Written by Back in 2023, I wrote about the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s (“TTB”) proposal to establish the Nine Lakes of East Tennessee American Viticultural Area (“AVA”). At the time, the proposal represented another exciting step forward for Tennessee’s growing wine industry.
Now, the designation is officially here.
In March 2026, the TTB formally approved the Nine Lakes of East Tennessee AVA, making it one of Tennessee’s newest federally recognized wine regions.
As discussed in my prior blog, the proposed AVA spans portions of 14 East Tennessee counties, including Knox, Blount, Sevier, Loudon, Jefferson, and Monroe Counties. The region was recognized for its unique combination of climate, elevation, topography, and sedimentary soils-characteristics that create ideal conditions for viticulture and high-quality wine production.
The AVA surrounds the nine lakes created by the Tennessee Valley Authority (“TVA”) river system projects and encompasses more than 4,000 square miles of East Tennessee landscape.
AVA status is significant because it allows wineries to better identify the geographic origin of their wines and provides consumers with greater confidence regarding where grapes are grown. Under federal labeling requirements, at least 85% of the grapes used in a wine bearing an AVA name must originate from that designated region.
The approval of the Nine Lakes of East Tennessee AVA represents another major milestone for Tennessee wine and further solidifies the state’s growing reputation within the American wine industry.
For Tennessee wineries, growers, and wine enthusiasts alike, this designation is a significant achievement and a promising sign for the future of Tennessee viticulture.
Thanks to attorney and liquor team member, Ryan A.T. Mercurio, for authoring this article.
Last modified: May 11, 2026
