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Nine Lakes Winemaker’s Market is Saturday, precautions in place

Posted at 9:44 am September 10, 2020
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Bottles of Tennessee wine not found in stores will be for sale at the Nine Lakes Winemaker’s Market at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (Photo courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

The fourth annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been converted to a safer, spread out, open-air “Winemaker’s Market” on Saturday, September 12, a press release said. The festival is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge.

“All of our winemakers will be wearing masks, and we ask that the public does, too,” said event director Rebecca Williams. “They will be spread out in the park, with at least 10 feet between vendor tents, and we may have to limit ticket sales to allow for social distancing.”

The event will not offer wine samples to taste this year.

“The state will not allow it, and we agree it would not be a safe thing to do,” Williams said. “Instead, we’re offering a unique shopping event, sort of like a farmer’s market for wine. Tennessee wines are not generally sold in stores, so you really have to come to an event or drive out to a winery to find them.”

Thirteen local wineries will be represented at the event. General admission tickets are $10, and they benefit United Way of Anderson County. They include a wine tote and tasting glass to take home, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Community, Festivals, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Tennessee Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers, James R. Riddle, Melton Lake Park, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, Oak Ridge, Rebecca Williams, United Way of Anderson County, Winemakers Market

South’s only human-powered wine barrel race benefits charities at Tennessee wine festival

Posted at 11:38 am May 29, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival will be held Friday, May 31-Saturday, June 1, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. It will include the South’s only human-powered wine barrel race. Girls Inc. is shown participating in the race above in 2018. (Photo courtesy Nine Lakes Wine Festival)

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival will be held Friday, May 31-Saturday, June 1, in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival will include two events celebrating Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. The festival will benefit up to 24 charities in East Tennessee, and it will also include food trucks, shaded seating, live music, and the South’s only human-powered wine barrel race.

“Rollers can earn cash for their favorite East Tennessee charity, and the fastest rollers each hour win a bottle of wine!” a press release said.

The festival’s Grand Tasting is from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 1. It will feature 17 wineries sampling more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders, along with live music and the Barrels of Fun Charity Race.

Live music will be featured in the park’s pavilion throughout the day by Wild Blue Yonder, Josh Cottrell, and Carolina Story. Food vendors will be at the festival, and festival goers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the evening by Melton Lake, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Festivals, Front Page News, Nonprofits, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers, Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, Barrel of Fun Charity Race, Carolina Story, Celebrate Oak Ridge, Grand Tasting, human-powered wine barrel race, James R. Riddle, Josh Cottrell, Melton Lake Park, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, VIP Taste of Gold, Wild Blue Yonder, wine barrel race

Nine Lakes Wine Festival is May 31-June 1

Posted at 11:42 am April 18, 2019
By John Huotari 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)

The third annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival has been scheduled for May 31-June 1 in Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. The festival celebrates Tennessee wines and ciders that are 100 percent locally made. Plus, the festival is home to the South’s only human-powered wine barrel race, benefitting 24 local charities, a press release said.

The Grand Tasting is Saturday, June 1, from 3 to 8 p.m., on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park, featuring 17 wineries sampling more than 100 Tennessee wines and ciders. Festival-goers can receive a complimentary tasting glass and a six-compartment wine tote, the press release said. They may purchase bottles of wine directly from the winemakers, and enjoy shopping with local artisans at the festival as well.

From 4 to 7 p.m., festival participants are invited to join in the Barrels of Fun Charity Race, in which pairs of rollers can earn cash for their chosen charity. “Winning teams will receive a bottle of Tennessee wine!” the press release said.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Community, Festivals, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, barrel race, Barrels of Fun Charity Race, Brick Oven Bus, Burchfield's Restaurant, Carolina Story, Celebrate Oak Ridge, ciders, Cruisin' Cuisin, David Slack Trio, Explore Oak Ridge, Grand Tasting, human-powered wine barrel race, James R. Riddle, Josh Cottrell, Mark Gillerand, Melton Lake Park, music, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, Penne For Your Thoughts, Rebecca Williams, Tennessee wine, Tennessee wines, The Depot Printhouse, winemakers, wines

Nine Lakes Wine Festival returns to Oak Ridge, Knoxville

Posted at 11:21 pm May 13, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville. The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville. The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19, 2018. (Submitted photo)

 

The second annual Nine Lakes Wine Festival is this week with three days of events celebrating the best in Tennessee wines in Oak Ridge and West Knoxville.

