Louisiana Wine Leg

Amid the gently rolling hills and pastoral countryside of southeast Louisiana, just north of Abita Springs, is Pontchartrain Vineyards and Winery (see PontchartrainVineyards.com), Louisiana’s premier producer of fine table wines. Visit the Old World, French Provincial tasting room, visitor’s center and terrace overlooking hillside vineyards and taste a wonderful collection of distinctive, award-winning wines.

You can begin your jaunt at the gazebo in Abita Springs. Follow your map to make the jogs northward toward the winery. You will encounter moderate traffic until you reach Highway 1082, then the traffic should be light. Along this road you’ll see beautiful homes and ranches. After your visit at the vineyard, you can amble along Highway 1081 back southward, then retrace a bit of your earlier route, take an eastward turn and return to Abita Springs by an alternate route.

Start: Downtown Abita Springs at the Gazebo. Take Hwy. 36 West and 59 North.

0.3 Right on Hwy. 59 North.

3.3 Left on Hwy. 21----You will have a shoulder on this fairly busy road.

3.7 Right on Hwy. 1082 (Old Military Road). Along this road, are beautiful homes and ranches.

10.1 Pontchartrain Vineyards. NOTE: You can taste 8 to 10 wines for a nominal fee. Sample crisp white wines and medium and full-bodied reds. Web site:www.pontchartrainvineyards.com. They also have special events with local bands and orchestras playing while you taste. You can call them at 985-892-9742.

To return to Abita Springs:

0.0 Pontchartrain Vineyards entrance on Hwy. 1082. Go left as you come out of the Vineyard.

2.0 Right on Pat O’Brien Road. (Easily missed)

3.7 Straight on Hwy.1081(unmarked at this point).

6.7 Left on Smith Road (easily missed).

8.0 Right at T and Stop on Hwy. 1082.

8.4 Left on Hwy. 21.

8.8 Right on Hwy. 59 following Abita Springs sign.

10.4 Left on Lowe Davis Road.

12.8 Right on Allen Road.

15.0 Right at T and Stop.

16.0 Right at T and stop on Level Street.

16.5 Downtown Abita Springs.