Southern Vineyards: Chris Paulk examines muscadines at Paulk Vineyards in Wray, Georgia.
If you hit the Satilla Road in Wray, Georgia, you might find yourself driving past an uncommon sight for South Georgia. Instead of acres and acres of cotton and peanuts, you’re much more likely to see row upon row of grapevines.
The first muscadine vine, a native American grape, was planted on Paulk Farms in 1970. Paulk Vineyards now grows over 600 acres of muscadines and scuppernongs, making them the largest muscadine vineyard in the world. In 2017, they opened their winery after supplying fresh fruit and juice to wineries for almost half a century.
Fresh from the farm, seasonal muscadines, blackberries, and strawberries are available for u-pick or packaged ready to take home. While the strawberry season has ended, blackberries are available from May through July and muscadines from August through September.
Jorjanne Paulk says they are just carrying on the family tradition. “Papa Jacob started the pick-your-own out of their house years ago because so many folks locally were interested in purchasing muscadines.”
Winery: Visitors enjoy sampling a variety of wines at the Paulk Vineyards tasting rooms.
What’s always in season at Paulk Vineyards are their muscadine wine slushies and their family of muscadine wines.
Paulk’s tasting room features 17 varieties of wine, including 11 from the Paulk Vineyards collection made from authentic muscadines and fruits grown on the Paulk family farm or Georgia farms. The new Sweet Tree wines are created from muscadines and infused natural fruit flavors.
In the tasting room, visitors can also find a collection of Paulk Vineyards muscadine and scuppernong juices and jams, as well as other Georgia-made goodies. The tasting room is open year-round Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
At Paulk Vineyards, the calendar is packed full of events from flower arranging demonstrations and pouring your own candle to live music.
It’s “Blackberries and Bluegrass” on Saturday, June 26, when you can pick delicious blackberries and listen to music provided by The Blues Factor Duo.
On Labor Day weekend, you’ll also find Paulk Vineyards hosting the Georgia Muscadine Festival.
If you’re up for a unique perspective of the farm, you can even stay in their Airbnb “Yellow House in the Vineyards.”
Written By: Kathryn Murray