Having lived in Sevierville, TN for the last 10 years as a “dry” county it has always been humorous to me the abundance of wineries located within such a small area. A twenty minute drive down to Gatlinburg, TN was for the longest time the go to place when it came to getting a drink, even in a can. Alcohol has moved its way into Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, but still lacks a place to buy liqueur. Fortunately, there are several places to taste and purchase all the wines available in this area.
Hillside Winery
1-877-908-9460
229 Collier Drive,
Sevierville, TN 37862
The newest winery in Sevierville, TN, Hillside Winery is the first stop on what’s called The Rocky Top Wine Trail, followed by the Apple Barn Winery, and finally the Mountain Valley Vineyards Winery. It’s free to stop in and sample the wines. Hillside Winery offers mostly Italian-style wines. You sample roughly ten different wines at each location, so plan ahead if you are driving. Keep in mind, if not leaving with a case of wine, the Pigeon Forge Trolley picks up and drops off at all these locations for .50 cents a ride. Much less than a cab! They usually give out souvenir wine glasses after tastings and glancing at the massive wine tanks and resident grizzly bear “Rocky” is a must. Reasonable pricing and friendly, informative staff will quench your thirst!
Apple Barn Winery
(865) 428-6850220
220 Apple Valley Rd,
Sevierville, TN 37862
Classic to Pigeon Forge, TN as the Apple Barn Restaurant is the Apple Barn Winery also located in the Apple Barn Village. As beautiful as the Smoky Mountains get, this winery is enhanced by the smells of the surrounding action, including two restaurants, a creamery, candy store, gift shop, and more all surrounded by an apple orchard. The Apple Barn Winery is now accompanied by a sister winery opened in Gatlinburg, TN at the entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park called Sugarland Cellars. Both locations are rich with stories and the history of Pigeon Forge, TN and offer unique wines made on site and a variety of “sweet” dessert fruit wines at the Apple Barn Winery that you won’t forget. They promise a vibrant and knowledgeable staff and that’s what you get!
Mountain Valley Vineyards
(865) 453-63342174
2174 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Your final stop on The Rocky Top Wine Trail is the Mountain Valley Vineyards that focus on French and German style wines as a well as a great selection of dessert wines. Mountain Valley Winery is located on the right side of the road just past the Titanic Museum almost in view of the Apple Barn Village once you pass over the Pigeon Forge line out of Sevierville, TN. A beautiful building inside and out you can watch them crush grapes and make some of their award winning wines most of the year. Once at this location, if you’re not ready to call it a day, you’re in walking distance of several nice restaurants, dinner shows, and local attractions.
Smoky Mountain Winery
(865) 436-7551
450 Cherry St, #2
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
The oldest winery in the heart of Gatlinburg, this is a traditional winery with over 20 award winning wines to sample. Smoky Mountain Winery unfortunately lacks a tour some days, but does have beautiful surroundings and is located within a unique shopping area. The tasting room is quaint and the samples come in small plastic cups which are not my favorite. With a large selection of fine wines and a great blackberry wine sworn to be made free of grapes with 100% natural blackberries, Smoky Mountain Winery will leave you with something to remember.
Sugarland Cellars
(865) 325-1110
Toll Free: 1-855-228-5217
1133 Parkway
Gatlinburg,TN 37738
E-mail: [email protected]
The newest addition to the family of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, TN wineries and furthers away, the elegant Sugarland Cellars Winery is .8 miles (2 minutes) away from Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN on the right side of the road and is making its mark. Sugarland Cellars has a mix of wines from both the Apple Barn Winery and the Hillside Winery, but still offer some its own. Fun wine freezers are for sale and as samples and their amazing Sangria is perfect to finish your day of sampling some of Tennessee oldest and best wine.
Online coupons and local discounts are available many times a year for most of these locations. Visiting the local wineries is a great way to spend an afternoon learning something new without spending a fortune in Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg, TN.
Please check out my other local guides for Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, TN, articles and my do it yourself website with money saving tips for the home and garden @ www.DIYforanyone.com.