In my third and fourth years in college, those week-long spring break trips just could not be a thing anymore. Then, after college, trying to wrangle all my sisters and friends together for anything was like a really complicated game of tag mixed with telephone mixed with hide-and-seek. And when someone close to me gets engaged, I have gotten to the point where I immediately have to check my bank account and savings, because between the bridesmaid dress and the gift, I don’t want to even begin thinking about the bachelorette party. But there is literally an answer to all of these problems (and I’d like to also argue just problems, in general): Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend! Plus, who doesn’t love a mountain cabin view? From everything you need to know to all the pitch-points you will want when you start texting your girls, I’ve got you covered.
The Quick Highlights:
When are you getting away? April 12-13, 2019
(Friday) Gatlinburg Wine Tour – guided tours and tastings beginning at 6 p.m. after 5 p.m. registration
(Saturday) Gatlinburg Smoky Mountain Wine Fest-tastings and pairings from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where in the beautiful Smoky Mountains? Gatlinburg and the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg
Who is providing all the delicious wine? All the top wineries in the area and state of Tennessee!
And, of course, only those that are 21+ can enjoy the wine.
How much per person? $25 in advance, $30 at the gate
What Exactly Wine Weekend Entails:
So, here are the deets, ladies. Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend is a 2-parter. You can attend both the Gatlinburg Wine Tour and Gatlinburg Wine Fest or just one, but they are separate tickets.
The Gatlinburg Wine Tour has limited seating since it is a guided tour that takes you and your friends around for a fun time in Gatlinburg’s top wineries where you will be treated to the hospitality of each winery with free tastings and informative sommeliers. You will definitely not want to wait ‘til the day-of to purchase your $25 tickets for the Wine Tour. Registration and check-in begin at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. with the tour beginning promptly at 6. Last year, the Gatlinburg Wine Tour began at the Courtyard by Marriot in Gatlinburg, but just be sure to check this year’s ticket to ensure your precise registration and tour location.
The Gatlinburg Wine Fest is a lovely outdoor event from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. boasting 17+ wineries from all over the state! After validating your age and redeeming your ticket, you are given a wristband to show to all the vendors for free samples of their best wines paired with delicious fare from the top Smoky Mountain restaurants. Guests can purchase accessories and their favorite wines by the bottle, perfect for pouring into your free souvenir wine glass back at the cabin!
Okay…The Pitch:
Like we said: getting everyone to agree on a location, activities, and actually making it happen makes you feel like you may deserve an award once it’s all said and done. With 4 sisters and 3 close girlfriends that I have gone on numerous vacations with, including cabin trips in the Smoky Mountains, I’ve done my fair share of plotting and orchestrating. Here is how I wrangled my loved ones who are all always busy:
- The Timing
Wine Weekend is just that – it’s on the weekend! So, I don’t want to hear this mess of not going because of work. It also coincides with many spring breaks. Wine Weekend lands right in or just before wedding season and makes a great bachelorette activity. - Budget-Friendly
Accommodations That
Everyone Loves
Splitting the cost of one cabin ends up being cheaper than hotel rooms and our Cabins for YOU properties have way more amenities! Fully loaded kitchens mean you can save money on meals, and keeping everyone entertained is easy when you have a cozy living room to play games, a rec room with stuff like billiard tables, arcade games, and air hockey, and even indoor pools to splash around in some cabins. Who is going to turn down an affordable cabin with gorgeous views, cozy accommodations, a private hot tub, and nights of drinking wine and hanging out by the fire?
Pro Tip: Share beds! You can split the cost of a smaller luxury cabinwith sleeper sofas and shareable beds for the fantastic trade-off of extra amenities and breathtaking mountain views. - Getting There
Carpool. It saves on gas for everyone and is a win for the environment. Organize meetups for those who live close to one another or are on the way. It only seems complicated.
A girls’ weekend getaway for Smoky Mountain Wine Weekend is the perfect lure to get together with all your most important people. Let dads take over the kids for the weekend, (Google exists, so there just aren’t any excuses anymore), start planning way in advance, and have everyone mark their calendars. They will all thank you when you are sipping on wine on the back deck, relaxing in the hot tub, and looking at the Great Smoky Mountains without a care in the world with the people they needed time with.
