The drive to Nashville for a long summer weekend can be brutal, but a leisurely stop at Arrington Vineyards can make it seem much more leisurely.

Founded in 2005 by Kix Brooks (of the country music duo Brooks & Dunn), businessman Fred Mindermann and winemaker Kip Summers, Arrington Vineyards is a 75-acre oasis of green hills and gorgeous vineyards located in Arrington, Tennessee, a mere two hours from Huntsville.

Wine and dine

Pack a fancy picnic lunch and a group of fun friends and you have the recipe for a perfect afternoon.

Immediately after you arrive at the vineyards, located at 6211 Patton Road, head into the tasting room for a complimentary wine tasting — you’ll get to choose six wines from the vineyard’s extensive offerings. You can purchase wine by the bottle to drink with your picnic or to bring home with you.

Among the varieties that are usually available:

• Chardonnay
• Viognier
• Riesling
• Gewurztraminer
• Rose
• Merlot
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah
• Blackberry
• Raspberry

Gather on the deck outside the tasting room for your picnic lunch, newly discovered favorite wine and brilliant conversation.

A Tasty Warning

Warning: You will almost certainly want to polish off your picnic with a bottle of blackberry wine after you sample it — it’s simply summer in a bottle. Pair it with a raspberry chocolate truffle, made for Arrington by The Cocoa Tree, to end your meal with the richest possible combination.

In addition to the daily wine tastings and patio picnics, Arrington Vineyards regularly holds free-admission special events, including:

• Music in the Vines: Artists perform non-vocal jazz music from 5 to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
• Cigar Night: Experts will help you pair wines with cigars (and music) from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays.
• Bonfires: Weather permitting, Arrington Vineyards hosts bonfires on weekends during the cooler months.

Children are welcome at the vineyard, but this may be a day trip best left to the adults: Visitors can’t bring kites or other sports equipment, and children can’t accompany adults to the wine-tasting area.

Rumor has it that the vineyards are ridiculously crowded on weekends, so it may be worth your time to take a weekday off for the journey. Hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12 p.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Wine Wisdom

Here are a few more tips to make your visit more enjoyable:

• Bring along a designated driver or leave yourself enough time to walk off any residual effects from the wine.
• Bring your own wine glasses or borrow some of Arrington’s cups. The assistants in the tasting room will be happy to uncork any bottle that you want to drink with your picnic.
• Ask the servers at the tasting bar if you’d like to schedule a tour. Vineyard tours are available Monday through Friday, depending on the production schedule.
• Order a picnic basket from Simply Living Life if you’d rather not bring your own picnic supplies.
• Bring sunscreen. The urge to walk around the beautiful grounds will be irresistible, and you’ll get too much sun before realizing it.

Head to the Arrington Vineyards website for the most up-to-date information on special events and available vintages.

Arrington Vineyard Details

Address:
6211 Patton Rd
Arrington TN 37014
Click here for directions

Email: Click here
Website: Click here
Phone: (615) 395-0102

Hours: 
Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday:  11 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

About the Author

Suzanne Crow Haggerty is a recovering newspaper copy editor turned technical writer, an utter geek and a reckless culinary adventurer with a bad case of the elsewheres. At Entirely Adequate, she blogs about food, fitness and the perils and joys of home ownership. You’ll also find posts on cats, family and travel (and, often, travel that centers around food).