REVIEW · PIGEON FORGE
Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me – Must do tour
Book on Viator →Operated by Smoky Tours · Bookable on Viator
Moonshine and wine, packed into one easy van ride. This must-do stops you in the middle of Tennessee flavor—sweet wines, moonshine, whiskey, and local culture—with a guided pace that leaves room for dinner plans afterward.
I especially like two things: the host team’s focus on Appalachian-style storytelling (you’ll hear plenty of context along the way) and the way the stops are built around lots of tastings rather than quick, rushed sips.
One consideration: like a lot of Pigeon Forge experiences, timing can be sensitive if traffic hits or if the shuttle can’t run as planned, so I’d build in a little buffer and keep an eye on the meeting details.
In This Review
- Key points to know before you go
- Pigeon Forge in one day: why this tour works
- Price and value: what you’re really paying for
- Meet-up, timing, and the part that affects your day
- Stop 1: a short Pigeon Forge winery hit with sweet options
- Stop 2: The Mountain Mile and the spirit-and-lunch block
- The spirits tasting: vodka, moonshine, whiskey
- Lunch that’s more than an afterthought
- The bigger flavor moment: lots of moonshine choices
- Who you might meet: hosts and bartenders bring the day to life
- What the tour feels like: group energy, pace, and decision time
- Sweet wine people and moonshine people: you’ll find your lane
- Best for: when this tour fits your trip
- Considerations: when you might want a different plan
- Practical tips to get the most out of your tasting day
- Should you book the Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me tour?
- FAQ
- How much does the tour cost?
- How long is the Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me tour?
- What languages is the tour offered in?
- What’s included with the ticket?
- What kind of drinks do you taste?
- Do I need an ID to participate?
- Where do you meet for the tour?
- How many people are on the tour?
- Are service animals allowed?
- What happens if weather is poor?
Key points to know before you go

- Short, do-able format: about 3 hours 45 minutes total, so you can still do a full evening in town.
- Two-part tasting flow: a quick first winery stop, then the main spirit-and-lunch leg.
- More variety than a quick walk-in: vodka, moonshine, whiskey plus Tennessee wine.
- Real food included: lunch at the distillery-style stop, not bagged and forgettable.
- Max group size of 20: you’ll hear the guide and move without feeling like cattle.
Pigeon Forge in one day: why this tour works
Pigeon Forge is fun, but it can also be chaotic if you’re trying to drive yourself between distilleries and wineries. This tour solves that problem with private transportation and a structured route, so you can focus on tasting and conversation instead of parking-lot math.
The vibe is built for people who want to try a lot without turning it into a full-day mission. With an overall time of about 3 hours 45 minutes, you’re not stuck until late afternoon. That matters here because once the tour ends, you can pivot to dinner, shows, or your own nightlife plans while your group energy is still high.
And the host team leans into the theme. This isn’t just pour samples and send you on your way. The guides talk Appalachian culture and the local “grain to bottle” spirit story, which is why the tour feels more like a hosted afternoon than a checklist.
Price and value: what you’re really paying for

At $74 per person, the math works best if you treat it as a bundle: transportation + hosted tastings + lunch + water. You’re not just buying alcohol; you’re buying someone else’s coordination, timing, and access.
Here’s what’s included:
- Alcoholic beverages (tastings across stops)
- Bottled water
- Private transportation
- Lunch
When you try to recreate that on your own, two things usually get expensive: rides between venues and the “start and stop” hassle of doing tastings in the right order. This tour helps you avoid that. Even more, the structure is designed to keep you moving while tastings happen in a way that’s easier for a group.
The big value test is simple: if you want the tasting experience plus the social feel of a guided group day, this is priced to match. If you mainly want one or two drinks and a slow sit-down, you may feel like the pace is quicker than you’d like.
Meet-up, timing, and the part that affects your day

The tour starts and ends back at the meeting point: 2959 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863.
The format uses a luxury high top van or limo bus for the longer leg, which makes it easier to travel with a group and still feel comfortable. The tour is capped at 20 travelers, so it’s not a giant bus tour where you can’t hear or ask questions.
Timing tip: Pigeon Forge traffic can be real. Even in a well-run itinerary, you can lose minutes. Build a little breathing room on your arrival and keep your phone handy for any day-of updates.
And one non-negotiable: you need a valid government-issued photo ID to taste alcohol. Expired IDs won’t be accepted.
Stop 1: a short Pigeon Forge winery hit with sweet options

The first stop is a quick 30-minute winery time in Pigeon Forge. This is where Tennessee’s sweet wine love shows up front and center—sweet wines are the focus, but there are also a couple of dry wines for people who don’t want sugar-forward pours.
This stop is short by design. It gives you a taste of the wine side early, then transitions you into the moonshine and whiskey portion without turning your afternoon into a marathon.
Practical expectation: this is a tasting moment, not a long meal break. If you want time to really linger over one drink, you’ll likely prefer the lunch stop or the later venue time (when available within the flow).
Stop 2: The Mountain Mile and the spirit-and-lunch block

