Tennessee is world-famous for its craft of whiskey-making. The rolling hills and valleys of the state’s Appalachia region are home to many whiskey producers, including some of the most well-known brands in the world.
Wine enthusiasts and first-time wine tasters have much to rejoice in Tennessee’s abundance of vineyards, mountaintop estates, and family-run wineries. The local flavor is unique, and enthusiasts can sample various popular and rare blends. Many of the wineries compliment their wine tastings with scrumptious charcuterie boards laden with locally-farmed cheeses and fruits.
Some of the local wineries have Tuscan-style architecture that will transport you to the rolling hills of Southern Italy. You can explore multiple wineries in a day or spend an entire day on the estate with a fun picnic-like affair. If you’re clueless about embarking on Tennessee’s wine trail, our detailed guide has you covered.
Read on to map out your wine trail adventure with expert advice and helpful tips.
Find Wineries near your Accommodation
Finding wineries near your accommodation may seem restrictive, but you’ll appreciate this tip when you start traveling. Visiting any landmark that demands an entire day of traveling will leave you exhausted and uninterested in exploring. In contrast, wineries nearest to your accommodation make ideal spots for short day trips without the exhaustion of long commutes.
You’ll find plenty of incredible vineyards and wineries everywhere, whether you’re visiting eastern or western Tennessee. Suppose you plan to stay at a centrally-located accommodation near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In that case, it’s wise to find a winery in Gatlinburg Tennessee, to avoid traveling too far out. The Tennessee Homemade Wines are within walking distance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which you can’t miss thanks to their log cabin-style architecture. They are known for their concord wines, and you can purchase a bottle to take home with you as a souvenir.
You’re bound to feel heady and unfit for driving after the wine tasting. Choosing a nearby location will make it easier to arrange transport and use local transportation. Gatlinburg is brimming with award-winning vineyards and family-run estates that guarantee a rewarding experience.
Choose a Guided Tour to Learn about Wine-Making Traditions
Guided tours are much more immersive and rewarding than a simple wine-tasting event. If you’re a passionate wine enthusiast, you probably want to fascinate yourself with knowledge and local traditions. Every region has distinct wine-making traditions, and Tennessee differs from California and other wine-growing regions.
A guided tour offers engaging experiences that offer more than just sampling different wines and munching on snacks. You get to experience an exciting world of wine production, from planting and harvesting to bottling and more. The guide will help you understand the flavor profiles and technical features of each blend, enriching you with valuable knowledge.
You can ask questions about the wine varieties and processes and deepen your understanding of the business. The local wine-producing estates and farms in Tennessee offer a delightful experience, and the owners usually lead the tours. Booking a guided tour at a family-run winery is highly recommended to experience the passion they pour into their estates.
Don’t Forget to Make Notes
Do you like to drop clever anecdotes and impress people with your vast knowledge of rare wine blends? Don’t forget to make notes about the wines you like and would love to add to your cellar. The underlying purpose behind embarking on a wine trail is not to get drunk on the finest varieties. But rather, it is an educational experience that will enrich you with knowledge, making you an expert wine connoisseur.
Buying, handling, and ordering wines is not an easy feat. Novices usually contend themselves by ordering the most expensive wines on the list. But experts deeply understand wine-growing regions, flavor profiles, and characteristics. Making notes will help you remember the wines you liked best and their noteworthy features.
Find Experiences that Pair Food & Wine
Why splurge on a wine tasting when you can find an experience that pairs food and wine for a nominal price tag? Wineries are businesses that promote guided tours with a multitude of enticing offerings, such as cheeses, snacks, and gourmet meals. There’s nothing more enjoyable than pairing rich wines with a scrumptious three-course meal. Many reputable establishments offer distinct wines suitable for each course.
We advise finding a guided tour that offers farm-to-table meals, traditional food tastings, lunch, or dinner. If you prefer a light snack, you can opt for a wine tasting featuring charcuterie boards and locally sourced cheeses. Suppose you’re eager to visit a winery that offers no meals. In that case, you can always ask the guide for recommendations on the best local dining spots.
Don’t Rush the Experience
Drinking wine is a soulful experience, best enjoyed calmly with patience. Have you ever wondered why we never fill a wine glass to the brim? It’s because we don’t want to overwhelm our taste palette and enjoy every sip to the fullest. Rushing a wine-tasting experience is the worst way to sabotage the sensory adventure.
Suppose you’re planning to cover more than two wineries in one day. In that case, we advise spending at least three hours at every winery. Truth be told, visiting one winery is enough if you enjoy a wholesome and well-rounded experience. We advise opting for a venue featuring vineyards, cellars, and tasting rooms to familiarize yourself with the entire process.
Instead of rushing from one location to another, take your time to enjoy the experience. You can sample different blends instead of merely gulping them down and immersing yourself in the surroundings. Vineyards offer a delightfully verdant setting with rolling hills and the rich aroma of grapes. You can also spend time interacting with the owners and wine-makers, asking questions about their work and building meaningful connections.
Final Thoughts
We strongly encourage first-timers and seasoned enthusiasts to experiment and avoid sticking to wines they’ve already tried. What’s the point of visiting a winery if you stick to the blends you’ve tried hundreds of times? Let this experience introduce you to new blends, flavors, and incredible regional varieties you were blissfully unaware of earlier.
It is also important to be mindful of the perfumes you decide to wear on a wine-tasting tour. Remember, strong perfumes, candies, mint, and even coffee will interfere with your ability to enjoy the wine. Go with a clean palette, and don’t let other scents dominate your taste palette. Experts also advise against smoking as tobacco can ruin the experience.
