Upper Cumberland AVA

Upper Cumberland
Wine region
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2024
Years of wine industry216
CountryUnited States
Part ofTennessee
Other regions in TennesseeAppalachian High Country AVA, Mississippi Delta AVA
Growing season212 days
Climate regionRegion III-V
Heat units3418.05-4,376.45 GDD units
Precipitation (annual average)50.02 in (1,270.51 mm)
Soil conditionsUltisols, Alfisols and Inceptisols soils
Total area2.18 million acres (3,410 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards71 acres (29 ha)
No. of vineyards55
Grapes producedChardonnay, Concord, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Muscadine, Niagara, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Vidal Blanc, Zinfandel
No. of wineries9

Upper Cumberland is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Middle Tennessee and expands all or portions of the following eight counties: Cumberland, Fentress, Macon, Putnam, Overton, Smith, Warren, and White. The wine appellation was established on May 14, 2024, as the nation's 273rd and the state's third AVA by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury, after reviewing the petition submitted by the Appalachian Region Wine Producers Association, proposing a viticultural area named "Upper Cumberland."
The viticultural area encircles the cities of Cookeville and McMinnville, lies east of Nashville and Murfreesboro, and encompasses approximately 2.18 million acres (3,410 sq mi) with 55 vineyards cultivating over 71 acres (29 ha) and sourcing nine wineries. There is at least one vineyard in each county within the AVA, demonstrating that commercial viticulture and wine-making occurs throughout the entire AVA with additional new vineyard and winery projects in various stages of development. This is a relatively new region for modern viticulture development but grape growing and winemaking have a long substantial history in the area.