Blackberry Farm

Ideal for incentive trips, Blackberry Farm rates as one of the nation's most celebrated getaways. Andrew Harper's Hideaway named it the No. 1 resort in 2009, while Zagat lauded its dining as No. 3 in the US.

In keeping with the serenity of Tennessee's Great Smoky Mountains, the 4,200-acre property holds just 63 guest rooms, which include 17 king rooms, 30 junior suites, four cottages, and two houses. Blackberry Farm's variety of private meeting spaces include several inviting outdoor locations. Private dinners draw on the same talented team serving the new restaurant, The Barn, which features homegrown heirloom produce, artisan cheeses, and free-range organic meat and poultry.

Blackberry Farm's renowned “Foothills Cuisine” has earned the critics' highest accolades for more than 30 years. Now, together with proprietor Sam Beall, Blackberry Farm regularly hosts food and wine events on-site, including epicurean tastings and cooking instruction by some of the world's top chefs.

As if the food weren't enough, the hotel offers a vast lineup of activities for every taste and interest. Guests pursue some of the best fly-fishing east of the Rockies, trail riding and equestrian instruction, hiking, biking, sporting clays, tennis, and even pampering at a renovated 1800s farmhouse—now a full-service, award-winning Aveda destination spa. There are no packages available at this time. There are no hot dates at this time. Posted 29 Sep, 2008 by Teresa Moore Life is short, and when a special occasion arises - an anniversary or birthday involving the number "0," for example - a weekend getaway is a delightful way to celebrate. The following unique American resorts, the favorites of the discerning readers of my travel newsletter Hideaway Report, share a wonderful tendency to create lasting memories.

Each of these properties has a defining characteristic: Pacific Ocean views at the Post Ranch Inn in California, golfing at Kiawah Island in South Carolina, cuisine weekends at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee, the spa at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. While they are ranked in order of popularity, I have also done my best to note their particular appeal.

I've been lucky enough to visit all of these properties, and I'd be hard-pressed to choose a favorite. Between a sun-splashed afternoon at the Auberge du Soleil in Napa and a cozy autumn evening at Vermont's Twin Farms, who could decide? These peaceful properties represent the best of this remarkably beautiful and diverse country.

Every year since 1982, I have surveyed the readers of my travel newsletter, Hideaway Report, to determine their favorite properties. These avid subscribers generally travel at least a month out of each year, and are an exceptionally knowledgeable and discerning group. Here are their 10 favorite U.S. resorts.

1. Blackberry Farm
Walland, Tenn.
This sophisticated and stylish country house is nestled amid a picturesque 4,200-acre estate bordering Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 25 minutes south of Knoxville. The property is well-known for its culinary events, which attract superlative chefs from around the world.



The Full List: Top 20 Best U.S. Resorts Posted 25 Mar, 2008 by Teresa Moore March 24, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WALLAND, Tenn. - The 2008 James Beard Foundation service award nominees were released today, announcing that Blackberry Farm, along with its sommelier Andy Chabot, has been nominated for Outstanding Wine Service Award. Blackberry Farm is one of five properties nominated, including Aureole and Picasso (Las Vegas, NV), Eleven Madison Park (New York City, NY), and Bin 36 (Chicago, IL.)
Named Wine Spectator's Grand Award Wine Cellar in 2006, Blackberry Farm's 150,000-bottle wine cellar and program focus on the smaller producers of the world. While Blackberry is a family-run property itself, it provides a great connection to often feature family-run wineries.

Proprietor Sam Beall began the wine program in California on the idea that the relationships with wineries and importers are what create an incredible program. Therefore the focus is on sharing with the winemakers and importers by inviting them to visit to learn the property, learn about our guests are and ultimately how their wines will be treated.

Blackberry Farm's team and sommeliers are trained and equipped to exceed the expectations of both wine novices and wine experts, while keeping the experience as a whole friendly and understandable.


Blackberry Farm - often described as "Easy to get to. Hard to leave." is located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. This 63-room Relais and Chateaux and Relais Gourmand property offers some of the world's finest wines, cuisine, fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, cycling, sporting clay and mountain biking opportunities. In addition to an abundance of outdoor activities, including an Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Program, Blackberry Farm offers an Aveda Destination Spa and a series of annual culinary, adventure and enrichment events. For reservations and information, please call 800) 993 7824 or visit our website, www.blackberryfarm.com.

For more information regarding this release or media inquiries, please contact Ann-Marie Williams at awilliams@blackberryfarm.com or directly at 865-380-2081.


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