About 2 hours later, the tour shifts into the main tasting experience, billed as the Mountain Mile. This is the part built around spirits, local shopping stops, and lunch, and it’s where the day often feels most fun.
The host team, a husband/wife setup (Mike and Jenn), leads you through the local spirit culture. The plan is also described as avoiding the most tourist-trap distilleries, aiming instead at places the hosts truly like.
The spirits tasting: vodka, moonshine, whiskey
During the main leg, you’ll sample “grain to bottle” spirits—vodka, moonshine, and whiskey. You’ll also run into whiskey-adjacent pours and a wide range of moonshine flavors depending on the stop’s lineup that day.
From what’s been shared in the experience, the tastings can include bold variety such as bourbons and even tequila alongside moonshine and whiskey. The point is simple: you’re meant to compare styles and find what fits your taste instead of picking one thing and calling it a day.
Lunch that’s more than an afterthought
Lunch is included, and it’s not presented as a bland filler. The menu examples include:
- Smoked wings (with blue cheese or buttermilk ranch, plus carrots and celery sticks)
- The classic burger
- Chicken club sandwich
- Pulled pork sandwich with house-made BBQ sauce (Carolina option available)
- House salad with cheddar and fried potato sticks (with optional fried or grilled chicken)
One reason this matters: after multiple tastings, people tend to feel better with real food in the mix. Lunch also slows the pace just enough to reset the group mood.
The bigger flavor moment: lots of moonshine choices
The later portion of the main leg includes a venue that blends a moonshine distillery with a winery, and it’s described as offering over 36 flavors of shine. That’s the kind of number that turns tasting into a choose-your-own-adventure, even for people who swear they only like one style.
If you love trying different flavors, this is where you can experiment more than you’d expect from a quick tasting room visit.
And if you prefer wine, you’ll also get Tennessee wine sampling here after the moonshine tastings.
Who you might meet: hosts and bartenders bring the day to life

A big reason people rate this tour so highly is the human factor. The host team includes Jenn and Mike, and the experience often highlights specific bartenders and staff as part of the fun.
Depending on the stop lineup, you may run into names like:
- Lisa (cited for great tasting energy)
- Bubba (a bartender described as entertaining)
- Paul (shared as a key behind-the-scenes personality)
- Bandit and Debbie (mentioned as hosts in the Tennessee Shine Co. context)
Even if you’re not a “backstory” person, these interactions help explain what you’re tasting. Instead of feeling like you’re decoding flavor alone, you get guidance in plain language—what to try first and how the styles differ.
What the tour feels like: group energy, pace, and decision time

This is a social tour. The maximum group size is 20, which usually keeps the vibe friendly and manageable. You’re also not stuck reading a schedule like a bus line; the guide keeps things moving while leaving time for conversation.
The pace is structured around tastings and lunch, which means you’ll likely do several short tasting moments rather than one long, slow drink. One practical heads-up from the experience style: some tasting formats involve standing around tasting stations. If you prefer comfortable seating all the time, plan for that by wearing supportive shoes and staying hydrated (water is included).
Another small tip: you’ll get the tastings, but you might not have long stretches to linger over one favorite drink. If there’s a flavor you love, plan to purchase after the tasting window when the venue time allows.
Sweet wine people and moonshine people: you’ll find your lane

This tour is built for mixed groups. Wine lovers get sweet Tennessee wine options early and again later, with some dry wine included at the first winery stop.
Moonshine and whiskey fans get the main attraction: vodka, moonshine, whiskey tastings plus a wide range of moonshine flavors at the later stop described as having 36+ options. You can compare, chase a new favorite, and swap opinions with the group.
If you’re traveling as a couple, this is a solid date idea because it mixes guided fun with plenty of moments to talk—without forcing you into a loud bar crawl.
Best for: when this tour fits your trip
I’d put this tour at the top of the list if you:
- Want to taste a lot without driving
- Like a guided, friendly group day
- Enjoy sweet wine and also want the moonshine side
- Are in Pigeon Forge for a short window and want a “one-day win”
- Are planning a couples outing or a small group hangout
Considerations: when you might want a different plan
Here are the realistic reasons this tour might not match your style:
- If the shuttle or transportation isn’t able to run as expected, the day may shift and you could feel like you lost part of the planned value.
- Tastings can involve standing stations and short windows for each pour, so it’s not a slow, sit-down cocktail experience.
- You must have valid ID to taste, so don’t rely on a backup picture or expired card.
Also, arrive with flexibility. Pigeon Forge traffic is a thing, and a timed tasting route is only as smooth as the ride between stops.
Practical tips to get the most out of your tasting day
- Bring your valid government-issued ID. No exceptions, even if you’re sure it will be fine.
- Wear shoes you can stand in for a while.
- Go in with an open mind. Moonshine flavors can surprise people, including people who think they only like one style.
- Pace your water. Bottled water is included, and it helps you enjoy each new tasting instead of just getting through it.
- If you find a standout flavor, be ready to buy it during the venue time that’s available.
Should you book the Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me tour?
If you want a fun, structured tasting day in Pigeon Forge with transportation handled for you, this is a strong buy. The big strengths are the bundled value (transport + lunch + tastings), the variety of what you sample (wine plus moonshine/whiskey), and the host-led vibe that makes it more than just a drink stop.
I would book it if your group likes to try new flavors and you’re happy with a guided pace. I’d hesitate if you need a perfectly fixed schedule no matter what, or if you strongly prefer seated, long-form tastings over quick guided pours.
If you’re aiming for a memorable “we did something worth it” day in Pigeon Forge, this is one of the easiest ways to make it happen.
FAQ
How much does the tour cost?
It costs $74.00 per person.
How long is the Wine Me, Shine Me, Dine Me tour?
It runs about 3 hours 45 minutes.
What languages is the tour offered in?
It’s offered in English.
What’s included with the ticket?
The experience includes alcoholic beverages, bottled water, private transportation, and lunch.
What kind of drinks do you taste?
You’ll sample Tennessee wine at the winery stop, and during the main leg you’ll taste spirits such as vodka, moonshine, and whiskey.
Do I need an ID to participate?
Yes. You need a physical, valid government-issued photo ID to taste alcohol, and expired IDs won’t be accepted.
Where do you meet for the tour?
The tour starts at 2959 Teaster Ln, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, and ends back at the same meeting point.
How many people are on the tour?
The tour has a maximum of 20 travelers.
Are service animals allowed?
Yes, service animals are allowed.
What happens if weather is poor?
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.




