A Taste of Wine Country in Georgia

Offering a sense of home with their homegrown wine, visitors can enjoy a piece of vineyeard heaven one sip at a time at Hightower Creek Vineyards in Hiawassee, Ga., Liz Green, owner of Hightower Creek Vineyards, said the idea of owning a vineyard has always seemed fun and adventurous to her and her husband.

Their love of wine led to her husband making his own in their basement.

“My husband has always wanted to farm and we have loved visiting wineries around the country. Starting our own winery seemed like a lot of fun,” Green said.

Hightower Creek Vineyard has seven signature wines made on site, ranging from sweet reds to tart whites. It's made from 3,200 vines with seven different varieties of grapes.

Green stressed the unique aspect of her vineyard is it's a winery based off of family values. “We want to give [our visitors] a sense of coming home and sitting on the front porch with a glass of wine,” Green explained. “It’s a family business. I’m the manager of the wine tasting, my husband is the manager of the vineyard, my daughter does [public relations] for us, and my son helps make the wine.”

Guests can take their glasses and enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a deck attached to the winery.

“The deck has picnic tables and chairs where [visitors] can take their wine and eat a nice lunch. We also have picnic tables on the premises. [The winery] has a park-like setting so that it is family-friendly,” Green said.

Since the Greens have lived in Hiawassee for over 18 years, they decided to bring the wine country home to them.

“We own a Napa Auto store here in Hiawassee and have over 10 acres of land. For us it made sense to start our vineyard at home,” Green said.

Green hopes soon they will be able to expand their business by offering different cheeses at wine tastings and having special events twice a month.

“I would love to have a band or duo come out a couple of times a month and play as we have wine tastings. We would also offer hors d’oeuvres for our guests."

Green said she is still in negotiations for finding a good, yet reasonable cheese seller. However, she feels that the future is bright for her fledgling winery.

Despite the hard work it takes to keep the winery running, she explained the experience has been very rewarding, starting with buying and planting their own grapes.

“Seeing everything come together and watching our grapes being turned into wine makes the whole process a real payoff,” Green said. “We love how we can meet new people and see them enjoy our wine.”

Hightower Creek offers a wine tasting tour for $5; adding a souvenir glass to the wine tasting makes the total cost $10. Visitors can also have wine by the glass for $6. One bottle of wine ranges from $14.99 to $23.99.

More information can be found at http://hightowercreekvineyards.com/. The winery can answer comments or questions at info@hightowercreek.com

** Written for Southern Hospitality Magazine in June of 2012.

Biloxi Seafood Tradition

Thursday kicked off the 83rd annual Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet in Biloxi, Miss. This yearly event is devoted to celebrating the start of the local shrimping season with in this gulf coast town with a weekend of festivals, church masses and a king and queen coronation.

The festivities began with a mass at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, which was dedicated to the fishermen who have lost their lives while out at sea.

Friday will feature the Past Royalty Reception, where previous Shrimp Kings and Queens gather at a small gala to celebrate the impending weekend festivities and are honored for their past contributions to the shrimp industry in Biloxi.

The Fais Do-Do street party is an all-day festival that takes place on Saturday, the day before the Blessing of the Fleet. It hosts a variety of craft booths with hand-made jewelry, artwork, gifts and more. Stations are set up with different types of seafood delights, hamburgers, hotdogs, ice cream, cotton candy and barbecue. It is $5 per adult and children under 12 are free to get in the festival.

In the midst of the festival activities is a 4 p.m. mass to honor the blessing of the fleet at St. Michael Church. The coronation of the Shrimp King and Queen follows immediately after at 5:30 p.m.

A tradition since 1948, one young woman and one man is chosen as Biloxi’s Shrimp King and Queen. In order to become Shrimp Queen, the young woman must be of high school age, is required to compete in a pageant and must have familial ties to the seafood community. The winner receives prize money to be used for college expenses.

Chosen beforehand, the Shrimp King is usually an older man who has worked hard in the seafood industry for years. For one year, the King and Queen reign and help the priest and bishop conduct the Blessing of the Fleet aboard the Blessing Boat.

