Wills Creek Vineyards

Please don’t go to an Alabama winery expecting Napa? I was here a few years ago and have had the wines since — Jahn Coppey is a formidable winemaker and a dynamic personality. When I talk to him I always feel like I’m talking to a Gentleman from the True South.
Some wines that I really enjoy from his list are:
Viognier — the fact that he can make a Viognier this good makes me awestruck — how can it be. I love Viognier with the taste of wild flowers and stone fruit (Apricot, Nectarine, and Peaches). Delicious.
Seyval Blanc — This is one of the wines that I think you could taste people in California and France and they would not know that it is an ‘East Coast’ grape varietal with great acidity and character — think Sauv Blanc or Albarino. My friend LOVED the Cinthiana, another Vitus Labrusca grape varietal, sweet style — great with cheese or a less sweet dessert.
Then he makes a well structured Syrah that brings out some ripe mature dark berry flavors. Well crafted — great with so many hearty dishes — I like to take it to a restaurant and turn the staff onto something that isn’t from California.
Jahn also made this amazing Nebbiola (I think the grapes were from Italy) — WoW. Tough to find he may be sold out — but this is a destination wine, seek it out and enjoy it. Old Vine Zin and Malbec from Latin America are also favorites. Amazing to me that these wines are being made in Alabama! Truly impressive. Appreciate what you have — a rare find in the Southeastern United States.
It’s a beautiful place even in winter, and they have these savory wine and cheese platters. We like to grab a bottle and sit down and enjoy it with a platter — makes for a great romantic picnic.

I would highly recommend this winery if you are traveling by. I stopped on my way from Knoxville to Birmingham and spent a good amount of time inside.
The selection of wines is great, and the muscadine wines were also something new to me since I am not a native of Alabama. Each of the wines was pretty solid although the Mead (Honey Wine) was the best of their selection.
If you go here expecting the best wines ever, this probably isn’t your place. But if you would like good wines, a free tasting, a wide variety, and friendly staff, this is the place.
Their selection of locally grown foods and products is also great!!!

We stopped by the store, not the wedding venue, and did a free wine tasting On June 8, 2013. The lady inside was real nice and very helpful. The store offers all of the vineyard’s products and even cheeses, meat, candles and other things for you to buy.
The main store has a back deck area that overlooks the property, you can order meat and cheese plates and wine, enjoy the scenery and take a break from life. The wedding venue (maybe a couple of miles from the main store) from the road looks much nicer, but we couldn’t go up there on our visit due to a wedding being in progress.
*The vineyard offers some great muscadine wines, which I highly recommend. These wines are very sweet and full of flavor.
If you want to buy something from this vineyard definitely do so at the official store, it is much cheaper than a retailer in the area. This was a very pleasant experience and fun. Thanks!

We love Wills Creek Winery! It’s just past Gadsden on 59. The winery not only has a fantastic blanc, but a variety of muscadine wines. Wills Creek Winery also sales honey and other homemade products, such as candles and grapeseed oil. It’s a short excursion from the Birmingham area. The drive is beautiful, the last foothills of the Appalachians. The winery is dreamy… the scenery reminds of my childhood growing up in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. Enjoy local wine to the view of a fairy tale creek complete with willows and cattails. And bring your camera!

Beautiful winery, with a gorgeous view! You don’t want to miss a Spring day on the back porch of the winery. They also have great events, great for the whole family. Go!

Napa can sleep ok tonight. But North Alabama wine trail is a good day.