The Trail of Tears Winery difference is wines made primarily from high quality California vitis vinifera grapes blended together with French hybrid grapes grown in states located along the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail. Grapes or bulk wines are carefully selected from farmers (growers) and small wineries in Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Southern Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma for blending purposes. Long range plans point towards the construction of small wineries near the Trail of Tears routes in several states.
Every effort will be made to pay respect to the memory and rights of the Native American tribes, in particular the Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks and Seminoles who suffered greatly as a result of President Andrew Jackson's Federal Indian Removal Policy between 1830 and 1850.
Labels that adorn Trail of Tears Winery bottles will feature artwork by Native American artists and will depict as accurately as possible not only important tribal images but also make reference to the the fact that the contents is truly an American wine.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of every bottle will be donated to the Trail of Tears Association for use in the management and upkeep of the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail with its parks and sacred grounds and to create a greater awareness by Americans for an important but often overlooked part of this county's history.
Reprinted with permission of Guthrie Studios www.guthriestudios.com
