Fun Fruit Wine Facts
Are you looking for wine that’s a bit different from typical grape wine? Fruit wine might be your answer!
What is fruit wine?
Fruit wine refers to the fermented alcoholic beverage made from any fruit other than grapes. The history of fruit wines dates back to Mesopotamia, where people used figs, dates, and watermelons to produce wine. The alcohol content of fruit wines is very similar to grape wines, with an average of 10 to 15% ABV. However, fruit wines do not improve with age, and we suggest drinking fruit wine within a year from its production. Like white wine, chilling fruit wine enhances its unique fruity flavors.Â
Watermelon Wines
If you’ve ever wondered what summer might taste like, watermelon wine might be the closest you can get. Watermelon wine is usually light, sweet, and refreshing, making it the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer day, or even to evoke the feeling of summer on a cold winter day to make it feel like summer again. The history of watermelon wine in the Americas dates back to Spanish colonizers, and other countries started producing it in the 20th century. Nowadays, you can find watermelon wine in countries ranging from South Africa to Japan. You can even find it in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at our Mountain Valley Winery! Our watermelon wine tastes just like a watermelon jolly rancher and is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Apple Wines
While most people associate apples with soft or hard ciders (which you can explore here), apple wine is a lesser-known, but just as delicious option for enjoying apple-based beverages. One significant difference between hard apple cider and apple wine is the alcohol content. Hard ciders must remain under 7% ABV, while anything exceeding that is classified as wine. Apple wine has deep roots in German history and continues to be an integral part of German culture. Although Frankfurt, Germany is known for its variety of apple wines, you can find a fantastic selection in Sevierville, Tennessee, at the Apple Barn Winery. They offer various options, including plain apple wine as well as blends, such as Apple Pomegranate or Apple Strawberry. Â
Blackberry Wines
People have long enjoyed blackberry wines, with origins tracing back to the Ancient Greeks and Romans. Croatia dominates as a producer of blackberry wine, as it holds great cultural significance and many Croatians consume it for its high iron content. However, if Croatia is too far for you, you can visit Hillside Winery in Sevierville, where you can savor their best-selling Black and Blue wine, a beautiful blend of blackberries and blueberries.
Cherry Wines
Many parts of the world produce cherry wine, and each region adds its own unique twist to the beverage. Michigan, for example, is a prime location for tart-cherry wine production. In Denmark, Cherry Kijafa is a popular cherry wine that is fortified by adding a distilled spirit, typically brandy. Here in the south, we prefer to keep things sweet, evidenced by the popular Cherry-Kee wine at Sugarland Cellars in Gatlinburg. They exclusively make their wine from 100% black cherries.