Our Town Cleveland: Wine Country

CAROLYN MORRIS: "it's different I love it."

Forget California. Wine Country is closer than you think...and the Tennessee Valley Tasting Tour begins just 11 miles outside of Cleveland...

CAROLYN MORRIS: "12-13 Acres, of the Muscadine, and 4 acres of the concord grapes..."

Carolyn Morris and her family have made Mountainview Wine for more than 20 years. Like all wine makers in the Tennessee Valley, their hallmark grape is the Muscadine.

CAROLYN MORRIS: "the muscadine just grows in this region. In the south"

The Muscadine is a tough, thick skinned grape that is harvested late in the year. It's the star of many Mountainview Flavors.

CAROLYN MORRIS: "People seem to like it."

And just like Mountainview, the Savannah Oaks Winery thrives off of summer wine drinkers. Located across Cleveland off of Highway 411, the Davis Family makes 23 distinct flavors of Muscadine wine.

CASEY DAVIS: "The wine industry is really starting to pick up in the SouthEast. We are not really known for wines compared to California and other places."

Going from Vine to Bottle takes about 4 months. All the wines at Mountainview and Savannah Oaks are made on site.

"A lot of people are new to the wine, especially younger couples that are rafting in the rivers. They really do not know what they like. They are use to going into the store and buying a particular brand."

"They're not really familiar with what the southeast has to offer as far as grapes. And ours is a lot different from California Grapes."

Different and distinct to Tennessee. Doctors say the Muscadine Wine is even good for your immune system and blood pressure...when drunk in moderation of course. From Bradley County Jason Law WDEF News 12.

Tennessee Wineries are not allowed to ship their bottles in the mail...so you have to make the trip yourself to get a taste.

Here are links to more Wineries in the area.

Ocoee Winery (Bradley-Polk)

Savannah Oaks Winery (Delano)

Mountainview Winery (Cleveland)

Striker's Premium Winery (Athens)

Monteagle Winery (Monteagle)

Stonehaus Winery (Crossville)