My hubby and I stopped into this winery on a whim and had the best time! For starters the winery is located on ten acres of beautiful green vines. There is a cute outdoor fireplace and seating area right as you turn in. The main tasting area is in a cute barn. The barn was warm and welcoming. Alease welcomed us with a smile and we felt right at home with her. My husband and I wanted to try all the wines so we ordered three flights to share. Each wine was so unique and fun! We took our flights outside to the patio and enjoyed the butterflies and breeze as we guessed what flavors were in each wine. My husband loved the winter spice, Georgia on my mind, and the bulldog red! We ended up buying multiple bottles to take home with us. After our tasting Alease talked to us and shared some of her favorite hiking spots. Everything was so wonderful here we will absolutely return! If you're in the area this winery is worth a visit. They also had a bin full of games for kids or groups to enjoy! read more

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So glad we stopped at this vineyard! It was so fun, local, cozy and the staff was so personable! There is a small barn to do the tasting with also an upstairs seating area. If you want to talk with the staff, you can do the tasting standing up at the bar area otherwise you can get tokens. You can drink a glass, wander around then turn in a token to get another. We all did flights of wine tastings and stayed at the bar. Super fun time and the pours were generous. It wasn't busy at all and they had live music upstairs. My favorites were the whites, as those are the grapes they grow on the property. The Vidal Blanc was delicious, wasn't too sweet or dry. I ended up buying a bottle and a Merlot off their library selection. Would definitely be back! read more

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Such a fun little vineyard! There were a good variety of dry and sweet wine options for tasting, and I really enjoyed getting to sample a few in their flight of four. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to spread out and enjoy your glass of wine. The patio is perfectly placed next to the rows of grapes, so you can sip while enjoying the view of the beautiful area. Also, the bartenders could not have been more helpful! They were so sweet and answered any questions we had. I'd love to come back here and pick up a couple more bottles! read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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We enjoyed our stop here, even though it was out of season and not much going on. A lot of this had to go with the host/server Rowe who acted like we were the only customers she had. Wait, we were the only customers she had at the time. Regardless, she made us feel important. The only building open was the tasting room, which had a roaring fire, plush seating and a host of beer, wine and gifts for sale. At the time of our visit, it was $15 for four one ounce samples and that was more than enough. We did three wine flights and everyone's favorite was different. Here is the favorites: Bee Loved - child #2 loved the sweet and syrupy flavor with an aromatic finish. Vidal Blanc - child #1 loved this for it taste, not too sweet, not too dry. Dawg Red - not made here, but important from another winery in Georgia. Son in law #1 liked this one. 2019 Cabernet - my wife, an experienced wine drinker loved it's dry texture and flavor hints. Winter Spice - no one listed this as a favorite, but they did not say it was bad either. After we tasted, Rose gave us some hints on places to see and dine, some of them really close by. My family thought her recommendations were spot on. read more

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it had been several years since we last visited this winery. First time we were disappointed in the wines, but decided to give them another try. We are frequent visitors of GA wineries and often recommend some our favorites to friends and people we meet at the various wineries. I can with out any hesitation say we will never visit this winery again. As it's been awhile since we were last at Cartecay we decided to pay for a sample of the top four reds and top four whites. we took one sip of each wine ... not a single wine was drinkable in our opinio. Reds had a vinegar taste and the whites, aside from being described as off dry were sappy sweet. we immediately returned the tasting to the hostess and explained how we felt about the wine. Clearly one sip was all we had. No apologies, no offer to try and make it right. Took the credit card we had on file, ran the charge of $32 for the tasting and that was it. No offer of trying to make it right. I get everyone has different flavor profiles on their wine preference, so Just basing our experience on on expectations of a winery. Decent, drinkable wine and engaing customer servic. read more

Beautiful views, comfortable setting and great wines. Elisa our host was fantasticLooking forward to seeing Tim O'Donovan perform this Saturday the Vinyard! read more

After apple picking in early September it was our intention to relax with a glass of wine at another one of those boutique Georgia highland vineyards. On our way to BJ Reece's we saw quite a few but in the interest of time (apparently they all close their doors at 6pm on a Saturday evening) we came back to Cartecay which is just a short 3 minute drive from BJ Reece's. I asked for a semi-sweet recommendation and enjoyed Scarlett. It was fruity and semi sweet. A good drinking wine to enjoy the crisp out doors and clear skies. It was good way to finish the day. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Cute winery with friendly staff. Even sold us firewood. I would recommend this place.

