Indiana is home to more than 100 wineries and tasting rooms, and each is an ideal destination for holiday celebrations, seasonal shopping, and discovering those extra special gifts for the wine enthusiasts in your life.
Many people are surprised by the significant impact of Indiana’s wine industry, and how quickly the industry has grown. The number of wineries and tasting rooms is up 200 percent from 2006, with the industry accounting for a total economic impact of over $600 million annually. An estimated 2.5 million gallons of wine are produced by Hoosier wineries each year, as facilities cater to nearly 650,000 tourists. Nearly 4,000 full-time jobs are generated by this burgeoning business.
Guiding the fortunes of the state’s wine industry since 1991 is the Purdue Wine Grape Team, headquartered on the university’s West Lafayette campus. The team serves Indiana’s wine grape growers and winemakers by providing expertise in viticulture (the science and cultivation of grapes), enology (the research into winemaking),
and marketing. The team’s goal is to propel the Indiana wine grape industry into world-class competitiveness.
And that goal is being met. Indiana- crafted wines regularly are honored at competitions throughout the nation and around the world. Additionally, the Purdue Wine Grape Team hosts its own elite annual competition, the Indy International Wine Competition. Nearly 2000 entries are evaluated by distinguished judges at “The Indy.”
The team’s signature event is the Vintage Indiana Wine Festival, held the first Saturday in June at Military Park in Downtown Indianapolis. Over 10,000 fans of wine, food, music and good times converge on the park to sample more than 300 of Indiana’s finest wines, purchase bottles to take home, listen and dance to music, and explore a variety of foods. The 21st annual festival takes place Saturday, June 6, 2020.
Throughout the year, nine wine trails beckon aficionados to explore the many delights offered by Indiana’s wineries and tasting rooms.
During the holiday season, Indiana’s wineries and tasting rooms will host dozens of special
events designed to enhance your seasonal celebrations and make gift-giving effortless. Myriad wine accessories, delicious treats that pair perfectly, and hundreds of delectable Indiana wines are ready to be discovered. Be sure to meet Traminette, Indiana’s signature wine, as you explore. This versatile wine, available at over half of Indiana’s wineries, scrumptiously pairs with rich and spicy foods, Asian or Mexican-inspired dishes, and dry cheeses like Gruyere and Fontina.
Its luscious tasting notes include peach, mango, pear, rose, apricot, citrus, floral, orange blossom, melon, pineapple, spicy, honey, passion fruit and more!
Detailed information about the Purdue Wine Grape Team, the Vintage Indiana Wine Festival, the Indy International Wine Competition, individual wineries, the state’s wine trails and Traminette, Indiana’s signature wine, can be found at IndianaWines.org.
