We're baaack! Yes, five and a half weeks, 7,970 miles and 19 states later, the bride and I have re-established our roots in Hall County. It was a great trip and nobody got hurt.

During our trip, we met some great folks, saw awe-inspiring vistas, startled a large bison ... and ran into some pretty nice wines.

I'll tell you about some of them, knowing you never will see them in a local store, and probably won't get to drink them. But thanks to the Internet, you can visit online.

During the mid-19th century, Missouri was the hot spot for American wine production. Show Me State wineries won many international awards and pushed the American Norton grape into prominence. Missouri Nortons are, for the most part, highly desirable red table wines. A few Georgia wineries also produce Norton wine.

We stopped at Stone Hill Winery in Hermann, MO, to walk around and sample some wines. Established in 1847, Stone Hill is a popular tourist destination, plunked on a hill overlooking the town of Hermann.

My favorite wine there is called Traminette. One sniff and I knew there was Gewurztraminer grape in it. And there is. But the Gewurz is blended with a grape I've never heard of - Joannas 23-416. The result is a softly spicy, gewurz-style white that is perfect with roast pork.

Another pleasing white was another blend called Chardonel - Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc. The latter is a French-American hybrid grape that, by itself, can be turned into a lovely white wine. This wine is aged in contact with the lees, or dead yeast cells, giving it a toasty flavor and substantial structure.

At Montana's Mission Mountain Winery, we found a mix of wines made from locally grown grapes, and others made from Washington state and Oregon fruit. The Rattlesnake Hills Malbec, locally grown, was impressive. Malbec is one of my favorite reds, and this one ranks right up there with some of the good ones from Argentina.

Mission Mountain's Syrah, also a local, is full of rich fruity flavors. And the winery, located just south of Flathead Lake in northwest Montana, is a great site for bird-watching. We stared for several minutes at an adult osprey caring for its young about 50 yards from the tasting room. And the hummingbirds were quite active, too.

Idaho is a stunning state; probably our biggest surprise. You expect eye-popping scenery in Wyoming and Montana. Idaho's right up there, folks. And the spud state - the license plate motto is "Famous Potatoes" - also is home to some might fine wineries. There's a large nest of small producers cranking out great Rieslings, Chardonnays, Viogniers, etc.

Sadly I misplaced my tasting notes and can't remember specifics. But if you ever find yourself in or near Nampa, ID, make sure you trundle down to what probably is the best restaurant in Idaho - no, not an oxymoron - Brick 29.

Carved out of an old Masonic Temple, Brick 29 is the attractive and innovative creation of Chef Dustan (CQ) Bristol. Young, quirky, energetic, Bristol has been nominated twice for the coveted James Beard Award. Yes, he's that good. And the wine list is fabulous.

We sat and chatted for a while, he provided samples of several Idaho wines, then presented me with a bottle of Idaho Ice Wine. That went into the vault when we got home.

Cruising through Arkansas, we left I-40 and wound around some country roads to reach Chateau Aux Arc Winery in suburban Altus - population, about 47. It wasn't until we climbed out of the car that I got it ... the name, that is. Give it the French pronunciation and understand this place is in the Ozark Mountains. Got it?

Aux Arc offered a tasting of good and local wines. Unfortunately the local wines were not all that good and the good wines were not local. I did go away with a bottle of Dragonfly Red, a flavorful blend of California fruit, largely Zinfandel, which was the best of the lot.

I've come back to Georgia with a greater appreciation for the wines produced by Georgia winemakers. Let me suggest that, during this fall season, you take some time and visit some of them. Go to georgiawine.com or georgiawinecountry.com for more information.

And, no, you don't need five and a half weeks to do it.

P.S.: Speaking of visiting Georgia wineries, here's an event for your calendar. On Saturday, Nov. 6, Tiger Mountain Vineyards will sponsor a culinary spectacular featuring Tiger Mountain wines at The Inn at Half Mile Farm in Highlands. The historic inn is set amid acres of forests, fields, ponds and streams - not to mention autumn's splendid art show. Enjoy a five-course dinner paired with TMV wines. Cost: $75 per person including wines. Overnight accommodations at the inn are available. For information about Half Mile Farm check www.innathalfmilefarm.com; call 800-948-6822 or check with winery staff about dinner reservations, 706-782-4777. And check out TMV's web site: www.tigerwine.com. )

Randall Murray lives in the Gainesville area. Have a question about wine? Contact him at murrwine@aol.com.