The main and final event of the weekend, the Blessing of the Fleet takes place on Sunday at 2 p.m. The priest of St. Michael Church (Friar Greg Barras) and the bishop of the Biloxi diocese (Bishop Roger Morin) give a blessing for each boat and wish them safe and prosperous journeys fishing in the upcoming months. This has the priest and bishop standing on the stationary “Blessing Boat” as each boat floats past. The boats are decorated and make a procession out into the Mississippi Sound, waiting for its chance to be blessed and sprinkled by Holy Water.

More information can be found at www.biloxiblessing.com and questions, concerns or suggestions can be sent to admin@biloxiblessing.com.

**Written for for Southern Hospitality In May of 2012.

100 years and counting: Riding the African Queen

For 100 years, The African Queen has remained an iconic vessel to old movie lovers and history buffs. Perhaps it’s best known as the rickety boat that Humphrey Bogart captained with Katharine Hepburn in the film The African Queen.

This year, a $70,000 project is underway to get The African Queen cruising the seas again, more than a decade after it was beached as a display in Key Largo, Fla., with mechanical, structural and cosmetic repairs.

Since late April, The African Queen has offered a variety cruises throughout the Florida Keys that includes several 90-minute day cruises, plus dinner cruises on selected nights.

Stephen Bogart, son of the famous Humphrey Bogart, said, "You know, I've never really been on many movie sets, and this is like being on a movie set, and just the fact that somebody bought it and has taken the time to restore it."

The African Queen's 100-year history began when it was built in 1912 at England's Lytham shipbuilding yard. Originally, the ship was named the Livingstone. It eventually served the British East Africa Rail Company shuttling cargo by hunting parties and mercenaries on the Ruki River, situated in the northwestern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Until 1968, the vessel was temporarily pulled from service for the film, according to Jim Hendricks Jr.

In 1982, late attorney (and Bogart buff) Jim Hendricks Sr., discovered the vessel languishing in an Ocala, Fla., horse pasture and purchased the piece of movie history for $65,000. An equal amount of funds was invested to get the boat operational. Hendricks began offering visitors rides in 1983 while the vessel was homeported at Key Largo's Holiday Inn.

According to Suzanne Holmquist, they signed a long-term lease with the previous owner’s son to restore and operate the vessel again. The Holmquists have overseen repairs and have taken pains to date it as it appeared in the film by replacing steel in the hull, replacing the boiler and oiling the black African mahogany to condition the wood.

"It's important to me because I love old movies and films, and just to see the amount of interest that this boat is still generating, even as dilapidated as she had gotten, it was incredible," Holmquist said.

She has been highly involved in the restoration of the African Queen. "I think restoring the African Queen has firmly sealed the tie and connection with the Bogart name to Key Largo."

Costs for sailing the African Queen vary. It's $39 per person and $25 for children under 12 years old.  Dinner cruises cost $89 per person and occur an hour after sunset.

For those who are interested in more information please contact 305-896-8004 or www.calypsosailing,com.

**Written for Southern Hospitality in April 2012.

Old South Takes to the Water

Thoughts of the Old South and America’s Heartland include the Civil War, Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn and sweet Southern drawls. Add a cruise to the equation and this is where the Great American Steamboat Company comes in.

Staying true to the culture of America’s Heartland, the Great American Steamboat Company uses genuine steamboats to chug up and down rivers. Each cruise has a certain theme and is between six to 13 days on the Lower Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Rivers.

One of the themes for spring this year is Springtime on the River, which offers multiple sources of entertainment. One of the cruises featuring Springtime on the River is from Cincinnati to Memphis. Headlining the music on this cruise is the rockabilly band Paul Revere and the Raiders. For the two overnight stops in Cincinnati and Memphis, the hotels will already be included in the cruise fare. Dates for this cruise is May 7- 13.

Other spring themes include the Memphis to New Orleans cruise and the New Orleans roundtrip cruise. Both feature the Rat Pack Show, a rockabilly band that plays music of the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. These nine-day cruises include a one-night stop, which is included in the fare. The Memphis to New Orleans cruise date is May 14- 21,and the roundtrip New Orleans cruise is May 21- 28.

