Enjoy Quality Assured Wines on the Rocky Top Wine Trail!
What is the Quality Assurance Program (QAP)?
Several wineries in the Great Smoky Mountains area of Tennessee received the status of Quality Certified Wine by the state. The Tennessee Wine and Grape Board is a governor-appointed board that supports the growth of the wine industry in the state. The board created the Quality Assurance Program (QAP) to recognize renowned wines in Tennessee. To be eligible for the program, the wine must be “blended, cellared, produced, vinted, made, or prepared” in accordance with Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau regulations and bottled/packed by a Tennessee winery. The wine must then be assessed through laboratory analysis and independent judging and awarded a Silver medal or above. After this, the wine will become a quality assured wine.
What is the purpose of Quality Assured Wines?
“Quality is the hallmark of a wine region’s reputation,” said Rick Riddle, Chairman of the Tennessee Wine and Grape Board. “The purpose of this Quality Assurance Program is to help catapult the state’s wine industry to the next level by recognizing impressive and distinct wines from Tennessee’s wineries.” Along with the QAP program, the board has also created a “How to Open A Winery in Tennessee” guide. Additionally, the board financially supported various vineyard, winery, and wholesaler initiatives to grow the state’s grape and wine industry. For more information on the program and the Tennessee Grape and Wine Boards initiatives, click here.
Where can you find Quality Assured Wines?
Mountain Valley Winery, located in Pigeon Forge, TN, received QAP approval for 2 of their wines. Mountain Berry wine, a blend of concord grapes and raspberry, and Niagara, a locally sourced sweet white wine. Another property on the Rocky Top Wine Trail, Hillside Winery in Sevierville, TN also received two distinctions. The first for their Honey Blues, a blend of grape, honey and blueberry and second for Birthday Magic, a blend of native white grape and loganberry. Apple Barn Cider House, located in Sevierville, TN, received QAP status for its Simply Muscadine hard cider, made from 100% white muscadine juice and wine, and its BlueBarb hard cider, a blueberry and rhubarb blend. Also located in the Apple Barn, Apple Barn Winery, received QAP status for its Apple Strawberry wine. Click here to shop all the Quality Assured wines and more!
Looking for more information about Tennessee Wines? Visit https://tennesseewines.com
