Tennessee’s growing wine industry showcased at Nine Lakes Wine Festival in Oak Ridge

Posted at 11:18 am May 31, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1, 2019, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival, pictured above in 2018, celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. (Photo by Keely Rountree/Courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

Festival at Melton Lake Park celebrates local wineries with 100+ Tennessee wines, ciders May 31-June 1

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this weekend, Friday, May 31, and Saturday, June 1, at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently proclaimed May as Tennessee Grape and Wine Appreciation Month.

The Nine Lakes Wine Festival is open to the ticket-holding public and produced by the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association.

On Friday, May 31, the VIP Taste of Gold will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. featuring only the best in Tennessee wines, a press release said. This all-inclusive evening features gold medal and reserve wines, gourmet small plate foods, and live music by the David Slack Trio.

And then on Saturday, June 1, the Grand Tasting Event will be from 3 to 8 p.m. on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park. This event features 17 wineries pouring more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders, with live music and a “Barrels of Fun Charity Race” benefitting up to 24 local charities, the press release said. The public can sign up to roll wine barrels in support of their favorite Tennessee charities for fun and competition.

Tickets are available at https://www.ninelakeswinefestival.com/.

The Nine Lakes Wine Festival represents the Nine Lakes region of East Tennessee. It’s called that because of the nine lakes surrounding Knoxville. The region has more wine trails, wineries, farm wineries, satellite winery locations, and vineyard acreage than any other part of the state, the press release said.

The 2019 Nine Lakes Wine Festival is produced by the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association and is presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge, a nonprofit organization bringing events to the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, including the Secret City Festival. For more information, visit https://www.ninelakeswinefestival.com/.

The Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association emphasizes wine quality and cooperative tourism by promoting Tennessee wines through a number of events throughout the year and three wine trails in the region: Great Valley Wine Trail, Foothills Wine & Cider Trail, and Rocky Top Wine Trail.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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