Tara Vineyard and Winery opened in 2007 and is located near Athens. We had to enter GPS coordinates from Google maps to get us in the right location. It seems like a lot of wineries are located on county roads and are very difficult to find the correct address on a GPS. Fortunately we discovered the Google maps coordinates tip mentioned in our first post.
Once we found the Tara Vineyard signs, we thought we were home free. However once we got to the entrance, the road forked and we were looking to the right at a beautiful house set among the blossoming vineyards. Perhaps there was a sign to the tasting room at the entrance, but being wowed by the house, we might have missed it. We took the road to the house but we didn’t see any signs. We noticed further up the road on a hill as it curved around and met the left road was another building so we decided to try that. Once there, we saw the words Tara on a side door (unable to be used) so we determined this must be the tasting room. Workers were setting up tables for an event on the patio and they helped direct us to the tasting room.
Misty greeted us in the tasting room complete with a small gift shop, and prepared what we were interested in tasting. Tasting is done standing at the bar and the bottles are corked with the pouring done from the bottles. There is a fee for the tasting for each wine although we did not know that when starting. We were asked if we wanted to do a tasting and we said sure. We noticed during the tasting a sign on the wall stating the tasting fee. Some other wineries inform you up front if there is a fee and if so, how many wines you can taste for that fee. Food is provided during the tasting.
While tasting, we learned the vineyards were Blanc du Bois and Black Spanish grapes. The winery also gets grapes from west Texas and some from California.
Misty also told us they were in the process of building a new tasting room and gave us a little tour of the bar in progress. It should look great when complete! Past the new bar area are some tables where you can eat tapas, and dinner is served at 6:00pm and 8:00pm.
We learned the beautiful house in the vineyards is where the owners live and also where the bed and breakfast is located. While being told about the house, co-owner and vintner Patrick Pearce walked by and said hello. Misty said they have music events on Friday nights where Patrick performs.
Patrick also gives tours on Saturdays. We would have enjoyed a tour but unfortunately the timing was wrong.
As we previously said, an event was being set up and while we were doing our tasting, a charter bus pulled up with a load of people for a party on the patio. In addition to parties, weddings are also held at the winery.
Tara Vineyard and Winery would make a nice visit for anybody and it is on the Piney Woods Wine Trail.
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