Blue Goose Farm, Vineyards and Winery

Blue Goose Vinyards are operated by Mark and Beverly Griffith in the shadow of the Great Smokies Mountains in Maryville, Tennessee. There's a tasting room and gift shop located right in the middle of the vineyards in a remodeled barn. They have 13 labels, and tastings are free. They have traditional Southern muscadine wines in both red and white.

The award-winning winery grows muscadine grapes, which are sweet and hardy. The winery also hosts weddings and other small-scale events.

Mark Griffith started the winery when health issues forced him out of his job as security director at a nearby hospital. The first vineyard was planted in 2005 and the first harvest was in 2007-08. State legislation in 2012 allowed his dream of having a winery to become a reality.

Norris, Robert. "Cheers at Blue Goose: Maryville man follows a dream with muscadine vineyard," The Daily Times. August 15, 2014, accessed June 10, 2016. http://www.thedailytimes.com/news/cheers-at-blue-goose-maryville-man-follows-a-dream-with/article_e9169cf9-bbde-59cd-85c9-f88f3e4a89cb.html The Blue Goose website (accessed June 10, 2016). http://www.bluegoosevineyards.com/