Georgia

Atlanta Is Finally Selling Local Georgia Wine

Published

1 year ago

August 26, 2024

Atlanta Is Finally Selling Local Georgia Wine

There is now a place to find locally made Georgia wine in the city.

Vine Fine Wine in Decatur is the first wine shop to stock the state’s wine. Earlier this February, Eater Atlanta sparked a discussion in the wine community about why Atlanta restaurants don’t serve Georgia wine. Since then, Cloudland Vineyards and Winery in Buford, Georgia, has landed three of its wines at the Decatur shop, including a Marsanne skin-contact white wine, a pet-nat bubbly made from chardonnay, and a red wine made with a local hybrid called lomanto. All are priced at around $30.

“It seemed like a no-brainer for us,” says Madeline Long, co-owner of Vine Fine Wine. “We have local sourdough crackers, local honey, local ceramics … it only seemed natural to extend that to wine.”

Long and her husband Sam Pilch opened the Decatur shop in April. Since then, Long says many people have inquired about local wine. The shop only takes on organic and sustainable farming wines, which is hard to find in Georgia. Cloudland Vineyards is one of the only wineries in the state making unfined and unfiltered, natural wines with some organic farming, bringing Georgia winemaking up to speed with modern times.

Quality and consumer demand are the biggest reasons why local wines don’t make an appearance in the city. The next reason is an information gap on distribution. According to the Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia, winemakers with a Georgia Farm Winery License may sell their wines directly to restaurants. A wholesaler license allows them to self-distribute in Georgia, eliminating the need for a distributor. This is a major missing piece of the puzzle for restaurant sommeliers and wine shop owners who believe they need a distributor to buy Georgia wine for their inventory.

North Georgia is an agritourism destination, from pumpkin patches and orchards to vineyards. Most of the sales from these farms happen by direct-to-consumer business, meaning visitors buy directly from the farms. Wineries with a wholesaler license can sell to Atlanta shops and restaurants, albeit taking a profit hit on wholesale price. But there are other benefits.

“Wholesale is a really good way of getting people interested in our product,” says Blessy Devasia, general manager and assistant winemaker at Cloudland Vineyards and Winery, which opened in 2020. “There aren’t enough Georgia wines on wine lists because there weren’t a lot of good Georgia wines out there that were worth being on the list.”

Devasia says that is changing. Sean Wilburn, owner and winemaker at Cloudland (formerly Chateau Elan and Biltmore), and Devasia have a minimal intervention and organic approach to winemaking in Georgia. The plots for the lomanto and villard blanc grapes are organically managed — which means they are sprayed minimally during the growing season with an organic spray to control disease pressure. The duo hopes the vineyard will become regenerative organic certified next year.

“People see Georgia wine and they run away,” says Devasia. “People say, ‘I tried a Georgia cab in the ’80s and it was terrible.’ And they never try a local wine again. We’ve come a long way from that. I want to create enough confidence where people can say, ‘Wow, they’re making some great wine.’”

As for the taste, Cloudland’s skin-contact Marsanne is the most unique of the lineup with a gold color and notes of orange peel, cantaloupe, nutmeg, honey, grilled apricots, and herbs. The pet-nat is the most easy-going and refreshing with notes of green apples, pears, and lemons.

“People are interested in trying new things and I think people want Georgia wine to succeed,” says Long. “If they’re up for it, I say give it a try, at the very least.”

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Related Topics:atlanta eater Featured finally front page Georgia is Local restaurant-news-business-food-industry selling wine

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Georgia

Georgia ‘super flu’ activity hits ‘extremely high’ levels: When to call 911

Published

8 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Georgia ‘super flu’ activity hits ‘extremely high’ levels: When to call 911

Got the flu? When should you call 911?

Georgia remains in the “extremely high” flu activity category, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even as some indicators show signs of leveling off nationwide.

ATLANTA – Georgia remains in the “extremely high” flu activity category, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even as some indicators show signs of leveling off nationwide.

Emergency crews in the Atlanta area say they’re feeling the impact firsthand, with a sharp spike in flu-related 911 calls.

Flu cases in Georgia

What we know:

EMTs and paramedics at American Medical Response in DeKalb County report handling more flu-related calls than usual this season.

“This is one of the most difficult flu seasons that I’ve seen in a long time,” said Israel Contreras, AMR EMS transformation and innovation manager in the South Region.

