In addition to being a popular family vacation spot, the Pigeon Forge area has become a leading destination for wine lovers. You can sample a variety of the region’s best wines along the Rocky Top Wine Trail, which features five wineries within 12 miles. On this free tour, you can try more than 60 unique varieties of wine and learn more about the winemaking process. To participate in the tour, you just have to pick up or download a free passport and take it with you to each Pigeon Forge winery. In addition to wine tastings, you will receive free gifts as your passport gets stamped. The following are the five wineries you can visit on the Rocky Top Wine Trail:
Eagle Springs Winery
Eagle Springs Winery specializes in honey-based wines. This winery opened in 2012, and was built on the site of a large log cabin. Wines are created from a blend of alfalfa, wildflower, and clover honeys, which are mixed with water and fermented to produce sweet and delicious wines. Some wines that you can find here include Shiraz, a dry red wine; Red Feather, a semi-sweet multi-flavor wine; and Courage, a dry white wine. In addition to being a stop on the Rocky Top Wine Trail, Eagle Springs Winery is available for special events such as parties and business meetings.
Sugarland Cellars
Wines at Sugarland Cellars are made from locally grown grapes, harvested by farmers who have been in East Tennessee for many generations. Some favorites made by this winery include Mountain Laurel, a traditional sweet, Southern wine; Baskins Creek Blanc, a semi-sweet wine featuring honey and citrus; and Elkmont, a sweet wine made with loganberries. When you stop here on the Rocky Top Wine Trail, you can also take the opportunity to learn more about the area’s history.
Mountain Valley Winery
Mountain Valley Winery is an award-winning Pigeon Forge winery that has been producing wine since 1991. Some of the wines you might sample on this stop on the tour include sweet wines, such as Winterfest Red; semi-sweet wines, such as Mountain Valley Blush; and dry wines, such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Apple Barn Winery
The Apple Barn Winery makes wine from delicious local apples. They also make a variety of grape wines. You can find it by the banks of the Little Pigeon River, next to the Apple Barn General Store & Cider Mill. Some of their most popular wines include Apple Blush, a semi-sweet blend of apple and grape; Vineyard White, a dry, oak-aged blend of grape varieties; and Apple-Strawberry, a perfect blend of two sweet fruits. You can observe wines being created from the glass viewing area when you stop here on your tour of the Rocky Top Wine Trail.
Hillside Winery
Hillside Winery specializes in bubbly and Italian style wines. Some of the wines you might sample here include Cantina Bianca, a sweet Italian wine; Raspberry Blush, a semi-sweet blend of raspberry and white grape; and Zinfandel, a dry Italian wine. Hillside Winery also carries many other delectable products, such as homemade wine jelly, sausages, and Sweetwater Valley cheeses.
If you appreciate good wine, the Rocky Top Wine Trail is an essential stop when you’re in the Smoky Mountains. If you find a new favorite from a Pigeon Forge winery, be sure to take a bottle home to share with your friends! For more great vacation activities, check out our guide to What to Do in Pigeon Forge.