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BELLE MEADE PLANTATION TO CREATE WINERY

Nashville's first and only winery

Nashville, TN (February 13, 2009)

Add another chapter to Belle Meade Plantation's long 200 year history...  that of Nashville's first and only winery.  With the announcement today of the board's approval to go forward with a winery, the Plantation will be gearing up to have Belle Meade Winery selling its first bottles of wine by Christmas this year.

"This adds another innovative approach to further create diverse revenue streams to help the Plantation fund its core mission of historic preservation and education," said 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 guest a reason to visit and spend."

Wine making is not a far reach for the traditions of the Plantation.  John Lamb, Curator of the site, said there are numerous invoices from the 1800's that show the family not only purchased and served fine wines from the best regions of the world, but also periodically bought empty wine bottles to presumably fill with wines made on the property.  "If I had to guess what type of wine was made here, I would say Muscadine since hundreds of trees on the property are alomost over-run with these grape vines," said Lamb.

The winery will feature Tennessee grapes whenever possible," said Alton Kelley, President of Belle Meade Plantation.  "Working in conjunction with Keg Springs Winery in Hampshire, Tennessee, most of our grapes will be grown in Middle Tennessee at their vineyard and the grapes will be crushed and processed at their site.  We will filter and bottle at the Plantation and will allow visitors the chance to watch the process, as well as taste the fruits of our labor at a wine tasting room."

Wines will be moderately priced in the $15 to $20 range and will feature on the label the extensive equestrian art collection of the plantation.  With numerous weddings and social events taking place at the site, the opportunity exists for customized wine labels to commemorate the event.

"Belle Meade has always been proud of its history as one of Tennessee's most productive farms.  Products included the well-known, world famous thoroughbreds, including Kentucky Derby winners, as well as many other farm based products.  Wine is just another Tennessee made product from the land we call home that will give both visitors and locals alike a sense of pride in our farming heritage," said Kelley.

The Belle Meade Winery now begins the task of going through the many regulatory steps to become an approved Tennessee Winery and hopes to begin sales at the end of 2009.  For more information about Belle Meade Plantation, go to www.bellemeadeplantation.com

Belle Meade Plantation is located at 5025 Harding Pike Nashville, TN 37205