Resources
Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association members know what a daunting task it is to be a successful specialty crop producer and to enter the wine industry and we want to help provide the access to the necessary resources for potential members to help make them successful. Always check to make sure any references are current, especially statutes and zoning laws; we provide no endorsements or recommendations and each situation is different, but our members have found value in the following:
Educational Resources and Blogs:
- VESTA – The Viticulture Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) is a national grape and wine education program that combines the flexibility of online instruction; instructor guided education from industry professionals; and crucial hands on experience under the guidance of an experienced mentor at a vineyard or winery close to where you live.
- Wine and Grapes University – Bringing you cutting edge research & updates within the Pennsylvania wine industry.
- Appalachian State University Viticulture and Enology
- The Viticulture Blog
- Wine Blog
- Viticulture and Enology News from Cornell’s Viticulture and Enology Major
- Network for Environment and Weather Applications Grape Home Page
- Managing Grape Diseases: Critical Fungicide Application Timing
- Double A Vineyards Grower Resources
- The Nita lab at the Virginia Tech – Activities by the grape pathology lab at the Virginia Tech
- Pennsylvania Wine Grape Network – The purpose of this website is to give commercial wine growers in Pennsylvania and the non-western wine states access to current and relevant viticulture news, information, and events that will enable them to grow high quality wine grapes.
- The Ohio State University grape and wine research and extension online resource
- 2017 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide
- Michigan Grape and Wine Newsletter – Michigan State University Extension
- Iowa State University Wine Grower News – Midwest Grape and Wine Industry Institute
- Virginia Tech Enology Notes – Bruce Zoecklein
- Vine Stories – There’s a story behind every bottle of wine. This site shares tales of winemakers whose connection to the grapes or the land propelled them to take a risk in pursuit of their dream.
- Virginia Tech Grape & Wine Quality Initiative: A GIS model developed incorporating climatic, topographic and edaphic parameters to better match specific cultivars to specific sites.
Organizations:
- TVOS – Tennessee Viticultural and Oenological Society
- TFWA – Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance
- Tennessee Department of Agriculture
- The Viticulture and Enology Club at the University of Tennessee
Publications:
- Grape Growing in Tennessee
- Starting Your Own Wine Business in Tennessee
- So You Want to Grow Grapes in Tennessee
- An Evaluation for Potential Opportunities for Tennessee’s Grape and Wine Industry
- Growth Prospects for the Tennessee Wine Industry
- Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Winery and Vineyard Feasibility Workbooks
- Small Winery Investment and Operating Costs
- Writing a Business Plan: An Example for a Small Premium Winery – By Mark E. Pisoni and Gerald B. White
- How to Start a Winery – By Ohio Wine Producers Association
- Production Budgets for Arkansas Wine and Juice Grapes – By Emilio Noguera, et al., University of Arkansas
State Law and Interpretation:
- Tennessee Grape and Wine Law – 57-3-207. Grape and Wine Law
- States’ Right-To-Farm Statutes State of Tennessee
- Agricultural Zoning Exemption Statute
Contacts
If you have a question, all you have to do is ask. Contact one of our members below who would be glad to discuss their experience in the industry here in East Tennessee.
- Cameran Birkholz – Head Winemaker at Cades Cove Cellars in Townsend, Tennessee. Cameran has been making wine commercially for 10 years and she has received her certification from the University of California at Davis. Cameran grew up on a vineyard here in Tennessee and she has been working in the industry for almost 20 years. italia31021@gmail.com
- Nicole Riddle – Head Winemaker at The Winery at Seven Springs Farm in Maynardville, Tennessee. Nikki started the winery after leaving Beachaven Winery in Clarksville, where she served an apprenticeship alongside her current fiancé Michael Coombs. She has B.E. degree from Vanderbilt University and an A.S. in Enology from Missouri State. Nikki was the driving force behind the founding of The Winery at Seven Springs Farm. The winery is on her family’s 370 acre farm-to-table complex in historic Maynardville. Nikki@WinerySevenSpringsFarm.com
- Michael Coombs – Master Winemaker at The Winery at Seven Springs Farm in Maynardville, Tennessee. Michael joined the winery after leaving Beachaven Winery in Clarksville, Tennessee, where he was born and raised. In 2004, Michael started working at Beachaven on the bottling line part-time. He quickly learned the trade and developed his winemaking skills by learning and gaining hands-on field experience from commercial winemakers, attending professional wine conferences and technical courses along with other formal studies at Austin Peay State University. During Michael’s tenure, Beachaven has garnered over 150 gold and silver medals in various national and international wine competitions. Personally, Michael received the following distinctions: 2012 Tennessee Winemaker of the Year; 2012 William O Beach Award for best wine made in Tennessee from 100% TN grown grapes. Michael@WinerySevenSpringsFarm.com
- JD Dalton – JD is General Manager & Viticulturist of Tsali Notch Vineyard. Tsali Notch is Tennessee’s largest commercial muscadine vineyard with 35 acres of several muscadine varieties planted on 202 acres in Madisonville Tennessee. He is the 2017 Vice President/Secretary of the Tennessee Farm Winegrowers Alliance and leads our Nine Lakes Growers Association. tsalinotchjd@gmail.com
- Rick Riddle – Rick is Nikki’s father, a Tennessee native and graduate of the University of Tennessee (UT). Formally trained in the art of winemaking, among other things, Rick is serving the role as consultant for The Winery at Seven Springs Farm and is the current President of the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association. Rick@NineLakesWineCountry.com