If you're a wine enthusiast, you'll love the beautiful wine country of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. Huh? Yep, you read correctly. The crafty residents discovered that the hills and valleys in and around the Great Smoky Mountains have just the right soil and climate for vineyards, and they're proud to share their many award-winning wines with the public. Take a tour of some of the area wineries and sample their nectar.
Mountain Valley Winery: Located in Pigeon Forge, this is Tennessee's largest winery. Housed on a working farm, free tours are offered daily to the public, and friendly, knowledgeable staff are ready to answer any questions you might have about the process. Taste their award-winning wines, and purchase your favorites by the bottle or by the case. Visit their gift shop for other Tennessee farm products, including delicious cheeses.
Long Hollow Winery and Vineyards: Take the drive to Goodlettsville to visit this winery, owned and operated by Grand Ole Opry star Stu Phillips and his wife, Aldona. Housed in a unique replica of a monastery, the winery specializes in dry, semi-sweet, and sweet red and white wines. Some of the most popular varieties include blackberry, blush, Chancellor, chardonnay, concord, Muscadine and Niagra. Call ahead for a personalized tour and concert. Complimentary wine tasting is offered daily.
Smoky Mountain Winery: This Gatlinburg winery opened in 1981 and has received hundreds of regional, national and international awards for its wines. Take a free tour of the production and sample more than 20 of the wonderful wines. Ranging from dry whites to full-bodied reds, the signature varieties include Mountain Music, LeConte white, Brookside white, autumn splendor, Muscadine red and blueberry. You'll find Smoky Mountain Winery in Winery Square in Gatlinburg on the East Parkway.
Apple Barn Winery: The Apple Barn is a really neat place to visit. It uses apple cider as a base for wonderful dry, semi-sweet and dessert wines. This antique barn sits amid 4,000 apple trees in a beautiful valley. There's an excellent tasting center to sample the wines. Be sure to try the strawberry apple. Also on site are a restaurant, candy house, and a general store featuring all kinds of sauces, jams, jellies, mixes, flours and home decor items. The Apple Barn is located on Apple Valley Road in nearby Sevierville.
Biltmore Estate Winery: Take the scenic drive to Asheville, located on I-40, east of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to visit one of the most visited wineries in the United States. The vineyards were established in 1971 with French-American hybrids, planted just below the famous Biltmore House. The winery has received many national and international awards for its wines, including the Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, Chateau Reserve Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Behind-the-scenes tours and wine tastings are offered daily to vistors. The beautiful wine shop offers gourmet foods and cooking accessories in addition to wines.
To experience a great wine and food event, check out the Franklin Wine Festival, held each year in October in Franklin, Tennessee. Many of the events center around pairing award-winning wines with gourmet meals. Experienced vintners and chefs work together to create unforgettable dining experiences for participants. Taste more than 300 wines from around the world, and get the chance to purchase hard-to-find wines in the silent auction. This is a wonderful celebration for anyone who appreciates fine foods and world-class wines.
If you're still not convinced that this mountain region is the South's answer to Napa Valley, come check it out for yourself. You will be amazed - not only for the wonderful wineries, but also because of the stunning vistas of the mountains, valleys, rivers and streams, along with all the rich history of the area.
This tidbit of real travel advice was contributed by Holly Abee.