You don’t have to travel all the way to California to taste wine at a winery. Tennessee’s lush landscape allows for some pretty delicious and productive vineyards across the state. If you aren’t yet familiar with Tennessee wine, which tends to be a bit sweet, do yourself a favor and visit some of our state’s top wineries to see how the wine is made and taste it for yourself. Who can say no to handcrafted wines paired with good company, breathtaking views and great atmosphere? Here are some of Tennessee’s most loved wineries!
Arrington Vineyards
6211 Patton Rd, Arrington, TN 37014 • (615) 395-0102
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 8 p.m.
In the middle of the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, Arrington Vineyards offers a wine country feel. Country music artist Kix Brooks, winemaker Kip Summers and entrepreneur John Russell have been running Arrington since 2007. Bring a blanket and a picnic to enjoy while tasting the vineyard’s wide variety of wine with the vineyard as the picture-perfect backdrop. Before claiming your spot on the hillside, stop by the tasting tent and opt for the AV picnic tasting, which includes four 8-ounce wines of your choice with tasting notes and crackers. The vineyard also offers Music in the Vines, a favorite event that lets you enjoy live music while indulging in wines and cheeses. Offering tastings to fit everyone’s needs, the Arrington experience won’t disappoint.
Beachaven Vineyards & Winery
1100 Dunlop Ln, Clarksville, TN 37040 • (931) 645-8867
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Tours: Run all day
Judge William O. Beach, his daughter Louisa and son-in-law Ed Cooke had been winemakers since the ’70s when they decided to open one of Tennessee’s first licensed wineries. Now, more than 30 years later, Beachaven is the oldest family-owned winery in Tennessee and offers the longest running live music event in Clarksville while serving Beachaven’s award-winning wines on the lawn. Tour the grounds to get a first-hand look at the wine-making process. The winery does not have a restaurant but does offer various cheeses, crackers and sausage that pair nicely with whatever is in your glass.
Belle Meade Winery
5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 • (615) 356-6164
Hours: Sunday through Friday, noon and 2 p.m.; Saturday, noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Drink delicious wines paired with foods and a side of history at Belle Mede Plantation. In 1953, the Harding and the Jackson families began hosting U.S. presidents, American frontiersman and the nation’s best business tycoons. The Plantation now welcomes guests from all over for tours and events and acts as an educational non-profit organization. In 2009, the grounds opened the winery to honor the winemaking of the American South. During a visit, guests can sample five wines with light food pairings. From muscadine and blackberry wines to a wide variety of red, white and sparkling wines inspired by Europe’s rich winemaking culture, Belle Meade Winery offers a tasty escape!
Blue Goose Farm and Vineyards
3334 Old Niles Ferry Rd, Maryville, TN 37803 • (865) 456-7815
Hours: Wednesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Closed Saturday through Tuesday
The views around the Blue Goose Farm and Vineyards are unbeatable. This small, family-owned vineyard sits outside of Maryville and grows sweet Southern grapes, apples and various berries for their wines. Take in the views of the Smoky Mountains, or enjoy a tasting inside their rustic Farm Winery. They tend to create sweet wines, but guests who prefer drier wines will absolutely love the selection, too. Starting as a retirement project, the Griffith family had no idea how much their family winery would grow. Now hosting farm animal life and delicious wines, you can walk around the property making friends with the animals while sipping on a Blue Goose wine!
City Winery
609 Lafayette St, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 324-1010
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Happy Hour: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.Â
City Winery is not only a winery that strives to satisfy all guests, but they also take pride in culinary arts and music. The establishment offers a fully functioning winery, small concerts, food and wine classes, private events and fine dining. The company’s mantra is “Indulge the Senses,” as they hope each experience has the perfect combination of sounds, smells and tastes. When visiting City Winery, you can experience The Barrel Room, enjoy their specialized menu and choose from over 400 wines from the best winemaking regions around the world. Check the calendar for featured concerts and special events. Add to your wine tasting experience with live music and food when you visit City Winery!
Grinder’s Switch Winery
2119 Hwy 50 West Loop, Centerville, TN 37033 • (931) 729-3690
Hours: Everyday, noon to 5 p.m.
