Upper Cumberland AVA

The Upper Cumberland AVA sits within Middle Tennessee, east of Nashville and Murfreesboro, encircling the cities of Cookeville and McMinnville. The AVA encompasses eight counties: Cumberland, Fentress, Macon, Putnam, Overton, Smith, Warren, and White. It is not located within or containing any other established viticultural area, making its boundaries entirely self-contained within Tennessee.

• Eight-county AVA covering 3,406 square miles
• Located east of Nashville and Murfreesboro in Middle Tennessee
• Encircles Cookeville and McMinnville
• Entirely within Tennessee, not overlapping any other AVA

Elevation is the defining physical characteristic of the Upper Cumberland AVA. Commercial vineyards average around 1,000 feet, while eastern portions reach 1,500 to 1,800 feet and middle areas range from 600 to 1,000 feet. This elevated terrain keeps the region slightly cooler than surrounding lowlands. The growing season runs 212 days with a mean temperature of 67.5°F and annual precipitation of 50.02 inches. Higher elevation also delivers 10 to 20 percent more UV light per 1,000 feet of altitude, contributing to thicker grape skins with increased color concentration and tannins.

• Eastern vineyards reach 1,500-1,800 feet; commercial vineyards average 1,000 feet
• 212-day growing season with 67.5°F mean temperature
• Annual precipitation of 50.02 inches
• Elevated terrain generates 10-20% more UV light per 1,000 feet

The AVA sits on limestone, chert, and shale bedrock, topped with alluvial and loess topsoil containing shale, sand, and gravel. The eastern and middle regions contain Ultisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols soil orders, operating under a thermic soil temperature regime and udic soil moisture regime. These acidic, well-drained soils allow grapes to retain acidity through the ripening period, which directly shapes the region's wine style.

• Limestone, chert, and shale bedrock throughout the AVA
• Topsoil composed of alluvial and loess particulates including shale, sand, and gravel
• Soil orders include Ultisols, Inceptisols, and Alfisols
• Thermic temperature regime and udic moisture regime characterize eastern and middle zones

The Upper Cumberland AVA grows a broad range of varieties, including vinifera, French-American hybrids, native American varieties, and muscadine grapes. The acidic and well-drained soils preserve natural grape acidity through ripening, resulting in finished wines that are brighter and more acidic in character. The Upper Cumberland Wine Trail connects wineries to historic towns and vineyards across the region.

• Vinifera, French-American hybrids, native American varieties, and muscadine all cultivated
• Acidic soils preserve grape acidity, producing bright, lively finished wines
• 55 vineyards across more than 71 acres with 9 active wineries
• Upper Cumberland Wine Trail links producers across the region

Tennessee had an estimated 1,128 acres of grapes in 1880, according to the state Department of Agriculture. Mark Twain wrote about wild grapes on his father's Upper Cumberland estate near Jamestown, placing the region in early American viticultural history. Prohibition ended commercial grape production, and the industry did not revive until 1980 when Highland Manor Winery in Jamestown became Tennessee's first post-Prohibition winery. The AVA was officially established on May 15, 2024, as the nation's 273rd AVA.

• 1880: Tennessee Department of Agriculture recorded 1,128 acres of grapes statewide
• Mark Twain referenced wild grapes on the Upper Cumberland estate near Jamestown
• 1980: Highland Manor Winery became Tennessee's first post-Prohibition winery
• May 15, 2024: Upper Cumberland officially designated as the 273rd AVA in the United States