Hickory Hill Vineyards
As the oldest commercial vineyard and winery at Smith Mountain Lake, a visit to Hickory Hill Vineyards is a must. The Furrows first planted vines in 1984 and opened the winery in 2001. With that first commercial vintage, Hickory Hill wines began earning medals of excellence in wine competitions with nearly 100 to date. A visit to Hickory Hill can include a tasting of their popular “Lake series” of blended wines made in a lighter, more fruit-forward style. For those preferring more traditional, drier wines, you will not want to miss the vintage, estate-grown, award-winning Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2005 The Furrows started the summer music series Sunset Saturday which features local musicians.
Author: Caroline Porsiel
Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.
