When you think of the Smokies, your mind may first land upon moonshine. From the toe-tapping sounds of live music and samples at the Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler in downtown Gatlinburg to the Sugarlands Distillery – and everything in between – moonshine is a big part of the culture in the Great Smoky Mountains. But for the 21-and-over crowd, it doesn’t stop at moonshine! In fact, wine is another important part of the Smokies, with local wineries and awesome events held throughout the year!
One of the most popular events is the Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend, presented by Courtyard by Marriott, held in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Perfect for bachelorette parties, mother-daughter trips, a weekend catching up with high school friends, or romantic escapes, this wine-filled event features the best from local wineries, so you can sample and sip away. And of course, they’ll have some great local foods to nosh on while you enjoy. What could make this better? The backdrop of the gorgeous Great Smoky Mountains!
2019 Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend
April 12 – 13, 2019
At the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
556 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
865.277.8989
The 2019 Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend will kick off with the Gatlinburg Wine Tour on Friday, April 12. You can register and check in from 5 – 6 p.m. before getting started on the tour at 6 p.m. There are limited tickets available, so please be sure to RSVP and get your tickets ahead of time! Once the tour’s over, you can grab a bite to eat or head back to your cozy cabin for a night of relaxation and rejuvenation before starting again the next day!
On Saturday, get ready for the Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest from 1 – 6 p.m. During the event, sanctioned by the Tennessee Farm Wine Growers Alliance, enjoy samples from wineries across Tennessee and local food pairings. Plus, you’ll get a souvenir wine glass with your ticket! 2019 may bring even more vendors, but the 2018 lineup was pretty impressive! 2018 included:
- Amber Falls Winery
- Apple Barn Winery
- Beans Creek Winery
- Cades Cove Cellars
- Goodwater Winery & Vineyards
- Grinder’s Switch Winery
- Hillside Winery
- Keg Springs Winery
- Mill Bridge Winery
- Mountain Valley Winery
- Natchez Hills Winery
- Paris Winery
- Sugarland Cellars
- Sumner Crest Winery
- Tennessee Homemade Wines
- Trazo Meadery
- Wyile Cider
The Rocky Top Wine Trail
With 5 wineries located within 12 miles of each other – beautifully situated in the Great Smoky Mountains – Rocky Top Wine Trail is one stop you don’t want to miss on your trip to Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge. Tours are always free, and if you grab a passport at the first winery and get it stamped at each stop you make, you’ll get a FREE logo wine glass after 3 locations and another FREE gift if you visit all 5!
All in all, you’ll find 70+ different wines to try, offering you plenty of options for a day or weekend of sampling. You can even get free tours of the wine cellars and tank rooms from 12 to 5 p.m. at Mountain Valley Winery, Sugarland Cellars, and Hillside Winery. Oh, and don’t forget the food and wine pairing events like 2018’s:
Rocky Top Breakfast Wine Trail | March
A glass of wine & breakfast foods
At Mountain Valley Winery, Hillside Winery, and Sugarland Cellars Winery
Commemorative coffee mug
Souvenir wine glass (after visiting 3)
Rocky Top Picnic Wine Trail | June
A glass of wine & picnic foods
At Mountain Valley Winery, Hillside Winery, and Sugarland Cellars Winery
Commemorative tumbler glass
Souvenir wine glass (after visiting 3)
Rocky Top Chocolate Wine Trail | October
A glass of wine & hand-crafted desserts
At Mountain Valley Winery, Hillside Winery, and Sugarland Cellars Winery
Commemorative taster glass
Souvenir wine glass (after visiting 3)
After the Wine Tastings
After you’re done touring and tasting, you’ll want a great place to take back your selected bottles of wine or just relax and unwind. Our Gatlinburg cabins and Pigeon Forge cabins are perfect picks. Packed with amenities, they feature perks like outdoor hot tubs, mountain views, indoor jetted tubs, big screen TVs, fully equipped kitchens (where you can whip up your own wine pairings), and more! Some even have private indoor pools, game rooms, and movie theaters!