FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 25, 2011

10TH YEAR FOR GEORGIA WINE COUNTRY FESTIVAL

To celebrate its 10th year of operation, the Georgia Wine Country Festival has expanded its activities this year from one weekend in June into an event filling the first three weekend in the month.

Doug and Sharon Paul, owners of Three Sisters Vineyards & Winery in Lumpkin County, said their venue's signature event will take place the weekends of Saturday and Sunday, June 4-5, June 11-12 and June 18-19. Scheduled on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sundays from 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m.. the event will  feature fine wine, great food, music and art.

For this year's festival, the Pauls are saying a special "thank you" for the support they've received over the years at Dahlonega/Lumpkin County's original wine festival by offering free general admission to the event.

Following are some of the anticipated highlights for this year's festival:

* A "Georgia Wine Garden" will be presented at a $20 fee to visitors and will include a keepsake wine glass. Wines from around the entire state of Georgia will be featured with participating wineries expected to include Boutier Winery, Danielsville; Chateau Elan, Braselton; Georgia Wines, Ringgold; Horse Creek Winery, Nashville; Warm Springs Winery, Warm Springs; and Three Sisters Vineyards, Chestatee, Walasiyi Wine Company, and Fat Boy wines from Dahlonega, and perhaps even more.

* Three Sisters'184-acre vineyard grounds will also house tents of folk art, handmade items, travel and culinary, resorts and accommodations, real estate, local honey, promotional and farm exhibits, and many others involved in the active lifestyle of Georgia Wine Country. PAWS (The Pet Adoption and Welfare Society) will be raising awareness and donations during the event (see www.facebook.com/pawsdahlonega for more information).

* Food will play a major role during the weekend, with items from Smokin Gold BBQ of Dahlonega,  It's About Time Catering (Kathy and Sonny Goodwin, formerly of Renee's of Dahlonega, and The Fudge Factory of Dahlonega.

* The unique musical entertainment during the festival will be provided by Nashville musicians Eric Brace and Peter Cooper on June 18; the Route 66 Band from Charlotte, N. C., on June 4-5; the Mossy Creek Gypsies featuring North Georgia musicians Jimmy Wooten, Marty Nix, Tom Ryan and friends on June 11-12; and Dahlonega/Lumpkin County's Buzzard Mountain Boys (JimBob White and JoeBob Matteson) on June 4, 5 and 19.

* John "Cornbread" Anderson, nationally renowned as one of the fresh new folk artists to come from the North Georgia mountains, will be a special guest during the kickoff weekend on June 4-5 and will have original works of art for sale.

Serving as sponsors of this year's festival are Lily Creek Lodge of Dahlonega (www.lilycreeklodge.com)  and the Georgia Wine Council (www.GeorgiaWineCouncil.org). The festival will be presented "rain or shine" under vineyard tents. Visit www.ThreeSistersVineyards.com for more information, including directions to the site and detailed information about performers and other participants.