Middle Tennessee has played a big role in the time-honored tradition of wine making
Middle Tennessee has played a big role in the time-honored tradition of wine making. The wine made in and around our area rivals some of the finest in the world. My husband and I have been thinking for a while now about installing a wine cabinet in our game room so we can show off local wines to friends and family from out of town. An antique design would look great on the wall next to the two café tables beside the pool table, and it would give us a place to entertain our friends after the kids have gone to bed.
We chose an upright hide-a-bar model. It holds 22 wine bottles with extra storage for liquor and has an electrical outlet for small appliances and a fixed shelf for our wine glasses. What I like most about it is how the entire thing closes like an armoire when not in use, so there’s no worry about making a mess when the kids are in the game room playing. The raised panel cherry doors have 180-degree hinges, so the entire cabinet can be fully open when we’re using it. It looks great alongside the pool table and helps create a classic feel in that part of the room.
After the cabinet was delivered and set up, my husband and I decided we needed some inspiration from one of our local wineries on how to supply our new game room addition. So we decided to take a short drive to the Beachaven Vineyards and Winery in Clarksville. Clarksville is located about 50 miles west of Nashville and is an easy drive on Interstate 24 from downtown. The vineyard was started by Judge William O. Beach who spearheaded legislation in the state of Tennessee to revive the wine industry in 1970. In the early 1980s, the Judge and his son-in-law Edward Cooke planted a large commercial vineyard. In 1986, they founded Beachaven and opened it up to the public.
The drive out to Clarksville from Nashville is scenic and beautiful, with rolling hills and farmland visible from the freeway. The grounds of Beachaven are more beautiful still, with plenty of space to walk around and enjoy the views. We made the day special by packing our own picnic for two to enjoy while we were there. We visited the winery and enjoyed a free tour and tasting and then finished our day by stopping in the shop to talk with the experts and stock up on some great wine and other supplies for our wine cabinet.
With all the helpful advice, I’m sure we’ve chosen well. I can’t wait until our first wine tasting party with friends. I also learned that in the summer months Beachaven hosts Jazz on the Lawn and invites guests to come out with their blankets and picnic baskets for an evening of jazz in the vineyard. I’ll definitely be putting that on my summer calendar so we can look forward to visiting Beachaven again!