The history buffs will enjoy cruises such as Voyage into American History, Epic Civil War and Kentucky Derby.

American History is a nine-day, roundtrip cruise from New Orleans that gives an additional hotel night out and celebrates Memorial Day at the National World War II Museum. The Juggernaut Jug Band will be aboard playing authentic river music known as “jug music”. The dates for this cruise are May 27-June 4.

The Kentucky Derby cruise is round-trip from Cincinnati and features Dr. Elmo and Wild Blue, which showcases the origins of Kentucky bluegrass music. Patrons have the option to see Kentucky Derby parades during their stops and can even go to the Kentucky Derby itself. The dates for this cruise are May 3- 8.

Epic Civil War is a 13-day cruise that leaves from Chattanooga and debunks in Vicksburg, Miss. These special 10-night adventures provide the ultimate Civil War experience, complete with actors, impersonators, lecturers, balladeers, field trips and reenactments. Dates for these cruises are Aug. 9-19 and Aug. 19- 31.

The winter’s theme is Old-Fashioned Holidays, which will put everyone in the holiday mood. The Old-Fashioned Holidays cruise goes from Memphis to New Orleans, with excursions in towns in  Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana. These excursions are included in the cruise price. Those dates run from Nov. 24-Dec. 2, Dec. 1- 8, and Dec. 27-Jan. 3.

Old-Fashioned Holidays also continues with a New Orleans roundtrip. The Annie Moses band will headline throughout the week and this classically trained family will have everyone in the holiday spirit performing seasonal music. The overnight stop in New Orleans is included in the cruise fare and run from Dec. 8- 13, and Dec. 13- 20.

The Great American Steamboat Company offers a way to escape from reality while still exploring the beauty that America has to offer. More information about the different cruises can be seen at www.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com or can be acquired at (888) 749-5280. The company receives emails for questions and reservations at info(@)GreatAmericanSteamboatCompany.com.

**Written for Southern Hospitality in April 2012.

People Go Wild for Glamping

Glamorous camping.

For many, those two words are an oxymoron. However, for people who are not into becoming one with Mother Nature and braving the elements, “glamping” is an elegant alternative. Between down comforters on four-poster beds to hairdryers and heated bathrooms floors, people who want to get out and be part of nature can still have their comfort and luxury.

There is much truth to the saying that everything is bigger in Texas, and glamping is no exception. The Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch in Glen Rose gives “glampers” the option of experiencing camping in a luxury tent overlooking Fossil Rim’s most popular wildlife watering holes. Each tent is equipped with two twin beds, fresh linens, ceiling fans, a private bath, and a central heating and cooling system. Beside each tent is a small patio and the social pavilion is located within walking distance of all of the tents. The only items the “glamper” will need to bring are themselves and a flashlight. 

During spring and summer, a tent at Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch is $125 per night Saturday through Thursday and $225 per night Friday and Saturday.

Texas also boasts of Sinya on Lone Man Creek in Wimberly. Couples looking for a romantic getaway can relax and enjoy pleasant weather in the Texan countryside. Each lodge has a canvas top and includes a king-size bed with goose-down pillows, fresh linens, a claw-foot bathtub, a kitchenette and a living room facing a wall of windows. During the spring and summer months, Lone Man Creek is full and offers a place to cool down and search for Native American artifacts. Sinya has a state-of-the art heating and cooling system and complementary wi-fi. The rental rate includes soft bathrobes, coffee, fresh flowers, s’more necessities, firewood, propane and a cleaning fee. 

Rates to stay in Sinya are $245 a night Sunday through Thursday and $275 a night Friday and Saturday.

El Cosmico located in Marfa, Texas, gives a rustic view of desert life. “Glampers” will be more drawn to the trailers that El Cosmico offers, especially the largest trailer, known as the Imperial Mansion. It is 45 feet in length with a king bed in the bow and a twin bed in the back. The Imperial Mansion also has an indoor toilet and shower/tub, and a cedar deck attached. The Vagabond is 35 feet in length and features a queen bed. The Royal Mansion is also 35 feet long and has a full bed. The Kozy Coach is 27 feet in length and has a full bed. The smallest trailer, the Branstrator, is also 27 feet and has a full bed. 