Covid-19 Visit While the gal behind the counter wasn't wearing a mask when we walked in, she happily complied when asked. Most of the patrons were ... but a good number weren't. I'm finding that a lot of people visit wineries as we've been doing -- a relatively safe way to spread out and enjoy the country during the pandemic. It's also interesting to sample what each winery produces. Caretcay offers four generous pours for $10 and the glass is yours to take home. T and I always split two tastings to maximize our samples. To be candid, I wasn't thrilled with Cartecay's wines. The reds were no go. Two whites weren't bad: Chimney White (somewhat like chardonnay) and Traminette (richer and a bit sweet.) A woman at a nearby table raved about the slushies, so we tried them too as part of our tasting. What I really enjoyed was the strawberry wine slushie, aptly described like a strawberry daquiri with a hint of chocolate. While the vineyard sells charcuterie, the owner doesn't mind if you bring outside food. That's a plus! But..... for some reason, there were hundreds of flies on the patio. (We picnic at every winery and never experienced this.) Perhaps it was our sandwiches, but women at a table without food experienced the same thing. At any rate, we had a lovely day particularly since so many nice friendly people were at the winery today. If you're making your rounds to the various vineyards, put Cartecay on your list. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Easy to spread out and eat your lunch - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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Cute little vineyard...great service and we really enjoyed the wine tasting. We didn't get to enjoy it, but they do have live music.

We have visited winery several times. This time it was our first stop in the North Ga Wine Tour. Good service, the wine is very good, and they usually have music and food truck. For sure recommend. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Obligatory wine glass post. - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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An enjoyable and pleasant location after a day of touring North Georgia! The wine, all dry, that we had was very good. A rock in their hammock was also fun! read more

This place is magical. We stopped in during our trip to Ellijay, and we had an amazing time. Terra was an absolute gem, and we had too much fun learning about the vineyard and about their different wines. We did a tasting and then took a stroll outside and upstairs for some spectacular views. Inside it is so cozy, and it gives you such a homey feel. Also, the area was super clean, and you can tell they upkeep the place very well. My favorites were their white wines and wine slush (thanks, Terra, for the recommendation!). If you are in the area, I suggest stopping by for some good wine and lovely views! read more

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Great atmosphere, casual with a touch of country class. Lots of places to sit back and enjoy the view of vineyards and rolling hills including fireplaces to keep warm during the winter months. But I must say, the wines we sampled left a little to be desired. Maybe it's the grape variety they use (Catawba) or maybe it's the soil and area, or processing, or all of the above, but I personally could not get past the medicinal notes within the 4 samples we tasted: Cab Sav, Sassy, Bee Loved, and Chimney White. Everyone's tastebuds are different and different foods and times of day for tasting bring out different notes, so don't shy away. Experience this small town hang out spot. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Games and folding tables and chairs upstairs. Nice view. - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

My Mom and I set this as our destination for the day and we enjoyed our time here. When coming down the road to this winery, you may see their signature standalone fireplace billowing smoke in the air which is a sight to see. We pulled up and found plenty of parking and great live music going. We stayed mainly for the tastings which were very good. Most of the wines tend to be on the sweet side and were all very tasty. Triminette was sweet but still fairly subtle. Sassy Sisters has a nice Apple bite but my favorite was the Christmas White which ended up being less sweet than everything else I had tried; a nice sipping white wine. My Mom enjoyed the Strawberry Wine Slushy which was also excellent. Check this place out if you're close by, worth the afternoon to sit outside and enjoy the live music and scenery. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - a glass of wine on a table - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Beautiful barn and really nice location. Loved the fireplace outside even though no one was sitting out there (really cold lol). No music playing until live entertainment came in ~ about 40 mins after we got there. The servers were ordinary, their smiles disappeared when you ask to taste wines. They do offer flights which we did get. Our whole group weren't happy with any of the wines we got, unfortunately. All the reds in the flight were a bit too funky and sweet with the same exact notes. We decided to drink whites instead and they all tasted very similar except for one that was extremely light that you couldn't taste any notes at all. Underwhelmed by this seasons wine. Cool location. Ok servers. Tasting wines before you commit is a MUST considering none of us truly enjoyed our full glasses, especially with funky notes like the ones they had to offer. read more

