Belle Meade Plantation plans winery

 Plantation has been given the green light from its board to move forward with plans for a winery and hopes to begin selling its first bottles during the 2009 Christmas season.

The 200-year old tourist attraction will operate Nashville’s first and only winery once it completes government regulatory steps.

The winery will feature Tennessee grapes when possible, most of which will be grown in Middle Tennessee.

Wine will be filtered and bottled at the plantation site where visitors will have a chance to watch the process, as well as taste samples at a wine tasting room.

Wines will cost $15 to $20 and the labels will feature the equestrian art collection of the plantation.

“This adds another innovative approach to further create diverse revenue streams to help the Plantation fund its core mission of historic preservation and education,” says John Rochford, Chairman of Belle Meade Plantation Board. “We have been fortunate to maintain our visitation base in these tough economic times and the winery will further give our guests a reason to visit and spend.”

Belle Meade Plantation is located at 5025 Harding Pike.