more delightful on a family outing than finding a few farm animals, and Fainting Goat’s namesake four-legged friends do not disappoint. The vineyard is home to four fainting goats—Ronnie, Reagan, Dollie and Mamie—and two protective Great Pyrenes dogs, Teddy and Rosie. Inside the two-story, lodge-like tasting room is an air of sophistication, but outside, it’s casual and playful, with an expansive lawn overlooking Burnt Mountain where you can spread a picnic, stretch your legs, or simply watch the animals playing in their pen. A sunset concert series features live music outside every Friday night through Labor Day weekend, and mark your calendar for Winestock, a bohemian music fest with hippie band Flying Oatsmen on July 17. There’s also a Picnic in the Vines experience, which includes a catered basket from nearby 61 Main restaurant. 201 Vineyard Way, Jasper, 706-692-9463, faintinggoatvineyardsandwinery.com
FREEDOM BREW & SHINE
There’s truly something for everyone at Freedom Mill, a premier indoor recreation center with 34,000 square feet of family fun. Housed in a historic feed mill in Cumming’s Coal Mountain neighborhood, the brewery and distillery is the venue’s newest attraction, which opened in October 2021. While adults sample craft beer and frozen beverages in the taproom, visitors over the age of 12 can enjoy axe throwing (a great team-building activity for groups or date night) and kids of all ages can hit up the arcade, with 35 games from Big Buck Hunter to mini bowling. Check the website for events like trivia night and live music, plus a schedule of food trucks on weekends. There’s also a store, which does, in fact, still sell feed, and a gun range, though plan for that on another day—patrons at the taproom may not enter the range. 2730 Spot Road, Cumming, 770-887-5200, freedombrewandshine.com
JEKYLL BREWING
A brewery and full-service restaurant all in one, Jekyll will keep your crew happy by the simple fact that they’ll be well-fed. But that’s not the only draw to this family-friendly gem. The two-story brick building in Alpharetta City Center houses the brewing operations on the bottom floor and a lively rooftop bar up above. There’s restaurant seating on both levels, but we love the top floor for its show-stopping centerpiece—an actual Airstream that serves as the bar area. Get your brew to go if your crew wants to play cornhole on the adjacent lawn, cool off in the splash pad, or stroll the shops of City Center. (The Hop Dang Diggity IPA is a crowd favorite, and there are signature cocktails, too!) Or snag a table to enjoy pub fare with a coastal flare. And if it’s not past bedtime, hang around for live music at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. 15 Academy St., Ste. 1E, Alpharetta, 470-273-5932, jekyllbrewing.com
PAINTED HORSE WINERY & VINEYARD
There’s no shortage of fun at this full working farm in the heart of Milton, where the animals are animated and the wine is divine. Bring a picnic to enjoy outside the tasting room in a grove of trees strung with large bulb lights. If you’re lucky, you’ll spy the winery’s resident cow playing a game of chase with the dog and the donkey in the arena down the hill. Stroll around the grounds with a glass of wine (we recommend the Spice Girl Shiraz or the Juliette Rose), say hello to the horses in the onsite stables, or play a game of horseshoes with your crew. There’s also a stage for live music and a regular schedule of events like farm tours and wine & cheese pairings. Visit the website for upcoming dates. 2105 Bethany Way, Milton, 770-8461559, thepaintedhorsewinery.com
REFORMATION BREWERY
There’s nothing more delightful on a family outing than finding a few farm animals, and Fainting Goat’s namesake four-legged friends do not disappoint. The vineyard is home to four fainting goats—Ronnie, Reagan, Dollie and Mamie—and two protective Great Pyrenes dogs, Teddy and Rosie. Inside the two-story, lodge-like tasting room is an air of sophistication, but outside, it’s casual and playful, with an expansive lawn overlooking Burnt Mountain where you can spread a picnic, stretch your legs, or simply watch the animals playing in their pen. A sunset Overlooking The Mill on Etowah, Reformation’s Canton location is a hot spot for family fun. The industrial-style space is stocked with board games and outdoor recreation such as cornhole and ping pong, plus food trucks and events like trivia nights and music bingo. Not only does Reformation host its own events, but patrons can enjoy all the summer fun The Mill has to offer, including Tuesday Markets with local vendors, family movie nights, and Braves games on the big screen, plus a slew of shops and restaurants. Make a day of it by booking a tube or kayak trip with Nomadic Flow Outfitters, a 14-mile float down the Etowah River that deposits you right at the brewery. Beers on tap change each season, but the Alani wine-inspired sour ale is a go-to in summer heat. 225 Reformation Pkwy., Ste. 500, 678-341-0828, canton.reformationbrewery.com
