Gary Engel grew up on a farm in South Alabama. After serving 27 years in the Army, Colonel Engel knew he wanted to retire to the mountains and return to his farming roots. In 2007, Gary and Jan Engel decided to purchase the land that is now known as Engelheim (German for “Angel Home”). The Engel family planted their first vines in 2009 and harvested their first vintage in 2011. In 2014, they opened their Bavarian-style tasting room. In 2020, Engelheim broke ground to build our 12,000-square-foot event center, Venue in the Vines. In June 2022, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held and the much-anticipated grand opening was held. We look forward to hosting weddings, corporate events, and more!

Our dream also focuses on building a sustainable future for our family through Engelheim. Our family venture has rewarded them with maintaining a focus on strong Christian values and the gift of seeing firsthand how God provides our grapes. We give all thanks to God for allowing him to take care of this piece of His beautiful world and to live in harmony with his perfect plan. We truly are living the dream at Engelheim Vineyards.

Our tasting room is open 7 days a week from 12:30 - 6:00 PM. 

Starting March 29, 2024 we will have live music Friday nights and stay open until 7:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays into the fall season.

We are a family-friendly vineyard that welcomes children and dogs. We kindly request that children be kept under strict adult supervision. A busy day in the winery means many breakable wine glasses nearby! If your children do accompany you into the tasting room, be cognizant of breakable items, noise level, running, dogs, and other guests. We want everyone who visits to enjoy their day to the same level as you.

Socialized and well-behaved dogs are welcome and must be leashed at all times and picked up after. We do not have a way to best determine your pet's demeanor, therefore, the responsibility, care, custody, and control of all pets is the owner’s responsibility. A friendly, foxy-looking duo named Coco and Mitzy belong to the owners, Gary and Jan Engel. A newly added member of the Engelheim Vineyards family is a low-rider, wrinkly, playful Basset Hound mix named Cindy Sue. They are often on-site at the vineyard and occasionally come to say hello!

The Engel Family, our staff, and other visiting guests appreciate your understanding and cooperation in contributing to an enjoyable wine experience for all.

*Exceptions may be made by staff based on knowledge of the temperament of the dog.

Yes, you may bring your own food but it must be eaten outside or on our deck.  We do serve snacks and charcuterie boards in the tasting room.

Yes, we have live music on Saturdays & Sundays from 1:30-5:30 (unless unforeseen circumstances require cancelation).

A general rule of thumb for wine-tasting techniques is to use the 5 S's of Wine: See, Swirl, Smell, Sip, and Savor.

These five simple steps will help you taste wine like a sommelier, so you can get to know your palate and discover new wines you love.

Want to learn more? Here is an in-depth blog post on wine tasting from a  Level 3 certified wine educator: https://www.lexiswinelist.com/blog/how-to-wine-taste

• Sweetness
• Acidity
• Tannin
• Alcohol
• Body

Engelheim is home to over 20+ awards for our outstanding lineup of wines including many double gold and silver medals from the largest competition of American wines, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. On top of our various prestigious awards, we are honored to have received the “2018 Georgia Winery of the Year", and "Best Georgia Grown Wine" in 2020 for our Petite Manseng and in 2021 for our red blend Doxology. At Engelheim we not only put our backbone into our wines but also our heart and soul. We absolutely love what we do and that reflects within the quality of our wines and our track record of awards.

Most recent awards:

“Best Georgia Red Wine” 2016 Merlot Reserve by the Georgia Trustees Wine Competition

Gold

Engel Weiss 

Merlot 2016

Hummingbird 

Doxology  

Silver

Petit Manseng 

Chardonel

Absolutely! Our brand new event center, Venue in the Vines, is now available to book for weddings and other private events. We have several dates open for 2024 and beyond. If you’re interested in learning more, please visit: www.thevenueinthevines.com

Looking for a great trail near Ellijay, Georgia? AllTrails.com has 19 great hiking trails, running trails, forest trails, and more, with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers, and nature lovers like you. If you're looking for the best trails around Amicalola Falls State Park or Fort Mountain State Park, we've got you covered. You'll also find some great local park options, like Blue Ridge Wildlife Management Area or Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. Ready for some activity? There are 13 moderate trails in Ellijay ranging from 1 to 11.7 miles and from 1,145 to 3,772 feet above sea level. Start checking them out and you'll be out on the trail in no time!

Additional Area Information

If you’re looking to plan a relaxing weekend and visit Engelheim Vineyards, there are many options available to you. The mountains offer cozy cabins for two or the whole family! Check them out at Blue Sky Cabins and Morning Breeze Cabin Rentals. Wanting to be a little closer to nature, you can book a geodesic dome with North Georgia Glamping and or a luxury airstream through Stay Sublime. However you choose to stay, you will get to experience everything Engelheim and North Georgia have to offer.

We are also a part of Harvest Host.  Visit their site to learn more!