Oak Ridge Today

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

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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.

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

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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.

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Nine Lakes Wine Festival returns to Oak Ridge, Knoxville

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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…]