TN Wineries and Vineyards

The Tennessee Wine Quality Program is designed to help Tennessee grape growers and wineries to improve the quality of their products.  Based on a subsidy provided by the Tennessee Wine and Grape Board, the MTSU Fermentation Analysis Laboratory will provide, free of charge, a specified set of analytical services. Wines to be analyzed will comply with TTB label requirements for a wine processed and bottled/packed in Tennessee.  In short, any wine that is “blended, cellared, produced, vinted, made, or prepared” in accordance with TTB regulations and bottled/packed by a TN winery qualifies.  Excluded are wines simply bottled in TN or bottled out of state.  There are no restrictions on the percentage of TN grapes used in the products.  The subsidy is scheduled to provide these services for one full year starting in 2021.

Standard testing of grape juice samples consists of ^oBrix, titratable acidity, pH, malic acid content and yeast assimilable nitrogen (YAN).  Standard testing of wine samples consists of the standard juice sample tests plus free and total SO₂, volatile acidity, alcohol content and residual sugar.  Additional testing of samples may be ordered through the standard procedure for non-state vineyards and wineries.  If you wish to order both subsidized and non-subsidized analyses, place your orders for both types of tests and provide a verbal explanation of your need by email (tony.johnston@mtsu.edu) to preclude the necessity for sending multiple samples.

Vineyards and wineries submitting samples must be commercial (defined as licensed and/or legally selling their products within the State of Tennessee) to receive these services at no charge.  Vineyards and wineries are limited to 15 samples per year under this program. Additional samples may be submitted but they must be paid for at the rate presented on the Laboratory website.

This is the procedure to submit a sample to the Laboratory under the TN Wine Quality Program:

1. Complete the form. If this is your first time, you will need to create a free account (this will not need to be done every time).
2. Package your wine samples (wine bottles only) for delivery to the laboratory.  Include a copy of the Fermentation Analytical Lab Shipping Intake Form in the box(es) you send.  Delivery can be made in person or via USPS, UPS or FedEx.
3. Once your request is submitted and the samples have been delivered*, the samples will be analyzed as quickly as possible.

*Please note that you are responsible for the cost of shipping the sample(s) to the laboratory.

Please email tony.johnston@mtsu.edu with questions.