birmingham area vineyards + alabama wine

last year, i wrote a post about ozan vineyard down in calera, alabama just south of birmingham. since then, i've been able to visit two more alabama vineyards, so i thought i'd whip up a post on my thoughts and which to visit if you're in the central alabama area.

but more importantly... did you know that there's an alabama wine trail? um, yeah. that's a thing. we make wine here in alabama, if you can believe it.

i love visiting vineyards, attending tastings, trying unique wines... so my discovery of the alabama wine trail was totally necessary. i just got back from san francisco and a quick trip to napa valley with my family, which was a breathtaking, amazing experience. but, there's something comforting and fun about visiting vineyards in your own home state. does your state have a wine trail?

ozan vineyard

the vineyard in ozan rests on a truly beautiful property in calera, alabama, a quick drive down I-65 south from birmingham. if you purchase the full excursion, this includes a tour of the property, tasting of all their wines, and a train ride. yep. a train ride, y'all. for a simple, fun date or a daytrip, ozan is fantastic. i also happen to like their wines the best, as they're not as sweet as other alabama wines. 

morgan creek vineyard

morgan creek, in harpersville, al, is also a gorgeous, instagram worthy property that offers a tour and tastings of all their wines. what sets morgan creek apart? muscadines! all wine at morgan creek is made from the unique muscadine grape, which gives the wines a true southern twist. these are super sweet wines. even the driest is incredibly sweet. another thing that makes this place unique? you can grab a bucket and pick your own muscadines to take home!

i like morgan creek because it's near stone hollow farmstead. if you wanted to plan a wonderful day trip, head to a tasting at morgan creek, and then to stone hollow farm for a tour of the property and to sample some goat cheese. perfection.

vizzini farms vineyard

vizzini farms is a quaint winery in calera that boats a wonderful chardonnay and an array of dessert wines. the property is smaller, but fit for a lunch with friends and the bistro located inside. this spot is great for a wine tasting and quick lunch! i really enjoyed their chardonnay and tuxdeo junction dessert wine - chocolate and raspberry is always a great combo.


overall, my favorite is probably morgan creek vineyards, simply for the diversity of activities you can participate in and their proximity to other neat attractions like stone hollow. i liked ozan's wine the best, however, as muscadines aren't really my thing. when i'm ranking vineyards, i try to consider the entire experience you get, which includes a tour, the staff, the property, etc. - which is why despite the super sweet wines, morgan creek is what i reccomend.

honestly, though? all are day-trip worthy! i'm making it a mission to complete the alabama wine trail and visit every vineyard, and if you're a wine lover in alabama, you should too. i'll review as i go! cheers!

birmingham diaries: ozan winery & vineyard

after buying my tickets months ago, i finally ventured down to ozan winery & vineyards  in calera, alabama this weekend. who knew alabama had wineries? well, we do! there's even an alabama wine trail - yes, there are multiple vineyards & wineries - that you can follow. i don't know about you, but i'm putting completing the wine trail on my to do list!

ozan is a beautiful property that has a year-round growing season and plethora of wine options. we tasted 12 wines, paired with cheese, crackers & chocolate, then toured the vineyard property to take a look at the small grapes that were growing in - the norton grapes. there were 3 or so wines i really enjoyed, and i ended up purchasing a bottle of ozan's vidal blanc.

after the tasting, you're taken down to the railroad tracks, which run right next to the property, for a breezy ride on the historic shelby county railroad. we got into an open-air car and enjoyed the weather before returning to ozan. all in all, the weather couldn't have been more perfect, and the wine was fabulous.

if you live in birmingham & you haven't made it down here yet, i highly suggest you check it out! you can make reservations online for the tasting & train ride, or just drop in for a tasting. it's awonderful date idea or way to spend a saturday morning with friends. the norton grapes will be fully grown in august, and i want to go back later in the summer to check them out!

budget vino: 3 favorites under $10

happy wine wednesday! while splurging a little can yield some fantastic wine experiences, great bottles under $10 exist - and they're my favorites!

i actually happen to have one of these bottles prior to writing this post (true testament that it's my favorite, ok?) but i picked up some to photograph. poor me, right? all my favorite wines are just laying around my house now... life's tough.

this isn't wine spectator. i'm not going to talk about the notes or hints of honey/chocolate/baby's breath and how you should cleanse your palette. my tastes are relatively tame, and i find myself sticking more to whites than reds lately. maybe it's a phase? i am constantly trying new wines, but the following are the ones i find myself returning to over and over. prices are based upon my selection here in alabama. enjoy!

01. conosur pinot noir - $9 - this, my friends, is my all-time favorite pinot noir. well-rounded, simple, just barely sweet. if you're new to red wine, give this a try. it's a milder wine. #1 favorite.

02. cupcake prosecco - $10 - this prosecco is divine! delectably tart, slightly sweet, and oh so cheap. it's not too dry, and mixes perfectly for mimosas or other cocktails. i truly enjoy it alone, too! i've tried countless champagnes/proseccos, and this is, without a doubt, the best for the price.

03. beringer moscato - $6 - it doesn't get cheaper than this. moscato is the wine you start with, and it holds many fond memories for me. and even though it's akin to drinking apple juice, a chilled glass of moscato on a summer evening is refreshing and nostalgic. beringer's moscato is balanced - not too sweet, not to tart, but just right. at $6, does it really matter anyway?