So cool, and I can't believe there is wine this good in Georgia. We got a semi-sweet wine and I could drink bottles! The out door seating area is awesome, with views of the grapevines. The indoor area is comfortable. There is sometimes music, there is even games inside. Also if wine is not your thing, there are sangria slushees and beer. They do have snacks but not a huge selection. Pretty awesome place! read more

Cartecay was so awesome to us! We had a small, intimate, bridal shower there and it was great! The manager was up front about what they could offer and they gave us great service. $10 flights with souvenir glasses, attentive and knowledgeable bar tenders, friendly... It kind of felt like we were at home. Full transparency, it felt slightly stiff and awkward when the owner showed up but I get it - he's probably tense because of the COVID insanity pervading us all in one way or another. The rest of the time it was very relaxed and seriously felt like we were at home...but didn't have to clean up. Bonus: She knows her stuff. I said what I liked and I literally liked every glass she suggested after hearing my likes. We left with bottles of wine, jam, and enjoyed flights and family! read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Had a great time at the winery. Tara was awesome and very friendly. Definitely worth the stop.

This is such a lovely vineyard/winery. Nice wines and great staff!! The musicians were amazing too(hush money). A must visit when you're in North Georgia. We will be back. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Patio with stage. - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

I visited last week during my mountain get away. Terra was my wine guide and she is amazing!!! She helped me to find the perfect bottle and she treated everyone there like family. I felt like I was among old friends and I returned with my bestie the next day. This is a great spot and I can't wait to return! Beautiful vineyard and great people. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Been here twice, both times the employees were VERY rude and the pours aren't the correct amount. I would NOT recommend going here, unless you want to kill your buzz. read more

Found Cartecay Vinyard while in North Georgia for my birthday trip with my husband. Cartecay did not disappoint. The wines we tasted were fantastic. Do not miss out on Bee Loved! Terra is very knowledgeable and friendly. She made the tasting more enjoyable. Stop in and taste some very nice wine and share a story with Terra. You will be happy you found them. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Bee Loved and Georgia on my mind are just 2 of our favorites. - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

This is the greatest amazing outstanding place to go for a wine tasting ! Terra was such a great help, she was understanding what we was looking for, great conversation starter and she explained so much! I truly would recommend this place out of every winery! read more

Cartecay Vineyards - BullDog Red wine - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Nice outside seating. They also have ciders on tap along with a selection of canned beers for none wine folks. I generally like white wines but I preferred the littler red here. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Nice friendly days gs to pet. - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Host was welcoming and friendly. We loved the outdoor seating areas. We did a tasting, $10 for 4 very generous tasting portions and you get to keep the glass. They have a variety of sweet and dry wines. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Outdoor seating with chimney red! - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

We had the best afternoon here. Yummy wines, beautiful and fun atmosphere, and the perfect spot for an outing during our girls' trip. Tara was knowledgeable and accommodating. If we're ever in the area again, we will for sure be back! read more

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Had a great time visiting the tasting barn on my fiancé's birthday. The wines were tasty and the ladies serving were friendly and recommended wines that turned out to be our favorites (we should've taken their advice sooner!). Try the Tramanette (spelling?). It was our fave! read more

