These days, Tennesee is probably one of the last places both new wine enthusiasts and even connoseurs think of. In fact, Tennessee has been producing wine since the 1800s!
Tennessee is an emerging Southern wine region built on native muscadine grapes, French-American hybrids and a growing share of European vinifera, with more than 100 licensed wineries clustered around Nashville, East Tennessee and the West Tennessee bluffs. In 2026 the state reached a milestone with federal recognition of its Nine Lakes of East Tennessee AVA — a sign of a maturing industry distinct from the state’s better-known whiskey trade.
Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel (Tasting Room – Fontael)
Our Tasting Room at Fontanel is the perfect pairing of old world elegance amidst sweet southern charm. Our knowledgeable staff will help walk you through a tasting of our many varietals, enlightening new wine drinkers ...
Explore Natchez Hills Winery at Fontanel (Tasting Room – Fontael) →Know the wines of Tennessee
Wineries to visit
Best time to visit Tennessee
From Nashville, Arrington Vineyards offers tasting flights, picnic grounds and weekend live music; in East Tennessee, the new Nine Lakes AVA and muscadine specialists like Tsali Notch pair vineyard visits with lake and mountain scenery. Late spring through fall is the season, with muscadine harvest in September–October.
More about Tennessee
Best Wineries to Visit in Tennessee (2026)
- Arrington Vineyards (Arrington) — “Nashville’s Wine Country,” co-owned by country artist Kix Brooks, a 95-acre estate with five tasting rooms and weekend live music from April to November.
- Beachaven Vineyards & Winery (Clarksville) — the oldest single-family-owned winery in Tennessee and the first in Middle Tennessee, open since 1986.
- Tsali Notch Vineyard (Madisonville) — Tennessee’s largest commercial muscadine vineyard, a 202-acre estate in the East Tennessee foothills.
- Century Farm Winery (Jackson) — a designated Tennessee Century Farm making muscadine and other wines, open seven days a week year-round.
Tennessee Wine Tours
Nashville-area wine tours center on Arrington Vineyards, about 25 miles south of the city (most other Nashville tours are whiskey-focused):