The winter layers are starting to come off one by one, and the excitement and beauty of springtime creep in after months of cold weather and long nights. After you have finished spring cleaning, it’s time to get out and soak in some long-awaited sunshine! While I love starting my annual gardening in the yard as my first springtime outdoor activity, there is an area that absolutely flourishes and comes alive in the spring. The Smoky Mountains awaken to new life, both in nature and in the city of Gatlinburg, making this area a fantastic destination for a spring cabin getaway!
Surrounded by the blooming wildflowers, bright green new leaves on the trees, and deep blue skies filled with fluffy white clouds, Gatlinburg hosts one of my favorite events of the season, Smoky Mountain Winefest! So, grab your girlfriends and leave the kids with your husbands for a relaxing girls’ weekend or plan a romantic surprise for your loved one with a charming cabin for 2. This budget-friendly event is packed with awesome perks for a great price, and it is even cheaper when you purchase tickets in advance! Here are 5 highlights and key facts to convince you to toast to fun and exciting beginnings in the mountains at Smoky Mountain Winefest April 14, 2018.
- Great for groups of all sizes and preferences!
Whether you are looking to plan the perfect bachelorette weekend vacation or celebrate an anniversary, this event is a great way to spend your Saturday afternoon between days of relaxing in a mountain cabin and exploring unique Smoky Mountain attractions. The tickets are only $25 in advance, or $30 at the gate, making it a fun day without breaking the bank! - It’s so much more than a wine tasting.
With the best sommeliers and top chef talents of Gatlinburg in attendance, you can learn all about the best food and wine pairings without paying extra money for expensive classes! There are also small dish samples from a handful of the top restaurants in the Smokies, which makes selecting the next location for a romantic dinner or group meal that much easier. - Find a wine you enjoy!
I used to not even look at a restaurant’s wine menu, but thanks to a day spent tasting and learning my likes, dislikes, and even opening myself up to new flavors, I love pairing my food with wines now! (I also shamelessly use it to impress my friends.) Tennessee wineries provide a wide range of tastes, from dry chardonnay to sweet fruit wines, such as the Southern local grape, muscadine. With a 1-ounce sample of any wine at every winery tent, you are sure to find something great. While you already get to come home with a commemorative glass, you can also purchase full bottles of the wines you really like! - Discover all the top local wineries in one location.
While the Rocky Top Wine Trail is a fun way to spend the afternoon as you “tour” Smoky Mountain wine country, the Smoky Mountain Winefest is the perfect way to taste the top award-winning wines of the area without being concerned about the transportation in between. - As if you needed any more excuses to visit the Smokies…
Peaceful, breathtaking views, dreamy mountain cabin living, and hundreds of attractions for every taste and curiosity…the Smoky Mountains have it all, and then some. Smoky Mountain Winefest is the cherry on top of an already wonderful vacation destination among the captivating Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge, TN Cabins not only provides you with a beautiful cabin to fit your party and budget, but offers planning tips, new attractions to explore, and awesome amenity options – just check out our blog!
Here’s a list of last year’s wineries in attendance:
Apple Barn Winery | Cades Cove Cellars | Sugarland Cellars | Sumner Crest Winery | The Winery at Seven Springs | Amber Falls Winery | Beans Creek Winery | Goodwater Vineyards | Grinder’s Switch Winery | Mountain Valley Winery | Hillside Winery | Keg Springs Winery | Mill Bridge Winery | Spout Spring Estates Winery | Lynchburg Winery | Paris Winery | Natchez Hills Winery.
More to Do in Pigeon Forge
So, you know you are attending Smoky Mountain Winefest, but what else can you do to kick off the springtime with friends or your special someone? Wine isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions the South. No, it’s that backwoods, authentic Tennessee moonshine and whiskey. Keep the good times rolling and visit some of the Smokies’ top distilleries for more Southern spirits and free tastings!
Ole Smoky Moonshine (Ole Smoky Whiskey Distillery) is not only Tennessee’s first legal moonshine distillery, but also the most visited distillery in the world, serving up quality good times to 2.5 million visitors every year. Or hang out with friends around the “Sippin’ Post” while tasting some of the finest moonshine in Tennessee at the Sugarlands Distilling Company. Try unique flavors like, “Appalachian Apple Pie” and “Tickle’s Dynamite Cinnamon” while you relax and laugh around Sugarland’s large octagon bar.