All trailers feature a stove, refrigerator, fans, floor heating and hot water. Fresh linens, pots, pans, cutlery and dishes are also included. El Cosmico has a communal bathhouse, wireless Internet in the campground lounge, a unique hammock grove that has hammocks hanging together and a shared outdoor kitchen with a grill. Rates are $110 to $130 per night December through February and $125 to $150 per night March through November.

Texas isn’t the only state with a taste for glamping. The glamping-oriented Martyn House in Ellijay, Ga., is an adult-only bed and breakfast. The gypsy-inspired tents are heated and equipped with fans, come with a full shower and toilet, and has a large covered front porch with chairs and a table overlooking the woods. The beds in these tents can be separated into twin beds or put together for a king bed. 

All four tents can be rented by a large group, which also gives the group access to 18 acres of land, a pond and trails. A large breakfast is served every morning on the veranda and visitors have the opportunity to go kayaking, fly fishing, biking or white water rafting. Each tent is $180 Sunday through Thursday and is $220 Friday and Saturday.

The small town of Lula, Ga., located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is also home to the glamping campground with North Georgia Canopy Tours. Started in 2011, each tepee is brand new and has electricity, heating and air conditioning. The tepees has at least one queen bed and is painted with authentic Cherokee symbols. All campers share separate men and women’s bathhouses. Sunday through Thursday tents range from $90 to $179 and $110 to $199 on Friday and Saturday.

Pine Mountain, Ga., hosts a campground of yurts. A type of glamping, a yurt is a circular hut-like structure with wooden floors, windows, soft beds with fresh linens, and central air conditioning and heating. Visitors also experience a view of the night sky with a skylight in the peak of the roof of each yurt. Each yurt is rated on a two-person occupancy and additional people over 12 are $2 a night. Visitors need to bring their own bath towels while enjoying time in their yurt. Yurts rate from $57.95 to $74.95 a night.

North Carolina’s Chestnut Grove is nestled by the Moravian Falls in Wilkes County. The canvas tents are built on a wooden deck with screened-in windows and doors and have hand-crafted queen-sized beds and furniture. Each tent has fresh linens, towels and lighting. A complementary s’mores kit will be provided at each check-in. Guests will need to provide their own cook wear if they are planning on making food. Each tent comes with a gas grill, hammock and private fire pit. Tents range from $60 to $75 each night. While children under 18 are free, there is a $10 additional charge per adult.

Wildwater Chattooga is snuggled in Long Creek, S.C. Overlooking Academy Lake, 34 people can fit within five yurts. Each yurt has a heater, lamp and electricity and a few steps from the yurts is the Wildwater Chattooga Adventure Center, which has private showers, toilets and sinks. The building also has a full indoor kitchen that includes a refrigerator, stove, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, cooking utensils, pots, pans and silverware. The facilities do not have dishes or linens, so visitors will need to bring their own to enjoy their stay. The rates of the yurts are $48 to $120 a night and they are open from March to November.

Many people have always wanted to experience camping without the heat, bugs and lumpy ground. With glamorous camping, people can experience nature without the inconvenience it can cause. Style and luxury can now go hand-in-hand.

**Written for Southern Hospitality in March of 2012. 

St. Regis Set to Honor Sinking of Titanic

An evening of elegance and fine cocktails. A celebration in honor of the most infamous shipwreck. The St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta plans on putting on such a gala on April 10 in reverence to the sinking of the Titanic 100 years ago.

The hotel, founded by Titanic passenger John Jacob Astor IV, will begin activities at 6 p.m. in the St. Regis Astor Ballroom when Sommelier and wine director Harry Constantinescu will saber 100 bottles of Heidsieck champagne, which was served aboard the ship. The 100 bottles are in honor of the 100 years that have passed since the sinking of the Titanic.

