Tyler and Meagan Duke
Cloudtree
Cloudtree
Ferris Robinson
Couples embarking on marriage want to celebrate this occasion in the perfect spot. Most dream of a picturesque location, with rolling hills and mountain ranges layered on the horizon. Throw in a working vineyard, and perhaps an Italian countryside comes to mind. Throw in Lookout Mountain residents Tyler and Meagan Duke and you have a storybook location for the most special event, with remarkable wine made right on the premises in Lafayette, Ga.
Pennsylvania natives, Meagan and Tyler met at New York University when she was studying urban planning and he was majoring in finance. “A decade or so and four children later, we realized we had missed the small town farm feel that we were both used to as kids and wanted our children to have a similar experience,” Meagan said. The family loves their neighborhood in Lookout Mountain, Tn., but was on the hunt for farm that made sense for the their family. After searching for about a year, they found the perfect spot and were bowled over by its natural beauty.
The fact that the 40-acre farm boasted a full 10 acres of mature grape vines was not necessarily on the family’s checklist during the search, but with the youngest child in third grade, Meagan admits she was looking for a new challenge. “While we never expected it would be running a vineyard, we are so happy it is,” Meagan said.
This vineyard was not and is not a hobby. Twelve varieties of grapes have been established since 2001, yielding 17 tons of the fruit annually. The vineyard produces rosé, blended white, mead, red zinfandel and a cab franc.
"We are very proud of our wine. We were fortunate enough to have the previous owner on board as our primary wine maker, in addition to an amazing assistant wine maker, and phenomenal grounds keepers. Our wines and the vineyard would not be what they are without their dedication and expertise,” Meagan said, adding that there is much more to making wine than meets the eye. “There really is so much that goes into it during every season of the year. From winter pruning, fall replanting, spring growing and fall harvesting to consistent barreling and bottling, it is no small task.”
Looking out over Pigeon Mountain, the property is not only breathtaking, it is very environmentally-friendly. “Our property runs completely on rain water collection, in addition to supplemental solar power,” Meagan explained, adding that relying on the weather and the rain water collection has been a science in itself. “We are always watching the weather and harvesting our water tanks in order to prepare for weeks ahead,” she said.
The vineyard is one thing, but the wedding venue is another, and according to Meagan, using the vineyard as a wedding venue was a no brainer.
“[The grounds] are absolutely stunning and it would be silly not to give others the opportunity create one of the most beautiful days of their lives here on this fantastic property,” Meagan said.
Cheers to that!
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Ferris Robinson is the author of three children’s books, “The Queen Who Banished Bugs,” “The Queen Who Accidentally Banished Birds,” and “Call Me Arthropod” in her pollinator series “If Bugs Are Banished.” “Making Arrangements” is her first novel. “Dogs and Love - Stories of Fidelity” is a collection of true tales about man’s best friend. Her website is ferrisrobinson.com and you can download a free pollinator poster there. She is the editor of The Lookout Mountain Mirror and The Signal Mountain Mirror.