The festival is scheduled from Thursday, May 17, to Saturday, May 19.

The main event is the Grand Tasting from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 19, on the waterfront at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. This event features more than 15 Tennessee wineries pouring more than 100 locally made wines and ciders, with live music, chef demonstrations by The Savory Whisk, and wine seminars by a variety of Tennessee wine experts, a press release said.

Music will be provided by the Nashville band Arts Fishing Club and two East Tennessee bands, Wild Blue Yonder and KUDZU.

Two other smaller events are offered earlier in the week: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Community, Entertainment, Food, Front Page News, Music, Slider, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers, Arts Fishing Club, Celebrate Oak Ridge, chef demonstrations, Chef’s Table Wine Dinner, Foothills Wine & Cider Trail, Grand Tasting, Great Valley Wine Trail, James R. Riddle, John Alunni, Kudzu, locally made wines and ciders, Melton Lake Park, Michael Coombs, music, Nicole Riddle, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, Oak Ridge, Rocky Top Wine Trail, Tennessee wine experts, Tennessee wineries, Tennessee wines, The Cutting Edge Classroom, The Savory Whisk, The Upper Cumberland Wine Trail, The Winery at Seven Springs Farm, VIP Taste of Gold, West Knoxville, Wild Blue Yonder, winemakers

Reminder: First-ever Nine Lakes Wine Festival is today

Posted at 8:59 am May 20, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Nine Lakes Wine Festival Logo

Reminder: The first-ever Nine Lakes Wine Festival is today (Saturday, May 20) at the Melton Lake Park peninsula in Oak Ridge.

The festival focuses on the wine trails of the eastern half of Tennessee and their award-winning wines, a press release said. It bears the name “Nine Lakes” from the nine lakes made by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the Knoxville area.

“The beauty of our waterfront Melton Lake Park is perfect for a wine festival,” said Marc DeRose, president of Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, which is one of the sponsoring partners for the event.

Nine Lakes Wine Festival is featuring 20 wineries that participate in five different wine trails. They will be grouped by trail, for a seamless tasting experience, the press release said.

“We are highlighting wine trails because they set quality and professional standards for their members,” explained James R. Riddle, president of the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, one of the sponsors of the festival. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Business, Community, Slider Tagged With: and two new ones, Appalachian High Country Wine Trail, Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, Barrels of Fun Charity Race, Explore Oak Ridge, Foothills Wine & Cider Trail, Great Valley Wine Trail, James R. Riddle, Marc DeRose, Melton Lake Park, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, Oak Ridge, Rocky Top Wine Trail, Upper Cumberland Wine Trail

New wine festival to focus on quality, wine trails, Nine Lakes region

Posted at 12:35 am January 24, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Nine Lakes Wine Festival Logo

The first-ever Nine Lakes Wine Festival will be held May 19-20 in Oak Ridge.

The festival will focus on the wine trails of the eastern half of Tennessee and their award-winning wines, a press release said. The festival is just 30 minutes from downtown Knoxville, and it bears the name “Nine Lakes” from the nine lakes made by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the Knoxville area.

“The beauty of our waterfront Melton Lake Park is perfect for a wine festival,” said Marc DeRose, president of Explore Oak Ridge, the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau, which is one of the sponsoring partners for the event.

Nine Lakes Wine Festival will feature 20 wineries that participate in five different wine trails. They will be grouped by trail, for a seamless tasting experience, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Community, Entertainment, Front Page News, Music, Top Stories Tagged With: Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, Barrels of Fun Charity Race, Explore Oak Ridge, Grand Tasting, James R. Riddle, Marc DeRose, Melton Lake Peninsula, Nine Lakes, Nine Lakes Wine Festival, wine festival, wine tourism, Winemakers Dinner

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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