1310 Clinton St #125, Nashville, TN 37203 • (615) 679-0646
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m
There’s nothing better than a family-owned winery that puts their heart and soul into every bottle of wine. Joey and Gale Chessor made their dream a reality when they opened a seven-acre vineyard in the midst of 110 acres of rolling hills and beautiful trees on their family estate. Inside their once family cabin home sits the vineyard’s cozy tasting room that provides guests with a true Southern feel. With a tank room that can hold over 15,000 gallons of wine, guests will never go thirsty!
The family decided to expand to the city in 2015 when they opened their second location inside the historic Marathon Village. For those who want to try some of Tennessee’s best wines but don’t want to travel far, this city-based location has wines that taste like they came right off the vine!
Mountain Valley Winery
2174 Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 • (865) 453-6334
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tours: Everyday, noon to 5 p.m.Â
Since opening in 1991, Mountain Valley Winery has focused on mainly French- and German-style wines with a few sweet fruit wines. Set within the Great Smoky Mountains area, Mountain Valley is one of the largest wineries in the state. Mountain Valley strives to serve the best sweet fruit wines in the country, and they have succeeded with over 500 award-winning wines since opening their doors. Make a weekend out of it and road trip to Pigeon Forge for delicious wines and good company!
Sugarland Cellars Winery
1133 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 • (865) 325-1110
Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Tours: Thursday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. beginning at the start of every half hour.
Spend a day in the Smoky Mountains when visiting Sugarland Cellars. This Tennessee winery uses their on-site crafted wine as a storytelling tool — each label shares a piece of history about the Smokies. Sugarland’s wines are sourced from grapes grown by regional farmers who have been farming for years. The majority of the winery team workers are from East Tennessee, so guests will truly get a local vibe. Offering tours of their winemaking facility, Sugarland makes sure all guests feel at home while tasting a little bit of the Smokies.
Nashville Urban Winery
715 Main Street Nashville TN 37206 • (615) 619-0202
Hours: Monday through Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m.; Thursday and Friday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
In the heart of Music City, Nashville Urban Winery is not only a winery but a restaurant and bar. You’ll find a selection of red and white wines, plus a rosé and prosecco, and cocktails. Pair your wines with something to eat. Start with a dip to share before digging into pizza. We have our eye on the Biance (four-cheese blend, garlic and sunflower pesto on an oil base) paired with the Anonymous Cabernet Sauvignon.
Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel
4125 Whites Creek Pike, Whites Creek, TN 37189 • (615) 878-4382
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Natchez Hills Winery features Old World wines within a 3,000-square-foot Northern Californian-style building. The room has a large wine bar where you can grab your wine and sit by the fireplace inside or on the patio overlooking the Tennessee hills. Enjoy an intimate afternoon while learning about wines from the various knowledgeable tasting room staff. Experience the unique combination of Southern charm mixed with Northern Californian atmosphere with Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel!
Smoky Mountain Winery
450 Cherry St, Gatlinburg, TN 37738 • (865) 436-7551
Hours: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Smoky Mountain Winery holds the title of the oldest winery in East Tennessee. If you’re in the Smoky Mountain area and mention fine wine, chances are you’ll be directed to this long-standing winery. Behind their famous name lies hundreds of regional, national and international awards. Enjoy more than 20 of these award-winning wines with a free tasting in their tasting room. Don’t forget to stop by their gift shop to take home something to remember your visit.
Tennessee Mountainview Winery
346 Union Grove Rd NE, Charleston, TN 37310 • (423) 479-7311
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday and Monday, noon to 8 p.m.Â
Tennessee Mountainview is different from other wineries as guests can pick their own fruit and try wines made from the fruit, too. With picture-worthy views of the Appalachian Mountains, the vineyard has been sitting in the rolling hills of East Tennessee since 1965. The family-owned winery offers over 28 varieties of muscadines along with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries, all adding different notes to each bottle. Try the vineyard’s wines and leave with a little piece of Tennessee Mountainview Winery with any of their four fresh fruits.
Cheers!Â
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Pair a little food with your wine! Visit these local restaurants we love.
