A Wine-Hater Reviews Old Mountain Wine Company

Let me just put this out there: I don't like wine. My wife? She’s the wine lover in our family. Me, I'm a rum guy. Give me a rum and coke or a Kahlua—something that's not, you know, wine. I'm not even big on beer. So when my family and I were walking the Gatlinburg Parkway at 9:30 in the morning, the last thing I expected to be doing was a wine tasting.

We were with our two (newly legal) adult kids, aged 21 and 22, just starting our day when we saw the sign for Old Mountain Wine Company. We popped in, mostly just to see what their deal was. I figured we’d browse, maybe see what time they actually started tastings.

Turns out, they were already open. And handing out samples. Before I knew it, I had a tiny cup in my hand, getting ready to politely endure a drink I was sure I'd hate.

What happened over the next hour wasn't just surprising; it made me a believer.

How It Works: The Deals, The Passport, and The Free Swag

The whole thing runs on a simple passport system. Your mission is to visit five different winery/cidery locations. Here’s the breakdown on the tasting deals so you know exactly what you’re getting into:

• Option 1: The Freebie. You can get 3 free samples at any location. No catch, no questions asked.

• Option 2: The Upgrade. For $7, you can try 8 samples, but this option is only good at the single location you're currently in.

• Option 3: The No-Brainer Deal. For just $10, you get the official Gatlinburg Wine Trail Passport. This is the golden ticket. It unlocks EIGHT samples at each of the five stops and it’s valid for a full seven days. Since we were in town for six days, it was the perfect, high-value choice.

Collect all five stamps on your passport, and you get a free T-shirt to commemorate your epic journey.

A Skeptic's Journey: Our Unfiltered Walkthrough

Stop 1: Old Mountain Wine Company (The Place That Changed My Mind)

Our impromptu tour started here, and it’s the perfect first stop because of its sheer variety. The team was fantastic; we told them I was a wine-hater, and they just smiled and said, "If you have no idea, there's a good chance that you like sweet." They were right.

Before I break down exactly what we tried, you can see the whole thing go down right here. Watch me go from total wine skeptic to... well, just watch.

See what happens when you take a guy who hates wine to a Gatlinburg winery at 9:30 in the morning. This is our full, unfiltered tasting experience at Old Mountain Wine Company, from the surprisingly amazing meads to the watermelon wine that actually won me over!

As you saw, I was genuinely surprised. Here's a play-by-play of the drinks that made me a convert:

• The Meads (Honey Wine): Pointing to the bees on their logo, our guide explained that mead is fermented honey. The Raspberry Mead was excellent, but the Elderberry Mead was another level. Pro-tip from the staff: "One bottle of elderberry mead a day keeps the doctor away."

• Blackberry Lemon Wine: This one is an experience. Our guide told us to take three distinct sips. The first sip for me was pure, rich blackberry. Then the second brought a wave of bright lemon. By the third sip, they fused perfectly. It’s wild!

• The Watermelon Wine: This was my favorite! I am not a fan of watermelon-flavored candy, but this tasted like real watermelon. It was like a refreshing cocktail juice with zero alcohol bite. It was sweet, not dry, and I knew immediately I was buying a bottle.

• The Ciders & Fortified Wine: We finished with a smooth Summer Peach Cider and the Apple Appalachia Fortified Wine. The fortified wine tastes exactly like an apple pie with a little kick—perfect for a chilly mountain evening.

The Downtown Trio: Three Stops, One Easy Walk

The trail gets super convenient here, with three locations clustered right on the Parkway.

• Tennessee Cider Company: A must-visit and the first official cidery in Gatlinburg.

• Smokin' Banjo: If you like some fizz, this is your place. They focus on fun sparkling wines.

• Tennessee Homemade Wines: The official #1 winery in the state, famous for its Southern sweet wines.

A Quick Heads-Up: The Inevitable Sales Pitch

Let's have some real talk. These places are running a business, so expect a friendly sales pitch, especially about their bottle deals. And the deals are good: buy 3 bottles get 2 free wine glasses; buy 5 get a free bottle; buy a case of 12 for the price of 9. For the most part, the staff is incredibly cool about it.

That said, we did run into one guy at one of the stops who was extra pushy and a bit rude when we said we weren't buying right then. It was a minor blip on an otherwise great day. Just be prepared to smile and say, "We'll be back!" if you're not ready to buy.

Stop 5: The Grand Finale at Tanger Outlets

The last stop is a short drive over to The Winery at Tanger Outlets in Sevierville, making it a perfect final stop on your way out of town to stock up on any favorites.

Pro-Tips for Conquering the Trail

• Go Early on a Weekday. We stumbled in at 9:30 AM and it was perfect. The wineries get packed, so an early start means more room at the bar.

• Stay Hydrated & Eat a Real Breakfast. All those "sips" add up quickly.

• Don't-Miss Sips for the "I Don't Like Wine" Crowd: Start with the Watermelon Wine or a sweet Cider. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

The Final Verdict from a Converted Skeptic

Is it worth it? Hell yes. I walked in a total skeptic and walked out with a bottle of watermelon wine, a great buzz, and an awesome memory with my family. It's fun, it's a phenomenal value, and you might just discover a new favorite drink.

Right there on the Parkway, you can't miss it: Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies. Is it worth the ticket price? We took the full tour to find out.

• Save a few bucks on tickets: Ripley's Official Ticket Site

• Check the daily schedule so you don't miss the penguins!: Ripley's Daily Events

You’ve got your wine trail plan, but what about the rest of your vacation? Don't waste your time or money on the wrong things.

• Must-Read: Gatlinburg Travel Tips: Do's & Don'ts – Get our unfiltered guide to planning the perfect trip.

Seriously, planning a trip can feel like a full-time job. We built a set of completely FREE travel tools to take the headache out of it.

• Make your life easier with our Free Travel Tools & Resources!

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