Lumpkin County's First Vineyard & Farm Winery
Three Sisters Vineyards' property is located in the Frogtown community of Lumpkin County in the Chestatee River Valley. High elevation farming is 1800 feet above sea level. We believe it is the "perfect place" to grow a wide variety of winegrapes. Purchased in 1995, we laid out our dream vineyard, cleared a few trees and fences from the pasture land, ordered vines and planted in the spring of 1998. We took our fist harvest in 2000. Sharon's brother Ken VanDusen joined the family business in 1996 and acts as Vineyard Manager. Pictured are Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, Tommy Irvin planting the "ceremonial first vine" with Sharon and Doug Paul on May 1, 1998. Three Sisters is proudly Lumpkin County's very first vineyard & farm winery since prohibition times.

Planting
Three Sisters Vineyards has planted over 13,000 premium wine grape vines (vitis vinifera, French-American and Native American varietals) covering twenty-plus acres or organized vineyard space. It took us a few years to plan, clear a few trees and fences, research and order vines to establish this high elevation vineyard. The 184 acre farm features Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Touriga, and 3 distinctive clones of Chardonnay-as well as the French-American hybrid, Vidal Blanc and the East Coast's popular Native American varietal Cynthiana-Norton. Planted in the spring of 1998, most of the vines are in six to seven by ten foot row spacings. Three Sisters uses several different trellis systems-including VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioning) for the European varietals and GDC (Geneva Double Curtain) on an 8 x 12 spacing for the American varietals.