Tennessee Central Railway | Nashville TN
Tiny Towns, Tasty Sips, and Train Track Vibes
Y’all. Add this one to the “I didn’t even know I needed this experience” list.
So here’s how it went down: me—a woman who can count on one hand how many times I’ve had wine in the last year—somehow found herself on the Tennessee Central Wine Tasting Excursion Train in Nashville, TN on August 2, 2025. I’m no wine connoisseur by any stretch, but when I heard “wine tasting… on a train”… I said, “Now wait a minute, that sounds interesting.” And interesting it was.
Let me rewind for a sec. These wine excursions are part of a historic ride series that run vintage-style trains through the beautiful Tennessee countryside. The vibe is more nostalgic than fancy, and it’s run almost entirely by volunteers—yep, you read that right. The entire crew is made up of folks just donating their time to make sure folks like me have a great day. Tips weren’t mandatory, but it’s encouraged…trust me, they earned every dollar.
We boarded at 9am (yep, wine before noon—I’m officially that girl now), and the train rolled out at 10 sharp. By the time we even heard about this experience, the only seats left were in the regular coach car, but honestly? No complaints. It was comfortable enough, and the prices were super reasonable. Fancy food was reserved for the upper-tier ticket holders, but they had snacks and drinks available for us regular folk at the snack bar. Shoutout to Cecil behind the counter who was just the sweetest man with a smile that could sell you a granola bar and a warm memory at the same time.
Once we got rolling, the real fun began—13 different wines ranging from dry enough to pucker your soul to sweet enough to slap your dentist. Our server Ruben was a whole vibe—friendly, funny, and made sure we were tasting and not just sipping. Our car hosts, Shannon and Hugh, were just as great—attentive and helpful without hovering. You could tell they genuinely enjoyed being part of it.
As we sipped, the car filled with chatter—old friends reconnecting, strangers becoming brunch buddies, and even a little live music to carry the mood. People were celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or just celebrating the fact that it was Saturday and they had somewhere fun to be.
After two hours of riding and wine-tasting, we stopped in a teeny tiny town—I’m talkin’ population 1,645 tiny—for a two-hour break. Now listen, it wasn’t Paris, but it did have food (thank God, because wine on an empty stomach? Whew). We ate at a no-frills spot that hit the spot and walked over to the crown jewel of the stop: Del Monaco Winery—aka the real wine playground. It was packed! Folks were buying bottles like it was Black Friday. My friend walked out with six bottles (she understood the assignment), and me? None. Not a single one. I knew they’d just collect dust at my place—and I’m at peace with that. LOL.
Outside the winery, more live music, and people posted up with the famous wine slushes—aka adult snow cones. The whole scene was so vibrant, you kinda forgot you were still in a sleepy little town in Tennessee.
Then it was back on the train for the final two-hour stretch—no more wine, just good conversation, full bellies, heavy eyelids, and a window seat to reflect on a full and joyful day.
Oh—and get this—we all got a souvenir wine glass! One per person, but you know your girl and her friend asked (very nicely) if we could snag an extra one. The crew said yes without hesitation. A closed mouth doesn’t get poured, right? 😉
All in all? An unexpected, unforgettable adventure. I laughed, I sipped, I clinked glasses with strangers. It wasn’t just about wine—it was about slowing down and letting something new surprise you.
Perfect weather. Perfect vibe. Perfect way to toast to the unknown.
