A small town called Alto is nestled in the foothills of the Northeast Georgia mountains. Venture there, and you’ll find yourself right at home amidst rusty tin and old wood walls at the family-owned Sweet Acre Farms Winery. After meeting on a blind date while attending Valdosta State University, Matthew and Lindsey Vrahiotes fell fast in love and set a life goal to find their niche in the entrepreneurial realm. Fast forward seven years of marriage later—six of which the Vrahiotes spent building a farm from the ground up and starting a business while maintaining full-time jobs—their dream came true when they opened Sweet Acre Farms Winery.
So, grab yourself a wine slushie and sit down with us and owners Matthew and Lindsey Vrahiotes as we uncork the stories behind the vines.
Q: What sets your winery apart from others in the region?
A: We are a craft winery specializing in Country Wines or non-grape fruit wines such as peach, blackberry, strawberry, blueberry and even a lemonade-style wine! We have learned so much as beekeepers, gardeners, fruit cultivators, winemakers, construction workers, salespeople, spouses and parents. Our three children, Maddie (6), Leo (4) and Annabel (20 months), are the reason we do what we do. Without our family, we would not be where we are today. Matthew is the dreamer with his head always in the clouds forming creative ideas. At the same time, Lindsey keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground, where ideas are made into reality and put into motion.
Q: Share a memorable moment or experience from your family’s
winemaking journey.
A: When we first opened, we would stare out the window at cars passing by, just praying they would turn in. Now, seven years later, we are too busy to stare out the window, and that’s a blessing! Our community has rallied around us and shown us unwavering support.
Q: Tell us all about the wine slushies!
A: Our wine slushies are extremely popular! They saved our business during COVID lockdowns. They gained popularity during the pandemic as a “to-go” treat and became even more famous after. Many people just stop by for the wine slushies!
Q: Can you tell us about upcoming events or new releases that customers can get excited about?
A: On July 1, from 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., we will be hosting our Watermelon Crawl featuring our Sweet Ass Watermelon Wine release, southern music, the Brookton Catfish School’s food truck and all things watermelon, including watermelon wine slushies and sangria!
Q: Looking to the future, what are your goals for the winery and your family’s involvement in it?
A: The winery is growing every year. We pray we can keep up with production and continue providing great-tasting country wines to our community. Five outstanding staff members make Sweet Acre Farms Winery even better. They work incredibly hard and provide superior customer service. They have enabled us to grow beyond what we could do with the two of us. We dream that our three children will one day want to take over the business.
While the wine slushies got our attention, what’s sweeter is supporting family-owned businesses with a passion for giving back to the community. We highly encourage you to plan a trip to Sweet Acre Farms Winery for legendary wine slushies and family-friendly, Southern hospitality that makes you feel at home.
Learn more:
Visit: sweetacrefarms.com
Follow them:
FB: Sweet Acre Farms Winery
IG: @sweetacrefarms