Nine Lakes of East Tennessee is state's newest wine region

Tennessee now has a new wine region. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced the Nine Lakes of East Tennessee has become a federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVA), further establishing the state as an emerging leader in the Southeast’s wine industry. Centered around Knoxville, the region encompasses all or portions of Anderson, Blount, Campbell, Claiborne, Cocke, Grainger, Hamblen, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Monroe, Roane, Sevier, and Union counties. The Nine Lakes region is the fourth AVA in the state, which is defined as a grape-growing region recognized for unique geography, climate, soils, and elevation – all factors that determine the character of grapes and wine. These designations help producers communicate a wine’s origin and give consumers a clearer connection to where their wine is produced. For more information about Tennessee agriculture and the state’s wine industry, visit the TDA Viticulture webpage.