The rich Appalachian soil of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area produces the superior fruits used in making the Gatlinburg area’s prize-winning wines. Tour the Rocky Top Wine Trail for a sampling of first-class wine from each of five area wineries, all within 12 miles of each other. Visit each of the wineries for a tasting, to purchase unique local wines and to browse the gift shops which are filled with items unique to the area. Patient and knowledgeable guides are happy to answer your questions.
Rocky Top Wine Trail Wineries
Eagle Springs Winery features honey, dry and semi-sweet wines. Among the wines offered are Wohali Legend, Courage, Honeymoon, Blushing Eagle, Nectar, Wildfire, Screaming Apricot and Pride of the South.
Mountain Valley Winery features French and German style wines. Among the wines offered are Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cynthiana, Gewurztraminer, Mountain Valley Blush and Muscadine.
Apple Barn Winery features fruity wines, apple and apple blends.
Hillside Winery features Italian style and bubbly wines. Among these are
Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Raspberry Blush, Cantina Bianca and Spumante.
Sugarland Cellars features Smoky Mountain favorites. Catchy names like 1802, Trillium, Martha Jane Rose, Baskins Creek Blanc, Wiley Oakely , Magnolia, and Cherry-Kee are among the Sugarland Cellars wines.
Sugarland Cellars has also successfully created and released two limited edition wines recently. The first was released in September 2012 and was named Autumn’s Path. The wine was so popular and the bottles went so fast that Sugarland Cellars created another limited edition wine that was released in November 2012. Only two barrels (1,000 bottles) of this delicious cherry port, Winter’s Blessings, was made. It, too, was extremely well received. Part of the proceeds of every bottle sold was donated to Friends of the Smokies, an organization chartered with protecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Consider joining the Rocky Top Wine Club for the best experience and discounts at a winery in Gatlinburg and several in the Smoky Mountains. Members join for free and among the benefits they are the first to receive special wines (offered at a discount), prior to the wine being offered for sale to the general public. There are three clubs from which to choose; sweet, mix or dry club. Twice per year, members receive a shipment of six bottles of wine and are given the first opportunity to order more. Members also receive quarterly newsletters and advance notice of any upcoming events.
From dry wines to semi-sweet to sweet, the wines made from the local fruits by the Gatlinburg area wineries are award-winning and among the best in the country. Tour the wineries on your next visit and learn about Gatlinburg’s rich history and the fine art of winemaking from the experts.
