Located at 28 Savannah Street in a renovated historic building, Persimmon on the Square will serve as an extension of Persimmon Creek Vineyards: a welcoming outpost for Clayton area visitors and residents. “With our new shop and enoteca-style tasting room, we seek to share a culinary and wine experience with a diverse audience,†says Mary Ann Hardman. “Persimmon on the Square will give visitors a feel for who we are. It embodies our philosophy and the atmosphere of our vineyard – just like our wines have the ‘taste of the place’ where the grapes are grown.â€
The Hardmans dramatically renovated the space to achieve this vision. Design elements include barnwood and beadboard paneling, large French-style lanterns, handmade doors and a beamed ceiling. An enormous working fireplace adds to the sense of hospitality and personal connection for the Hardman family; it was built by hand and includes more than 250 stones gathered from the vineyard by the couple’s three sons. At the large, welcoming tasting bar – a centerpiece of the shop’s design – guests are invited to taste Persimmon Creek wines, also available for purchase.
Other merchandise offerings center on all things culinary, including: earthenware from Ryan Gainey’s “The Gathered Garden,†artisan pastas, olive oils, local cheeses, grits and locally-made confections by Sugar Moss Cottage. Many of the featured items will be locally sourced from Georgia and around the southeast. Mary Ann Hardman’s unique approach to display puts to use antiques from the French wine industry and from her personal collection – tying together history to give the shop a sense of place. Among the artwork on display: a 200-year-old bas relief of Bacchus and life-size Italian sculpture of a woman holding a cluster of grapes.
Persimmon Creek Vineyards sits at 2100 feet elevation on 110 acres in Clayton, Georgia. It is privately owned by Mary Ann and William “Sonny†Hardman. Persimmon Creek Wines are served in more than 25 leading restaurants and hotels in Atlanta and the southeast including: Bacchanalia, Restaurant Eugene, The Cloister at Sea Island, Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC, Bluepointe, Chops Lobster Bar and many more. The wines are available retail at Sherlock’s Wine Merchants and Whole Foods Markets. Persimmon on the Square is located at 28 Savannah Street. Hours are 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, closed Wednesdays & Sundays. More information is available at www.persimmoncreekwine.com or by calling (706) 212-7972
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