Among the new laws that are taking effect in Tennessee is one calling for creation of an agency to promote Tennessee’s wine industry.
“We are lagging behind Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, so many of our neighboring states,” said State Rep. Bill Sanderson (R), who owns White Squirrel Winery in West Kenton, Tenn.
Sanderson authored the bill that created the wine and grape board.
“The task of the board is simple and it’s clear: increase the number of wineries and increase the quality of the wine produced in the state of Tennessee,” said Sanderson. The seven-member board will be funded by the current wine tax.
Winery owners hope the board will go beyond promotion to help wine growers deal with pests and diseases.
Increasing challenges from craft brewers and limited knowledge about Tennessee wines have created challenges for Tennessee vintners. But the number of wineries has tripled since 1999.
“A changing legal environment, growth of local foods, regional efforts and a strong industry association are opportunities,” concluded a 2015 UT Institute of Agriculture study. “Opportunities outweigh challenges in terms of the ability of the Tennessee wine and grape industry to move forward.”