Cartecay Vineyards - A bottle of Tramanette and the glass you get after a tasting! - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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UPDATE: Larry the owner responded. It was nice of him to take time out if his day to respond. He remarked about the dozen vendors at the festival, but my photo from when I attended shows about six. The vendors were nice. There just weren't very many. He also remarked about the souvenir "glass" but then described it as "plastic" so no, it's not a glass but a plastic cup. Nice try, though. Didn't respond to my observation about 90s angst music being an odd choice for a festival. And he referenced his wine winning gold medals, but I couldn't find which medals they'd won mentioned on their website. This gave me pause. Why didn't they proudly display who'd given them an award? A quick google search of "Cartecay Vineyards Awards" only yields results stating that they've won awards, but not when or from whom. Same thing with a search of "Cartecay Wine Awards." "Cartecay Medal" yielded an article (link below) stating: "Cartecay Vineyards' Chimney Blush recently received the highest award given for a Hybrid Grape Wine..[at] the Georgia Wine Trustees Wine Challenge." They also won other medals from the Georgia Wine Trustees, who only give awards for wines produced in Georgia. Cartecay has won awards for *Georgia* wines. For people who are into wine, this is an important distinction. Georgia isn't known as a wine-producing powerhouse. http://gilmer.fetchyournews.com/tag/cartecay-vineyard-wine/ ::::::: We attended the Cartecay Vineyards Crush Fest 2019. I don't think I would make a special trip to this place, but if you're in the area it's a pretty place to stop. First the positive: GREAT ATMOSPHERE The atmosphere was very nice. I could see having a bridal shower or getting engagement portraits made here. The upstairs of the tasting room was a very cute space that could be used for events (although it wouldn't be handicap accessible because there was no elevator). Now the negative: GARBAGE WINE Cartecay Wine is garbage. Let me be clear, I'm not a wine snob. I enjoy "two buck chuck" from Trader Joe's, but have also enjoyed higher end, buttery pinots. So I know the spectrum of wine. This tasted worse than the wine you can buy in a can from Trader Joe's. But at a pricepoint of $20+ per bottle, Cartecay Wine is a terrible value in addition to being complete garbage. If you'd like to experience the flavor of Cartecay without the drive, try this: Buy a bottle of Two Buck Chuck. The varietal doesn't really matter. Any bottle will do. Dilute the bottle with a little water, so the wine is flabby. Then, add a bit of vinegar to give it an unappealing, slightly off flavor. Viola! Cartecay Wine! PITIFUL SELECTION OF VENDORS The "festival" advertised vendors. There were only about SIX vendors. Not super impressive. ONE SLOW FOOD TRUCK The "festival" also had only ONE food truck with incredibly slow service, and that sold out of a lot of their food. The food was delicious, however, and the highlight of the trip. 90s ANGST MUSIC.. HUH? The live music was very good; however, the musician specialized in 90s angst songs. This took me back to high school, but something more *festive* and danceable would have been a more appropriate choice. NOT LIVING UP TO PROMISES I don't really care that we didn't get a souvenir GLASS, but the sign and advertisements said we'd get a glass. In reality it was a cheap, plastic cup. read more

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My family and I had a wonderful time here. Terra helped us pick out some fabulous wine! They have the best selection of locally made wines and the service is amazing! We will definitely be back! read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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Just walked out of this vineyard without doing a tasting. The lady working the counter with having to leave her dog in the car. When I asked about the restroom she said she had to go to but I can go first. There was no one else in the tasting room but rushed me along to make a decision about what I wanted to taste. I asked about grapes and she was so annoyed by my question. I walked out before she could even pour something. I'm so disappointed after having great experiences at other local wineries. read more

Stopped here after hiking Amicalola Falls and was instantly relaxing. The atmosphere is quaint and forced with the countryside. We had the cheese plate which was just enough for two people to share. Wine selection was excellent as well. Need to come back in the fall. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Cheese platter. Yum! - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Loved the atmosphere and the beautiful scenery! It was also kid friendly with toys and games inside and hammocks to enjoy outside by the vineyards. Only taking off one star because I wasn't particularly fond of the wines. Even the driest wines didn't seem very dry to me. Would definitely go back to relax outside and do another tasting. read more

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The staff are amazing and the wines are great as well. Definitely try the Lawman Red. read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Cartecay Vineyards is our most favorite spot in Ellijay - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

Great vineyard and tasting room. It's in an 1890s barn, so unassuming. Tasting was great had to buy 8 bottles. Make sure you go when Alease is working. She made us feel at home and was very knowledgeable about the wines. read more

Back for another visit. This time in the summer. Fabulous wine, fun place, nice people. This time I had a glass of Grummpy Granny Cider from Merciers Orchards. My friend had a glass of Vidal Blanc. We have been coming here for years. See you soon! read more

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Alease made the experience! She was fun, knowledgeable and very inviting. Nice ambience and the wine was delightful.

Elyse/Alyse was wonderful! A smiling face in a beautiful area! The barn is elegant and rustic and great to look at or the hammocks in trees, take a walk in the vineyards or enjoy a glass of wine under the lights. Great service and great atmosphere! I took home a bottle of the "Georgia on my mind" read more

Cartecay Vineyards - Back vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Ellijay, Georgia

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Very cute little winery. Their souvenirs are original and affordable. The staff was friendly and their tasting cups are bigger than other places. read more

This is a cute Vineyard to go to and very quaint. It's actually better to go when they have music upstairs or outside to enjoy the time and have more than just a tasting. It's also close to another Vineyard so if you're going to go Vineyard hopping this is a nice stop in between. read more