Contreras said crews in DeKalb are busier than last flu season.

“We had an increase of about 60% of flu-like symptoms, cause, that’s including, you know, whatever range of flu-like symptoms, fevers, headaches,” he said.

The surge in calls in DeKalb reflects broader trends reported by the CDC. In its latest report, the agency estimates at least 15 million people have gotten sick this season, resulting in 180,000 hospitalizations and 7,400 deaths.

While some indicators have decreased or remained stable this week, the CDC cautioned that it is too early to say whether the flu surge has peaked, noting that the holidays may have affected the numbers.

Super flu symptoms

What they’re saying:

In DeKalb County, Contreras said the increase in calls is straining resources.

“We have to be ready for any kind of emergency that’s happening and so when we have an increase of this nature, we get delayed because we tax the hospital. So now we’re delayed at the hospitals,” he said.

Contreras added that many flu-related calls are for non-emergencies that could be treated at home.

He urged residents to call 911 only for life-threatening situations, such as trouble breathing or chest pain, or if symptoms return with a high fever after initially improving.

“I’m not trying to discourage people from calling 911 when they feel like they have an actual life-threatening emergency. I just want people to evaluate whether they actually are having a life-threatening emergency,” he said.

The CDC also attributed the difficult season to a new variant, sometimes called the “super flu.” Doctors are urging everyone to get a flu shot to protect against severe complications and to stay home if they are sick.

Fighting influenza at home

What you can do:

Based on guidance from AMR and public health officials, DeKalb County encourages residents to:

Get vaccinated. Annual flu vaccines remain the most effective way to prevent severe illness. Residents at higher risk should also ask their healthcare provider about the pneumococcal vaccine.
Practice good hygiene. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue or your elbow to reduce the spread of airborne viruses.
Stay home when sick. Avoid exposing others by remaining home until symptoms improve.

When to call 911 for the flu

AMR advises residents to call 911 or seek emergency medical attention if they experience:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Chest pain or persistent pressure
Sudden dizziness, confusion, or severe weakness
Severe or prolonged vomiting
Flu symptoms that improve but then return with a high fever or worsening cough

The Source: The article cites data from the CDC and Georgia Department of Public Health, alongside an interview between Israel Contreras of AMR and FOX 5’s Tyler Fingert.

DeKalb CountyNewsHealthHealth Care

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Georgia

Meet the 30-somethings aiming to remake Georgia’s congressional delegation

Published

20 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Meet the 30-somethings aiming to remake Georgia’s congressional delegation

Politics

Midterm elections could bring a generational shift to Georgia’s delegation in Washington.

U.S House candidate Jim Kingston at an automotive construction site in Savannah, Ga., on Jan. 7, 2026. (Sarah Peacock for AJC)

The graying halls of Congress don’t usually evoke images of youthful ambition, but a record number of lawmakers are calling it quits in 2026.

And in Georgia, their replacements may look very different.

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Georgia State Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, is seen in the House of Representatives in Atlanta on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Savannah, served in the U.S. House for 11 terms, leaving to mount a failed U.S. Senate run in 2014. His son Jim is now seeking Jack’s old seat. (Curtis Compton/AJC)

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Pintail Inc. CEO/Owner Kevin Jackson Jr. shows U.S House candidate Jim Kingston around an automotive construction site in Savannah, Ga., on Jan. 7, 2026. (Sarah Peacock for AJC)

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From student government to the U.S. House?

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Georgia Rep. Houston Gaines, R-Athens, spoke at a rally titled “Make Athens Safer” at City Hall, Tuesday evening, March 5, 2024. (Nell Carroll for the AJC)

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A new normal?

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State Sen. Colton Moore, R-Trenton, who plans to run for the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, speaks to the news media at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/01/meet-the-30-somethings-aiming-to-remake-georgias-congressional-delegation/Adam Van Brimmer

Adam Van Brimmer is a journalist who covers politics and Coastal Georgia news for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Greg Bluestein is the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s chief political reporter. He is also an author, TV analyst and co-host of the Politically Georgia podcast.

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Georgia

Georgia politicians react along party lines to Minneapolis ICE officer shooting, killing US citizen

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Georgia politicians react along party lines to Minneapolis ICE officer shooting, killing US citizen

Local groups plan to protest around downtown Atlanta Thursday evening after a Minneapolis woman was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent this week. Reactions from Georgia politicians on the killing have been divided.

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