News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

February 15, 2013

Uncorking potential

Indiana Uplands wine designation could boost industry’s image

TERRE HAUTE —



By Howard W. Hewitt

Special to the Tribune-Star

Indiana winemakers believe validation and credibility come with the federal government’s designation of the Indiana Uplands as an American Viticulture Area.

Indiana Secretary of Agriculture Gina Sheets, members of Purdue University’s Wine and Grape team and representatives of Indiana’s nine Upland wineries made the announcement Tuesday at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Butler Winery owner and winemaker Jim Butler has pursued the designation for nearly 10 years. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau granted the designation as the Indiana Uplands.

“I think what we want to develop now is when people see the name Indiana Uplands, it conjures up something in their minds about the area and the wines,” Butler said. “We want customers to have a real familiarity they can depend on knowing that they’re going to get a good wine.”

The 4,800-square-mile Uplands AVA stretches from the Morgan-Monroe County line near Bloomington south to the Ohio River, a distance of more than 100 miles The east-west boundaries run from Jasper in Dubois County to Knobstone Ridge near Starlight, overlooking the Ohio River Valley.

“This legitimizes the area as a grape-growing region,” said Kathleen Oliver, executive vice president of Oliver Winery, one of the Midwest’s largest wineries. “I think that’s something we already knew. We have something special in our topography with well-drained soils and a climate ideal for growing grapes. This raises the level of awareness that there is something unique about our region. It’s just like Napa or Sonoma. We are now something special.”

There are more than 200 American Viticulture Areas in the United States including the Ohio River AVA shared by West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Butler said most southern Indiana wineries have never wanted to use the AVA designation, which would have forced them to put “Ohio” on their Indiana-made wines.

But Bruce Bordelon, Purdue’s viticulture specialist, said it takes more than a designation or label to make the Uplands stand out. “Quality is always the goal whether it’s Michigan, Indiana, Ohio or Washington and California,” he said. “This is an affirmation that what we’re doing is successful and mainstream and good as any region in the world.”

Indiana has approximately 650 acres in vineyard and 63 bonded wineries. A substantial amount of Indiana wine is made from grapes grown out of state. The nine established wineries in the Uplands AVA are Best Vineyards Winery, Elizabeth; Brown County Winery, Nashville; Butler Winery, Bloomington; Carousel Winery, Bedford; French Lick Winery, West Baden Springs; Huber Winery, Starlight; Oliver Winery, Bloomington; Turtle Run Winery, Corydon; and Winzerwald Winery, Bristow. There are also a few vineyard-only properties.

The winemakers acknowledged the big step is using the AVA designation to push quality, increase tourism and sell more wine.

“The big marketing point is they’re going to be able to put Uplands AVA on their wine bottles,” said Jeanette Merritt, marketing director, Indiana Wines & Purdue Wine Grape Team. “When people go out to buy wine, they are looking for those special designations. Having the Uplands designation on the bottle and being able to promote that is going to encourage people to buy those wines.”

Butler said it’s a process that could take decades, but an important first step.

Dan Adams, winemaker and owner of one of the Uplands’ smallest wineries, Winzerwald, said everyone from Oliver to his small operation benefits. “We have to get the word out and tell people we have unique qualities like a Napa or Bordeaux,” he said. “We’ll eventually achieve the same level of recognition that other areas have achieved. Some of those areas have had years, if not hundreds of years, head start on us.”

Howard W. Hewitt is a wine writer based in Crawfordsville. He writes an every other week newspaper column for the Tribune-Star and 21 other Midwestern. Read his wine blog at www.red

forme.blogspot.com.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash 'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy? Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia Today in History for May 20th NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional' Obama Exhorts Good Deeds by Morehouse Graduates Today in History for May 19th Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in Florida Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Raw: Gun Scare Mars Cannes Film Festival One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Raw: Germany Protestors Picket Barbie House
NDN Video
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards Steak n' Shake waitress scores huge tip Justin Bieber Gets Booed After Winning at the Billboard Awards Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem Who is $600M Powerball winner in Fla.? Top 5 Plays of the Day Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony Twiggy, the Waterskiing Squirrel Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News