A Few of My Favorite Things

Yes, the time has come to start a new blog!  This one has been rolling around in my head for several months and I need to get it out.  For my own enjoyment I'll write about the things I like the most and maybe my thoughts will give someone else an idea or inspiration.

Let's start with wine, since it's first and last on the list.  My husband, David, and I have a fondness for wine and we enjoy trying new wines, visiting wineries, or just enjoying a glass at home with a movie.  We are not dependent on wine....it's just a fun thing we can do together.

We live in Tennessee and, let's face it, Tennessee is not known for their fantastic wine!  However, there are a few little gems tucked away that are worth looking for.  There are two wineries between Nashville and Knoxville off of I-40 that I would recommend.  You should keep in mind that if you like dry wine or very sweet wine, then this blog may not be for you.  David and I are very middle-of-the-road wine drinkers.  We like semi-dry to somewhat sweet, but we don't care for either extreme.

The first winery in Tennessee that is worth the stop is Del Monaco Winery & Vineyards in Baxter, TN.  Their website is www.delmonacowinery.com.  They grow the majority of their own grapes and have very extensive vineyards that are viewable from the second floor balcony of the tasting building.  The restored old blue truck displayed at the front of the building is worth taking a look at too.  Tastings and tours are free.

Del Monaco has a nice assortment of all types of wine from very dry to very sweet, reds and whites.   Our favorites are the Gewurztraminer (pronounced "girls are meaner"), which is an off dry white and the Whistle Stop, which is an off dry red. We also like the Riesling and Southern Rose, which are a little sweeter. The Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are very dry, as are the Vivance and Espiritu de Oro.  Tennessee Tech is located in Cookville, TN, just a short distance away and part of the proceeds from sales of the Espiritu de Oro and the sweet Dulce Nectar Morado are donated to the university.  There is also a typical Tennessee Muscadine, a Sweet Whisper Peach, and a Blackberry, which are all very sweet.  The Jammin Blackberry is a port style wine made from 100% blackberries and is very smooth.

Del Monaco has some interesting tours that are worth mentioning and looking into.  Reservations are required for the tours and they fill up quickly. The first one is the Wine, Stein, and Shine Tour.  This starts with a full tour of the winery and a complete wine tasting.  Then a bus takes everyone to the Calf Killer Brewery in Sparta, TN, where two brothers brew some very interesting beer.  Their brewery and tasting area is built of recycled materials and their power point exhibit is done with photos on a tri-fold presentation board!  The brothers are very generous with the beer tastings and what doesn't fit into the customers' glasses is guzzled by them.  Calf Killer is a very laid back place and lots of fun. 

 From there the bus stops for lunch and then it's on to the Short Mountain Distillery where a true Tennessee native tells a great story about growing up, making moonshine, and running from the law. A tour of the modern moonshine process is provided and then a tasting of the 3 different types of moonshine.  There's plenty of time to enjoy a walk around the property, relax, and possibly catch some live music.

The second tour offered by Del Monaco is a wine train that leaves from Nashville via the Tennessee Central Railway and takes you right to the winery in Baxter.  Along the way there is a wine tasting, food is available for purchase, and there are activities on the train.  The train itself appears to be a gem with railcars from the 1950s.  We haven't taken this train yet, but have reservations for the August run.  It's a whole day trip and we're looking forward to spending the day with 14 close friends.

I mentioned that there is another good winery between Nashville and Knoxville....that would be Stonehaus in Crossville, TN, right off  I-40.  This was the first Tennessee winery I tried that actually had decent, drinkable wine.  Again, they have a range from very dry to very sweet.  Our favorites are in the middle - the Homestead White and the Fairfield Red.  The Davenport Red, Helena Blush, and Lantana White are also good choices.  Stonehaus offers 4 sparkling wines, free tastings, and an extensive gift shop.   Their web site is stonehauswinery.com.

Enough for today, but lots more to come....my head is full!