Indiana Uplands Wine Trail

Contact:
Kim Doty, French Lick Winery
kimdoty@insightbb.com
www.indianauplands.com
July 2, 2009


Uplands Wine Trail Wins BIG at Indy International

SOUTHERN INDIANA - Wineries along the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail garnered the largest and most medals at the Indiana State Fair Indy International Wine Competition this month. Known as one of the top three wine competitions in the United States, over 50 medals of the 3200 wines submitted were earned by the nine wineries along the Uplands Wine Trail. Trophies and medals will be awarded at the upcoming Taste of Indiana held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Wednesday evening, July 29 from 6 -9 pm EDST. The event honors the winemakers and wineries as well as offers free wine tasting, Indiana food tasting, a silent auction and music along with a souvenir wine glass and cook book.

Of the 18 commercial winery trophies granted by the competition, ten of these trophies went to Uplands Wine Trail wineries and only one other to any other Indiana winery. Highest Honors went to Butler Winery with their Chambourcin Rosé as the Best Rosé wine of the competition and as such was one of only five wines that competed for Wine of the Year at the event. Butler's Chambourcin Rosé also took a trophy as the Indiana-grown French-American Wine of the Year. Huber Winery took top Indiana honors winning the Governor's Cup trophy and Ted Huber of Huber Winery will be honored as Winemaker of the Year for 2009. Huber Winery also earned trophies for Indiana Wine of the Year - 2007 Knobstone Chambourcin, Indiana-grown Vinifera of the Year - 2007 Knobstone Cabernet Franc and Indiana-grown Fruit Wine of the Year - Raspberry Dessert wine. Oliver Winery earned trophies for their Honey Wine Blend of the Year - Harvest Mango, Indiana-grown American Wine of the Year - 2008 Creekbend Catawba and Indiana Traminette of the Year - 2008 Creekbend Traminette.

Of the 80 Best of Class awards for best wine of a certain variety of wine entered in the competition, 15 of these were won by Indiana wineries, ten of which were won by Indiana Uplands Wine Trail wineries including 6 by Huber Winery (Carbonated-Sparkling Starlight, Grappa, Chardonel, Chambourcin, Red French-American Hybrid-Heritage 2006 and Fruit Wines with greater than 14% alcohol - Raspberry Dessert), 1 by Butler Winery (French-American Blush/Rosé - Chambourcin Rosé), 1 by Oliver Winery (Naturally flavored honey wines - Harvest Mango), 1 by Carousel Winery (Tropical/Citrus - Pomegranate) and 1 by Winzerwald Winery (Naturally Flavored Fruit Wines - Cherry Red).

The Indiana Uplands wineries represented 9 of the 25 Indiana wineries who submitted wines in the competition or 36%. Of the 10 Double Gold medals awarded to Indiana wineries, 8 were earned by Indiana Uplands wineries (80%) and of the 36 Gold medals awarded to Indiana wineries 23 were earned by Indiana Uplands Wine Trail Wineries or 64%.

A summary of the medals earned by Indiana Uplands Wine Trail wineries is as follows: Best Vineyards (Elizabeth)-1 Silver and 9 Bronzes, Butler Winery (Bloomington)-1 Double Gold, 1 Gold, 2 Silvers and 3 Bronzes, Brown County Winery (Nashville)-7 Silvers and 4 Bronzes, Carousel Winery (Bedford)-2 Golds and 5 Silvers, French Lick Winery (West Baden)-3 Golds, 7 Silvers and 3 Bronzes, Huber Winery (Starlight)-5 Double Gold, 6 Gold, 7 Silver and 4 Bronzes, Oliver Winery (Bloomington)-1 Double Gold, 7 Golds, 7 Silvers and 9 Bronzes, Turtle Run Winery (Corydon)-1 Gold, 3 Silvers, and 3 Bronzes, and Winzerwald Winery (Bristow)-1 Double Gold, 3 Golds, 3 Silvers and 6 Bronzes.

The name of the trail originates from the unglaciated plateau running through south central and southern Indiana referred to as the Uplands. The Indiana Uplands Grape Growers Cooperative has applied for approval of the area as a new grape growing appellation with the U.S. Alcohol, Tax, and Trade Bureau due to the region's unique soils and climate for grape-growing. To visit and taste Indiana's award winning wines visit the wine trail web site at www.indianauplands.com for directions and information and links to the nine individual winery websites.

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