Before I went to Doghobble Wine Farm, I was apathetic about wine. I would enjoy a glass with friends and family if there was an open bottle, but immediately go back to my comfort zone of cocktails and the occasional beer. I tended to avoid wineries, but Doghobble feels like something completely different.
15 minutes from downtown Dahlonega, Doghobble sits right along the Dahlonega Wine Highway. As I arrived on the wine farm, I was greeted by the first of Doghobble’s many unique features: a massive outdoor pavilion that overlooks the watershed on the wine farm’s 80-acre property. This is the first of two tasting spaces the farm has constructed, the second being a farmhouse with an indoor tasting room that the folks at Doghobble said would be ready for guests in early 2025. Walking past the wine counter, I saw a pasture full of goats, sheep, donkeys, and alpacas. I took my glass of Doghobble’s Lenoir, a full-bodied red, and went over to pet as many of the animals as I possibly could.
The animals aren’t the only friendly faces at Doghobble, though. The staff at Doghobble are kind and knowledgeable, and helped me find a wine that would cater best to my palette. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or someone trying to find your perfect glass, I’d recommend starting with a wine flight: five tastes of different wines that let you find your favorite without breaking the bank…or your liver. Since I tend to go for darker, more bittersweet flavors, I went for the red flight. The Saros stood out as my favorite, with its notes of stone fruit and soft spice. If reds aren’t your thing, there are white wine and sweet wine flights, as well as a wine slushie! The whole menu at Doghobble felt tailor-made for me, allowing a newcomer to the wine world to feel at ease.
That sense of welcoming is one I felt frequently from the Doghobble team, who work hard to foster a sense of community on the wine farm. The owner told me that many of the staff live on the property, in homes set further into the watershed. He also does a lot to give artists and artisans a place to share, hosting everyone from authors to jazz bands to professional chefs. That is what sets Doghobble apart: they’ve created their own community, and you’re welcome to join anytime.
