Tennessee will probably always be more closely pinned to whiskey on the alcohol front, but our state’s winemaking presence has been growing consistently over the past few decades.
We may not have a “wine country” proper just yet, but we do have a broad family of wineries and vineyards spread west to east, bottling creations we can be proud to share a home state with (and happy to drink).
Not super familiar with Tennessee wine on the whole? You have an easy way to get acquainted, coming up: the first Sip TN Wine Festival, designed to “showcase Tennessee wine at its finest.”
What that means, specifically: Dozens of Tennessee wineries are coming out to the Nashville Farmers Market on Saturday, Nov. 11, to offer tastes of and info about what they’re making and bottling. And organizers have wrangled an event that’ll let local wine lovers make a day of exploring and sipping, with live music, food trucks, artisan vendors and lots more.
There’s an educational component to the Sip TN Wine Festival, too, with seminars and classes focused on fitting topics, from cooking to wine/food pairing.
If you fall in love with certain wines at the fest, you’ll be able to take some home — all wineries will have bottles for sale, along with tasting options.
Just a few of the participating Tennessee wineries you’ll be able to meet/greet/sample that Saturday:
— Belle Meade Winery from right here in the Belle Meade area, founded in 2009 as a way to fundraise the ongoing preservation of Belle Meade Plantation.
— Arrington’s Arrington Vineyards, probably best-known for their picturesque tasting rooms and vineyards, pictured above (and famous co-owner Kix Brooks).
— Clarksville’s Beachaven Vineyards and Winery, one of the area’s longstanding players (with more than 30 years of producing).
— Grinder’s Switch (called one of “The South’s Best Vineyards” by Southern Living), with vineyards in Centerville and a space here in Nashville’s Marathon Village.
— Crossville’s Stonehaus Winery, another longstanding Tennessee winemaker (26 years and counting).
— Natchez Hills, with a vineyard and winery in Hampshire, and tasting rooms here in Nashville, at both Fontanel and the Nashville Farmer’s Market.
The event runs the bulk of the afternoon, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and tickets give you access to the fest area (with vendors/music/etc.), access to tastings from all participating wineries and a souvenir wine glass.
If you grab yours online ahead of the fest, general admission tickets run $45 per person. (Day of the event, it jumps up to $55.)
Added good that comes from attendance: Half of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Friends of the Nashville Farmers’ Market Non-Profit, which helps support vendors, market events and the market itself.
Into it? Learn more about the Sip TN Wine Festival and grab your tickets at siptn.com.
Related, if you’re looking for a new home near your favorite Middle Tennessee winery — or a Nashville home with a wondrous wine cellar — we’d be thrilled to help you find it. Reach ACRE here, or for an easy way to get your Nashville-area househunting process started, fill out this quick form.