KNOXVILLE—A Middle Tennessee vineyard beat out wineries from fourteen states and won the Best of Show title at the recent Wines of the South competition, hosted by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Arrington Vineyards took the main prize with its 2008 KB 308 Cabernet Sauvignon during the competition September 30 and October 1.
Fifty-three wineries entered the annual contest and submitted 383 wines.
Arrington’s wine and those of the other six competition category winners will be featured at the Tennessee Food and Wine Festival on October 21 and October 22 at the Knoxville Convention Center.
They will be part of the Wines of the South Tasting event from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 21, and 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22.
The festival will feature 100 exhibit booths filled with vendors selling and sampling Tennessee food and wine products. Two stages will provide guests with practical and gourmet food preparation tips.
Guests will include celebrity chef Darren McGrady, who was the personal chef to Princess Diana, Peter Glander, who is the executive chef for Ruby Tuesday, Chef Chris Moore from the Knoxville Convention Center, Chef Greg Eisele from Aramark, and Chef Nowading and Chef Mullins with Kroger.
A variety of classes will be held during the festival. The main expo will be Saturday, October 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Wines of the South category winners include:
- Best of Red: Barrel Oak 2009 Bowhaus Red, Virginia
- Best of White: Narmada 2010 Mom (Chardonnel), Virginia
- Best of Blush: Narmada 2010 Gulabi (Chambourcin), Virginia
- Best of Dessert/Fruit: Georgia Winery 2010 Blackberry, Georgia
- Best of Sparklers: Stonehaus 2010 Tickled Pink (Steuben), Tennessee
- Best of TN Fruit – William O. Beach Award: Century Farm Winery 2009 Traminette, Tennessee
For more information on the Wines of the South competition, visit www.winesofthesouth.com.
For discounted advance tickets to the Tennessee Food and Wine Festival, register at www.tnfestival.com.
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C O N T A C T S:
Carol Costello (865-974-6241, costello@utk.edu)
Lola Alapo (865-974-3993, lalapo@utk.edu)