While the Smoky Mountains may be famous for moonshine, there are quite a few spectacular wineries in the area. If you’re in town for a couple’s escape or a getaway with your friends, trying some of the local wines can be a lot of fun. Best of all, the wineries in Sevier County offer tastings that are completely free! Here are the top 10 wineries in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains:
About Rocky Top and Gatlinburg Wine Trails
Since so many wineries have come to the Smokies, there are now two wine trails you can be a part of. The Rocky Top Wine Trail includes wineries in Pigeon Forge and Sevierville. Then, there is a Gatlinburg Wine Trail. You can visit all of the wineries along the trails, and you’ll receive a special wine passport. When you get your official Wine Trail Passport stamped at each location, you’ll get a few free gifts to take home!
1. Tennessee Homemade Wines
Located in the heart of downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee Homemade Wines claims to be the most visited winery in the state. This hugely popular Gatlinburg winery uses a hundred-year-old family recipe to produce around a dozen varieties of superb wine. Tennessee Homemade Wines specializes in sweet wines made from locally grown fruits and berries. Some of the most-buzzed-about wines at the shop include the White Knuckle Grape, Blackberry, and Niagara.
2. Smoky Mountain Winery
Smoky Mountain Winery is the oldest winery in East Tennessee! Over the decades, this legendary winery has won hundreds of regional, national, and even international awards. Guests at Smoky Mountain Winery will find more than 20 wines to choose from, including Raspberry, Peach, and Muscadine. When you visit Winery Square, we suggest walking over to Smoky Mountain Farms Jelly House, which offers free samples of numerous jams, jellies, and butters.
3. Gatlinburg Wine Cellar
Gatlinburg Wine Cellar is located in the heart of Gatlinburg. It first opened its doors for business in 2017, and since then has offered free tastings to both visitors and locals. They are right at the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, so you can stop by after a day exploring everything the park has to offer. Enjoy locally made wines like their special Apple Pie and Birthday Cake flavors, and you can even purchase a bottle to take with you!
4. Bootleggers Homemade Wine
Bootleggers Homemade Wine is another one of the best wineries in Gatlinburg. Founded by two sisters, Bootleggers makes their Appalachian wines the old-fashioned way, without any special machines or high-tech equipment. These delicious small-batch wines come in a number of unique varieties, including Strawberry, Redneck Reserve Dessert Wine, and White Table Wine. This Gatlinburg winery also has its own shop at The Island in Pigeon Forge.
5. Little Bear Winery
Little Bear Winery offers free tastings daily. It’s located right on the Strip, so you won’t have any trouble finding it. When you’re there, be sure to try a crowd-favorite, their two-berries wine. This wine is made with the perfect blend of blueberries and blackberries, as well as rhubarb wine. Little Bear Winery is part of the Gatlinburg Wine Trail.
6. Sugarland Cellars Winery
Sugarland Cellars is one of the most popular stops along the Gatlinburg Wine Trail. This winery likes to share Gatlinburg’s rich history through its wine. Each bottle includes a story about the Smoky Mountains printed on the label. For instance, the 1802 Century Red is named after the year that Gatlinburg’s first Euro-American settlers arrived and includes the history of the William Ogle Cabin.
7. Mill Bridge Winery
Mill Bridge Winery is located steps away from The Old Mill, one of the most iconic destinations in the Smoky Mountains. This excellent Pigeon Forge winery offers a great selection of sweet wines, semi-sweet wines, seasonal wines, and hard cider. Guests at Mill Bridge can enjoy their wine or cider on the winery’s scenic patio, which overlooks the Little Pigeon River. This is one of the stops along the Rocky Top Wine Trail.
8. Mountain Valley Winery
Mountain Valley Winery specializes mainly in French and German style wines. Some of the vintages at the winery are made from grapes that are grown at an East Tennessee vineyard near the Smokies. In addition to free tastings, this Pigeon Forge winery also offers great tours where you can see the barrel room, watch the wines being bottled, and chat with the winemakers.
9. Apple Barn Winery
Located just steps away from the famous Apple Barn Cider Mill & General Store, the Apple Barn Winery is well known for its apple-based wines. This is one of the most unique wineries near Pigeon Forge TN! All of the apples for the wine are grown onsite at the Apple Barn’s very own orchard. Some of the most popular wines at the Apple Barn Winery include the Apple-Raspberry, Apple-Pomegranate, and Apple-Peach. This wonderful winery is also steps away from two fantastic restaurants, a candy shop, a creamery, and a Christmas-themed shop.
10. Hillside Winery
At Hillside Winery, the focus is on Italian style and sparkling wines. Around 80% of the fruit for Hillside’s wines comes from Tennessee farms, mostly within a hundred miles of the Smoky Mountains. This winery near Pigeon Forge offers fun tours of its facility where guests can check out the champagne tanks and learn all about the winemaking process.
Want to enjoy even more alcohol tastings? Check out these distilleries in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg!
Where to Stay When You Visit a Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge Winery
When you stay with Timber Tops Cabin Rentals, you will be just a short drive from all of these amazing wineries in Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. With everything from 1 bedroom cabins to 15 bedroom cabins, we are guaranteed to have the perfect accommodations for your vacation. To start planning your getaway, browse our selection of cabins in Gatlinburg!
