INDY International Wine Festival

Nearly 2,400 wines traveled to West Lafayette for one of the nation’s largest wine competitions, the Indy International Wine Competition, August 1-3, 2012 at Purdue University.

Wines from 41 states and 14 countries as far away as France, Australia, Chile and Germany were judged on appearance, aroma, taste, and aftertaste by 50 international judges.

For the first time, an Indiana winery won Wine of the Year, besting 2400 other wines to be named the best wine of the entire competition.  River City Winery, New Albany, IN won Wine of the Year for their 2011 Vignoles!  White Wine of the Year honors went to Tabor Hill Winery of Michigan for their 2011 Gewürztraminer.  Chateau Ste. Michelle of Woodinville, Washington won Red Wine of the Year for their 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rosé Wine of the Year was awarded to 21 Brix Winery of Portland, New York for their 2011 Ellatawba Rosé.

The Sparkling Wine of the Year was awarded to Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards of Sonoma, California for their Carneros Cuvee and Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery of BC, Canada took the Dessert Wine of the Year honors for their 2011 Signature Ice Wine.

Galena Cellars of Galena, Illinois won Fruit Wine of the Year for their Cracklin Apple.  The last two categories, Honey Wine of the Year and Honey Wine Blend of the Year were awarded to White Winter Winery of Iron River, Wisconsin and Wyldewood Cellars, respectively.
E&J Gallo Winery of Modesto, California was awarded the Winery of the Year Trophy, sponsored by the Leisure Family. The trophy honors the Best International Brand of the entire competition.

Gehringer Brothers Estate Winery won the Winemaker of the Year Trophy, honoring the winery that wins the most gold medals by brand at the competition.

The Indy International Wine Competition began in 1973 as an Indiana-only event. The competition began admitting entries from across the world in 1992 under Dr. Richard Vine. Professor of Enology Christian Butzke and the Purdue Wine Grape Team took over the leadership of the competition in 2006.

"The INDY’s 50 international judges recognized some of the world’s newest, trend-setting wines as Wines of the Year of the Indy International Wine Competition,” said Professor Butzke. ”The nearly 2,400 wines entered in the 2012 INDY provide a fascinating perspective of things to come for American wine consumers.”

Indiana was well represented in the competition, with Hoosier wineries winning 363 total medals. That includes 22 double gold, 26 gold, 110 silver, and 76 bronze medals.

“For an Indiana winery to win Wine of the Year is very exciting for the Indiana wine industry,” said Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director for the Indiana Wine Grape Council. “Indiana wines are outstanding and River City not only showed that, but all of our wineries proved that in the amount of medals they won this year!”

Oliver Winery of Bloomington won the Indiana Winery of the Year, the Governor’s Cup, recognizing the winningest Indiana winery.  Indiana Wine of the Year was awarded to Wildcat Creek Winery, Lafayette, for their Chambourcin

The Indy International has a special award division for Indiana grown wines. A wine must be composed of more than 85% Indiana grown fruit to be eligible. Wildcat Creek Winery, Lafayette, won Indiana-Made Traminette of the Year, honoring Indiana’s Signature Wine and Grape. They also won Indiana-Grown American Wine of the Year for their Steuben.  Brown County Winery of Nashville won the Indiana-Grown Fruit Wine of the Year for their 2011 Hard Cider.  River City Winery of New Albany won the French-American Wine category for their 2011 Vignoles.  Huber Orchard, Winery & Vineyards of Starlight won the Indiana-grown Vinifera Wine of the Year for their 2010 Heritage.

Here I am in my fancy jacket-observing the judges to learn how they  detect differences in the grape varietal, clarity, taste, aroma, aftertaste and overall taste. There is no swallowing here. That was something new to see.

The Indy International is held at Purdue University and run by the Indiana Wine Grape Council.  For a list of all medal-winning wines, log onto www.indyinternational.org.
Information provided by Jeanette Merritt of the Indiana Wine and Grape Council