Heading up to N. Georgia in a few weeks—into the Chattahoochee National Forest for a few days of quiet time with my fly rod and a buddy who also happens to appreciate trout on the fly… and wine. Not sure the wine selection in Blue Ridge would suffice, but we won’t see the inside of a wine shop anyways. I plan to bring some along. There is nothing better than steaks on an open fire and a nice red wine, something even mosquitoes can’t ruin. I have the itinerary planned to the mile, yet still have no idea which wines will accompany us on the adventure! We will spend our first full day on Noontootla Creek with a well-known guide from the area. That evening, we’ll drive over to Fern Valley on the Soque, and wake to a full day on private water without the luxury of a guide…nights spent in the National Forest with tent and grill. Day three we have reservations on another private stretch, and another night in the forest. So, which wine?

I spent some months planning the routes and reservations, while in the back of my mind trying to decide which wines to bring, and why. We thought of bringing just Bordeaux, and then only Burgundy….and then Italy led to Rhone Valley and we were back where we started. Not an easy task. We leave in a week and I still really don’t know yet, but as of today, I am considering trying to pair the wines with the day’s activities. It seems a little tedious, but hear me out, please. All of us tend to open the best bottles at the grandest occasions, holidays, birthdays, important dates, right? So I was trying to scale the wines to the excursion, and it looks something like this….

Day 1: The first day, we have hired a top guide for the entire day, and will be on some pretty impressive waters, so I expect the day will be one to remember. We are going all out, and the experience will all be as good as it gets—so why shouldn’t the wine that evening? A couple of fat steaks and a pound of shrimp, a bottle of Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2010 and maybe a Ch. d’Issan 2005? Those should help keep all of the elements in balance.

Day 2: The second day we will have a private stretch to ourselves, but without the guide the day is slightly scaled down compared to day one. We will probably be more relaxed (not casting while a professional is watching, OMG!) and come off the water at dusk, tired and ready for something a bit more subdued. I am thinking something rich yet smooth to keep the warm and fuzzies going…Chateauneuf du Pape perhaps? Definitely a Rhone or Italian night.

Day 3: This day is the most blue-collar of the trip, again on private water, albeit at no cost, and pretty much a mental winding down from the past two days. Except that this location is very technical, and sees plenty of fine fly-fishermen, so the entire experience becomes more personal and all the better for it. A day spent working on technique. As much a day to reflect as to cast…Burgundy, no question about it! I have a few nice old Burgs and will only have to find a side of salmon as the icing on the cake!

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida wine supervisor. Follow me on Twitter @abcwineshayne.