Top Rated Wine and Shine Walking Tour

Gatlinburg’s moonshine-and-wine walk is less a history lesson than a sociable evening of samples, cocktails, and local drinking culture. You move between three downtown stops, taste everything from cream-based 35-proof drinks to 135-proof shine, and finish with a working-distillery visit at Sugarlands.

I like the small group of up to 12 and the practical help from guides such as Jenn, who keeps people together and carries water and purchased bottles in a wagon. I also like the value of having tastings, a cocktail, and front-of-line access included for $51. The catch is that this is a serious amount of alcohol, with moderate walking and long periods on your feet, and some stops can feel rushed.

Key points before you book

• Three downtown stops: Tennessee Shine Company, Little Bear Winery, and Sugarlands Distilling Company are all part of the planned route.
• A full tasting schedule: Wine, moonshine, cocktails, and multiple flights are included in the ticket price.
• Small-group format: The tour has a maximum of 12 people, giving you room to ask questions and meet the rest of the group.
• Expect a walking evening: You should manage at least 0.7 miles at a moderate pace and stand for as long as three hours.
• Eat before 5 p.m.: The samples are plentiful, and several people found that a meal beforehand made the evening easier.
• Best for adults who want fun first: The focus is social tasting, not detailed distilling instruction.

What the $51 ticket really buys you

At $51 per person, this tour is priced around the cost of doing several tastings independently, but the value depends on how much you care about convenience and group atmosphere. Your ticket covers alcohol tastings at each scheduled stop and a special moonshine cocktail. You also get a guide, a planned route, front-of-line access where available, and discounts at the tasting locations for purchases.

That last point matters in Gatlinburg, where tasting lines can be long. One useful benefit is getting to the front instead of spending part of your evening waiting on the Parkway. If you plan to buy bottles or flavored spirits, the available discounts may improve the deal.

You can also visit Gatlinburg’s distilleries on your own. That costs less in effort, and it gives you control over how long you stay. This tour makes more sense if you want someone else to organize the stops, keep the group moving, explain what you are tasting, and create a shared evening with other adults.

The price feels fair if you sample generously and use the cocktail and purchase discounts. It feels less attractive if you only want one or two small tastes or prefer to spend time quietly at one bar. This is built for variety, not lingering.

Tennessee Shine Company: start with the strongest pours

The first hour takes place at Tennessee Shine Company in Gatlinburg. The tasting range is broad, moving from 35-proof cream-based drinks to shine listed at 135 proof, described as coming straight off the still. That is a wide spread, and it gives you a quick lesson in how sweet, creamy spirits differ from powerful clear liquor.

The flavored options are part of the appeal. The pourers, including the highly praised Wild Bill, are described as entertaining and generous. If you like bold drinks, ask about the jalapeño moonshine Bloody Mary mix. It became a favorite suggestion from the evening, especially for anyone who prefers savory flavors over sweet fruit-based samples.

This stop can set the pace for the whole night, so do not treat every pour like a full drink. You are not getting a single tasting and then moving on. The total amount across three stops can add up fast, especially when cocktails enter the picture later.

I would eat before arrival and drink water along the way. The tour guide may carry water, but you should still plan to pace yourself. The tasting staff handle the pours, while your Smoky Tours guide helps with timing and the walk.

Little Bear Winery: a softer change of pace

After a short walk, the group heads to Little Bear Winery for about an hour. This is the gentler middle act between the two moonshine stops, and it gives you a chance to compare wine with the sweeter and stronger spirits served elsewhere.

The winery offers several types of wine in a VIP-style tasting format. That does not mean you should expect a formal vineyard visit or a long lesson on winemaking. The tour takes place in downtown Gatlinburg, and the main purpose is to sample a range of wines in a group setting.

Your taste matters here. If you normally prefer dry wine, you may find the regional selections less suited to you. One useful piece of advice is to tell the server what you like rather than accepting every pour without comment. If you enjoy sweet or flavored wine, this part may be your favorite.

The winery also provides a needed reset. Moonshine can be intense, and the wine stop changes the rhythm. Still, the pace may not feel leisurely enough for anyone hoping to study each wine carefully. The group has to keep to the evening schedule, and the whole tour is designed to reach the final distillery before the night is over.

Sugarlands Distilling Company: the finale with a working still

The last stop takes about 90 minutes at Sugarlands Distilling Company. This is the most substantial part of the route, with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at a working distillery led by a staff guide.

You also get a moonshine cocktail, followed by a final moonshine flight. The cocktail is a useful change from straight samples, but it also adds to the alcohol total at exactly the point when you may already be feeling the earlier tastings.

Sugarlands was a favorite stop for many people, with staff members such as Payton and Trey singled out for entertaining tastings. The setting gives the tour more substance than a simple crawl from one tasting counter to another. You see more of the operation and get a clearer sense of how the product is made.

The pacing here is the main concern. Some groups found the tasting fast and felt they needed more time to finish a cocktail or ask questions. In at least one case, the tasting began before the cocktail was finished, with the option suggested to return to the bar afterward. That may work smoothly on one evening and feel awkward on another.

If you want a slow final drink, say so early. Your guide is managing the group, but the servers control the tastings and the schedule can move quickly.

How much walking and standing should you expect?

