Tennessee’s Appalachian culture has a rich tradition in the making of wine. Home to the full-flavored muscadine grape, the early settlers quickly made muscadine wine a staple at their tables, and passed on their recipes from generation to generation. They also experimented making wine with other fruits, especially the blackberries that grow wild in the hills of East Tennessee.

Aaron Maples, owner of Tennessee Homemade Wines, first learned the secrets of Southern winemaking from his parents, and knows just how good their sweet tasting wines are. “I saw an opportunity,” he says. “What are the ladies going to do, when their men go moonshine tasting? The ladies will enjoy wine tasting more.”

Maples opened his first store in Gatlinburg in 2014, and the ladies came, bringing their men with them. In 2021, over 1 million visitors visited Tennessee Homemade Wines. Visitors are commenting, “Absolutely amazing wine! Best wine I’ve ever tasted! Fantastic wine and fantastic service!”

Tennessee Homemade Wines’ bestselling wine is their Blackberry Wine, sweet and tart at the same time. Close favorites are their Strawberry Wine and their Blueberry Wine. Their other fruit wines include peach, apple, classic white and red grapes, and of course muscadine wine. “People love our wines,” shares store manager Shawn King, “They are made with fresh fruit and no artificial flavors.”

In 2019, Maples started Tennessee Cider Company, specializing in hard ciders for those who want a fruity kick that is less sweet and has a lower alcohol content. He offers several apple cider flavors, as well as blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, peach, pineapple, watermelon, and even hibiscus. Maples opened a second store in Gatlinburg specializing in hard ciders, and sells both ciders and wines at the Tanger Outlet Mall store in Pigeon Forge.

Maples created a new Experimental Wine Series that debuted in 2022. His smooth Mountain Chocolate and Strawberry Cream wines were an instant hit. His Sparkling Peach and Pineapple Rose´, two lighter summer wines, are perfect for porch-sitting. Maples has nine experimental wines out already, and will have a pumpkin wine ready for fall.

Visitors to his three stores are greeted with friendly Southern hospitality and an invitation to sample three wines or ciders for free. For just $5, visitors get a VIP Pass and can taste nine different flavors as well as discounts on multiple bottle purchases. Sign up for their Wine Club and receive quarterly shipments and enjoy Tennessee Homemade Wines and/or Ciders at home. Tennessee Homemade Wines was named Tennessee’s best winery by Yelp in July 2022. For

more information, visit www.tnhomemadewines.com or www.tncidercompany.com.