Why Indiana Wineries?

Many may wonder:  with so many wine options available today, what makes Indiana wines special?  Or, perhaps, what do Indiana wineries have to offer?

A brief conversation may help to provide an answer.

Over the past three years we have traveled the state, visited every winery in Hoosierland, taken photos, interviewed winery owners and wine makers, and written what we hope will be a definitive guide to Indiana wineries--now totaling nearly 75 establishments in-state.  Some months ago, while we were tasting a short flight of new wines up north, we happened to be joined by a travel writer and wine critic from California.  

Our encounter was pure happenstance, but after introducing ourselves and our book project, we asked the wine writer to tell us what she really thought of our Hoosier offerings.

"You know," she said, "California has large, well-known wine estates with world-renown labels, but so much of the 'look' and 'taste' of the California wineries and the wines holds a similarity.  But Indiana's wineries have a quaint, down-home feel to them.  Every winery is unique.  And because so many wineries are new, a person can always discover a fresh destination and taste just a few miles from home."

We liked her response . . . and had discovered the same in our travels and tastings around the state.  And yes, we've visited wineries and tasted wines in those world-renown regions, too:  Napa, Washington state, Oregon, France, Italy, and elsewhere.  We have our favorites.  We enjoy many tastes.

But growing up in Indiana, we have come to appreciate what our Hoosier landscape has to offer.  We've traveled from the shores of Lake Michigan to the Ohio River valley, cross-hatched east to west, and enjoyed every winery in Indiana.  We have tasted all of the Indiana labels.  And here is what we hope you will discover when you visit the wineries . . . and what you will learn from this blog:

* World-class Hoosier hospitality
* Unique tastes from vineyards featuring Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay--and some of the best Traminette or Cabernet Franc vintages in the U.S.
* Relaxing drives and weekend getaways
* Expert vintners and wine makers
* Beautiful wineries

And don't forget to visit here before you plan your next winery adventure. We would love to hear from you.

Happy tastings!

~Todd & Becky