James May-June 2025 web - Flipbook - Page 18
The Beverage Business is big
BY B A K E R OW E N S
The weather’s getting warmer, the
craft brewers in Georgia, ranking the state 18th in the coundays are getting longer, so what
try. The Peach State is also ranked 18th for total distilleries
better time to 昀椀nd some new venues
with 57 craft distilleries. Wine is a little different as not every
to enjoy a nice beverage. The Georgia
state’s ecosystem is as conducive to grape growing as the
beverage business is big. According to
Georgia mountains but there are 80 different wine producthe 2025 Georgia Ag Forecast from the
ers now, almost double from ten years ago.
University of Georgia Extension, brewerIn our annual Sippin’ Local feature, James asked
ies, wineries and distilleries have a market
readers to vote for the favorite brewery, distillery and
value of nearly $1 billion.
winery across the state. This year, perhaps be昀椀tting
Breweries are by far the biggest busithe boom of the Georgia mountain region, all
ness, with a total value of $715 million in 2023,
our winners are from that area— or adjacent
down slightly from the record high in 2022 of
to— but their business is very different.
$745 million. Wineries and distilleries are far beThey all are host to loyal customers and
hind that but still come in with $73 million for Georgia
success. We feature here a little bit
wineries and $57 million for distilleries. There were 181
about each winner.
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