Posted at 13:41h in News by

The Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance (TFWA) has launched two new wine trails, expanding the state’s wine and cider experiences with the West Tennessee Wine Trail and the Foothills Wine & Cider Trail.

West Tennessee Wine Trail

The West Tennessee Wine Trail features seven wineries throughout the region, inviting visitors to experience locally produced wines and genuine hospitality. The trail winds through rural landscapes and small towns, highlighting producers of dry reds, crisp whites, sweet blends, and rosés.

Foothills Wine & Cider Trail

The Foothills Wine & Cider Trail invites visitors to explore East Tennessee’s mountain heritage and modern winemaking. This trail travels through Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Wears Valley, and Townsend, featuring wineries and cider houses known for muscadine wines, small-batch ciders, and fruit-blended wines. Along the journey, guests can enjoy experiences blending regional history with adventure, enhancing connections to the area’s heritage through outdoor and cultural activities.

Plan Your Visit

Download your free passport at tennesseewines.com and start your Tennessee wine adventure. Sign in to participating wineries to collect points and earn exciting rewards as you explore the state!

These new trails join the statewide Tennessee Wine Trail, which connects wineries from Memphis to the Smoky Mountains, promoting wine tourism and local agriculture throughout the region.

About the Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance

The Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance (TFWA) represents wineries, vineyards, and cider houses across the state, supporting Tennessee’s growing wine and grape industry through marketing, education, and statewide initiatives. TFWA promotes Tennessee-made wines and ciders and works to enhance the state’s reputation as a wine destination.

Visit the Tennessee Wine Trail or follow @TennesseeWines on social media for the latest trail updates. Plan your trip now to support Tennessee wineries and create unforgettable Tennessee wine memories today!

The Tennessee Wine Quality Assurance Program (QAP) has recently expanded, offering more opportunities and faster access to reimbursement for Tennessee wineries. If your winery has not yet participated, now is an excellent time to take advantage of this valuable program.

What Is the Wine Quality Assurance Program?

The Tennessee Wine Quality Assurance Program is a voluntary certification initiative that highlights wines produced in Tennessee that meet rigorous quality standards. Wineries that participate can receive reimbursement for competition entry fees and testing costs, up to $3,000 per year. Wines that meet or exceed specific scoring thresholds are eligible to use the official QAP designation on their bottles and in marketing materials.

Key Updates for 2025

The Tennessee Wine Quality Assurance Program now allows wineries to submit for reimbursement immediately after entering an approved competition—no need to wait for results. Additionally, the list of eligible competitions has expanded to include several new, nationally recognized events.
Below is the complete list of QAP-approved competitions:

Newly Approved for 2025 and Beyond

 

Previously Approved Competitions

  • San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
  • San Francisco International Wine Competition
  • New York International Wine Competition
  • American Wine Society Wine Competition
  • Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
  • East Meets West Wine Competition
  • Great American International Wine Competition
  • Texas International Wine Competition
  • The Rosé Wine Competition
  • Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) – wines scoring 85+ qualify for QAP designation

These updates provide more options and greater flexibility for Tennessee wineries to participate, earn recognition, and benefit from the state-supported QAP program.

Reimbursement Details

  • Wineries can receive up to $195 per wine (SKU) for eligible entries, covering both competition fees and chemistry analysis.
  • The annual reimbursement cap is $3,000 per winery.
  • Wines that score 85 points or higher from BTI or Wine Enthusiast, or receive a medal in an approved competition, may qualify to display the official QAP label.

 

How to Participate

    1. Enter an approved wine competition.
    2. Complete the reimbursement request form: Submit Here
    3. Provide the following chemistry analysis for each wine:
    4. Malic Acid Content
    5. pH (mg/100mls)
    6. Free SO₂ and Total SO₂
    7. Titratable Acidity (g/L)
    8. Volatile Acidity (g/100mls)
    9. Alcohol by Volume (%)
    10. Residual Sugar (%)

Once your wine is awarded or receives a qualifying score, your results can be submitted for verification and QAP designation approval.

Why Participate?

Despite being available for over two years, the QAP program remains underutilized across the Tennessee wine industry—largely due to uncertainty about how it works. This program not only helps offset costs associated with promoting and certifying your wines, but it also offers a valuable marketing advantage by signaling quality to consumers.

Questions?

For more information or assistance, please contact: ProjectConsultant@tennesseewines.com

The Tennessee Wine Quality Assurance Program is a key opportunity to elevate your brand and gain recognition for the quality of your wines. Don’t miss the chance to participate.