The St. Regis will be serving a signature cocktail in honor of the ship throughout the month of April. Dubbed the Centennial Cocktail, it includes 1912 Madeira Verdelho Reserva, Domaine de Canton ginger liquor, Krug Rosé Champagne, and Breckenridge Bourbon. It is served with an edible orchid, which was the favorite flower of Astor’s mother, Caroline. The price of the cocktail is $100 and includes a St. Regis champagne flute.

Alongside the Centennial Cocktail, the St. Regis will be catering hors d’oeuvres, which are inspired by the last meal served aboard the Titanic. The food inspiration will continue to swanky restaurant Paces 88, where the food will be served a la carte.

The celebration continues throughout the month of April with an Empire Suite Hotel Package and an afternoon tea special. The package is $3,300, the same price of a luxury parlor aboard the Titanic. It includes a bottle of Heidsieck champagne, valet parking and breakfast for two at Astor Court. The tea special includes an afternoon of petit fours, petite sandwiches, fresh scones and savory teas. The tea tradition is in honor of Astor’s mother, Caroline. For adults, the cost is $44 and $22 for children under 12.

A century ago, many boarded the Titanic and had their lives filled with grandeur and beauty for four days. The St. Regis Hotel offers a modern twist to the luxury the Titanic stood for.

**Written for Southern Hospitality in March 2012.

Centennial Anniversary of Ship Sinking Celebrated at Titanic Museum

While the majority of the population had not been born during the sinking of the Titanic, the disaster certainly is an event that haunts history today. The Titanic Museum is located in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and in Branson, Mo., and are the largest museums dedicated to the Titanic in the world.

Throughout the duration of the year, visitors to the Pigeon Forge location will be able to see a behind-the-scenes look at the set of James’ Cameron’s award-winning movie Titanic. Even though the museum is mostly factual based, the museum felt that the movie has impacted the story of the Titanic greatly and that it stands as a tribute to the actual sinking of the ship. 

With the 3-D version of the film premiering April 6, the exhibit will allow those to see how the cast and crew had to embody fictional and actual characters who were affected by the Titanic’s sinking.

Among the items on display will be a $250,000 replica of the heart-shaped blue diamond that the older Rose tossed in the water at the end of the movie and the pink coat that actress Kate Winslet wore during the sinking of the ship.

The exhibit also will feature replicas of some of the corridors, parlors and cabins that were filmed. The Grand Staircase also is duplicated and is built up to the grandeur that the film shows it to be. Visitors will feel like passengers during the Titanic’s maiden and final voyage.

The museum itself is shown as a half-scale replica of the ship with three decks. Visitors are able to see the world of 1912 as maids and officers work and other passengers go about their business aboard the ship.

Guests can experience the sensations of standing on sloping decks, placing their hands in 28-degree water and touching a real iceberg. Reenactments of these events occur with the actors aboard the ship. It simulates what people aboard the Titanic felt as the ship sank into the icy waters that April night.

April 14 will be an extremely special day at both museums. On the actual day the Titanic sank 100 years ago, “A Night to Remember: An Original Musical Tribute to Titanic” will use choirs, orchestras, and musical theater performances to demonstrate the tragedy that plagued the Titanic.

Only the Titanic Museum Attractions is hosting a formal gala to honor the loss of the ship. The musical pieces will be especially sentimental since the orchestra aboard the ship went down into the water playing their instruments.

Music lovers of all generations will love the range of classical music to today’s pop hits and ballads. Those with a flare for the theatrics can see a reenactment of the crew sending up the distress flares the night the ship sunk. The guests will be able to feel the sorrow and tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic through the music that will be played.

Descendents of those aboard the Titanic will be at the event to orate the tales that their ancestors went through that fateful night. Through them, visitors will have a personal look into the lives of the families that endured the downfall of the ship. The audience then has the chance to become apart of the show by going to the bow of the ship in the museum to light a memorial flame for the 2,208 passengers.

Passengers may purchase tickets to either event online at www.titanicattraction.com or by phone at (800) 381-7670.