The route is in downtown Gatlinburg, not spread across distant country distilleries. You should still be comfortable walking at a moderate pace for at least 0.7 miles. The tour ends back at the starting point, so you are not left at the final tasting room.

The walking itself is manageable for most people who can get around downtown without trouble. The harder part may be standing. The tour can require up to three hours on your feet, with the walking and tastings broken into several stops.

Wear comfortable shoes. You do not need hiking gear, but this is not a seated dinner with occasional samples. The group moves together, and lingering too long at one stop could affect the next part of the route.

The start time is 5 p.m., which works well for an evening activity. It also means you should eat before meeting the guide. The tour includes plenty to drink but no meal.

The guide can make or break the evening

The guide’s role is broader than leading you from one door to another. Jenn is frequently praised for keeping the group moving, helping people connect, and making the walk feel social. She also carries water and purchased items in a wagon, a small but useful touch when you are carrying bottles or do not want to juggle shopping bags.

A good guide also prepares you for the amount of alcohol. That matters because the tour can feel very different depending on your pace. The best approach is to treat the guide as your evening organizer, not as a sommelier or distiller giving a long technical lecture.

If your main goal is learning how moonshine is made, keep your expectations in check. You will receive some information, especially at Sugarlands, but the tour’s center of gravity is tasting and conversation. One criticism was that the group wanted a clearer explanation of the difference between moonshine and whiskey. Ask questions directly if that is important to you.

The small size helps. With no more than 12 people, you have a better chance to speak with the guide and staff than you would in a large bus group. The group can still include people with very different drinking habits, so the social tone will depend partly on who books that night.

What to eat, drink, and bring

Eat a real meal before the 5 p.m. meeting time. This is the single most practical tip for enjoying the tour. The samples are described as generous, and you may taste at three locations before the evening ends.

Pace yourself from the first stop. You do not need to finish every pour quickly, and you should feel free to ask for water. The tour includes alcoholic beverages, not a meal or transportation between nearby stops.

Bring a valid sense of your own limits. This is not the right pick if you want to remain completely sober, dislike strong spirits, or plan to drive afterward. The tour is designed for people at least 21 years old, and it is not recommended for anyone traveling with people under 21.

A service animal is allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The activity requires good weather. If poor weather cancels it, you are offered another date or a full refund.

What can change from the advertised route?

The planned itinerary includes two moonshine locations and Little Bear Winery. The exact flow can occasionally change. Some past groups encountered a different arrangement or fewer stops, and one account described missing the winery altogether. That is a serious issue if the wine portion is the main reason you are booking.

Ask about the current route if the wine stop matters to you, especially close to the date. The supplied schedule specifically lists Little Bear Winery, but tasting operations and downtown schedules can change.

This is also why I would not book the tour solely for one named bartender or one exact cocktail. Staff, pacing, and the order of stops may vary. The reliable core is the guided downtown tasting format, the included samples, and the final Sugarlands visit as scheduled.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would choose this for couples, friends, and small groups who want an easy evening of tasting without planning each stop. It works particularly well if you like sweet or flavored spirits, enjoy meeting other people, and want a guide to handle the route.

It is also a good fit for someone curious about Tennessee moonshine but unsure where to begin. You can compare cream-based drinks, strong clear shine, flavored samples, wine, and cocktails in one evening.

I would be cautious if you are a serious dry-wine drinker, want detailed production information, or dislike quick tastings. You may find the wine choices too sweet, the education too brief, or the final stop too rushed.

The tour also needs a group willing to walk and stand. Anyone with limited mobility, anyone unable to walk 0.7 miles at a moderate pace, or anyone who cannot stand for several hours should choose a different activity.

Timing, cancellation, and practical booking details

The tour lasts about three and a half hours and begins at 5 p.m. at 520 Parkway in Gatlinburg. It returns to that same meeting point.

Confirmation arrives when you book, and the group maximum is 12 people. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so check your plans carefully before paying.

A cancellation caused by poor weather or failure to reach the minimum group size is different. In those cases, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Wine and Shine Walking Tour?

Book it if you want a lively, alcohol-forward evening with three planned tasting stops, plenty of samples, a cocktail, and a small group. The strongest reasons are the front-of-line convenience, the variety of drinks, the friendly tasting staff, and guides such as Jenn who keep the night organized.

Skip it if you can easily arrange your own tastings, want to linger at each location, or are mainly seeking serious instruction about distilling. You can visit Gatlinburg tasting rooms independently, and that gives you more control.

For most adults who eat first and pace themselves, the $51 price is reasonable. Just go in expecting a fun drinking walk with some distillery background, not a quiet wine seminar or a full technical tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at 520 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 5 p.m.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts approximately three hours and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the meeting point.

What locations are scheduled?

The planned stops are Tennessee Shine Company in Gatlinburg, Little Bear Winery, and Sugarlands Distilling Company.

Are tastings included in the price?

Yes. Your ticket includes alcoholic tastings at each location and a special moonshine cocktail.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is the tour suitable for people under 21?

No. The tour is not recommended for people traveling with anyone under 21 years old, and the activity is intended for adults.

How much walking is involved?

You should be able to walk at least 0.7 miles at a moderate pace. You should also be prepared to stand for up to three hours.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You are offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation.