Wineries in Tennessee

During the 1800's Tennessee thought that perhaps wine growing would be the next big cash crop. The cultivated the land and planted various different cultivars of grapes, and started to flourish. However, by the time it started getting in full swing, Prohibition hit in 1919. This effectively shut down nearly 100 years of growth and economy. Tennessee had to find other means to supplement their way of life, but worse than that, the land was stripped of some early vineyards that would have been lovely to keep for nostalgic purposes. With the ban, there are no vineyards that can boast 200 years of service and production. Prohibition took more than alcohol off the shelves; it took a historical market and way of life. Perhaps this is why the vineyards of France and Italy are considered the finer markets, not for the better grape or taste, but from the history of never having to completely remove and strip bare its lands, just to restart later.

Eventually after the ban was indeed lifted the vineyards and wineries once again started to flourish. People planted row after row of grapes and local favorites like the muscadine. The cellars started to be stocked, and more wine was being produced than even before the Prohibition ban took place. Today, The Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Association keeps Tennessee wineries tightly knit as an award winning part of its growth and development. They have rules and regulations to become a member, and they try to keep the highest award winning standard to their wines and vineyards.