Local, State Officials Mark Expansion At Local Vineyard

State and local officials come together to celebrate the expansion of a local business.

Currahee Vineyard and Winery held a planting of the vines on Friday at its location on Currahee Street, near the Toccoa By-pass.

Owner Marvin Dunson said they planted new vines that will produce three new types of grapes.

Dunson said he is very excited to add these to his vineyard and winery.

“Three of the vines are not in north Georgia,” said Dunson. “We are getting ready to clean five more acres off and sometime in December, we will start our planting operation.”

Among the officials on hand for the occasion was Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

Black said that agribusiness and agritourism, like what takes place at Currahee Vineyard, are very important to the state’s economy.

“People are taking blocks of land like Marvin and turning them into a productive hillside,” said Black. “Then they are welcoming visitors that stay in the community. They might stay a night and go to dinner. Those are the types of things we have to do.”

Black went on to say that it is also exciting to promote the growth of local agriculture in Georgia.

He said that is something the state works to do all the time through its “Georgia Grown” initiative.

“We now have over 600 businesses and farms licensed to use the logo and our major retailers are buying in,” said Black. “What is driving that is the 10 million Georgians who want to buy from their friends, from farmers in the state.”

Also on hand were leaders from Toccoa and Stephens County, along with 28th District State Representative Dan Gasaway and 50th District State Senator John Wilkinson.

Wilkinson, who serves as the Chair of the State Senate Agriculture Committee, said Currahee Vineyard is a great example of agribusiness.

“I think a lot of people that agriculture and agribusiness is the number one business in the state,” said Wilkinson. “I am glad we are expanding that part of our state.”

Friday’s event also included a wine tasting for those in attendance.