A news release last week from Purdue University indicated that, “It’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind when Indiana is mentioned, but the Hoosier wine industry is among the fastest growing agriculture industries in the state.
“Indiana wine sales have steadily increased by 15 percent each year to create an industry that produces more than 1 million gallons of wine, and contributes more than $72 million to the state’s economy, according to the Purdue Wine Grape Team, which helps support Indiana’s wineries and vineyards. The state currently has 92 wineries, up from 34 in 2007.
“The team, which consists of the Purdue departments of Food Science, and Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, features Extension specialists in enology (winemaking), viticulture (grape growing), and marketing. These specialists assist commercial and amateur grape growers and winemakers in Indiana and around the world.”
The news release noted that, “This summer, there will be a few new wineries opening across the state, adding to the current 92 that the team supports. The team helps new and start-up wineries and vineyards by providing educational resources and advice.”
Last week’s update added that, “This summer, the Purdue Wine Grape Team will host the 26th annual INDY International Wine Competition on May 24-25 with more than 2,000 entries from 11 countries and 40 U.S. states. This competition is the largest scientifically organized and independent wine competition in the United States and is an excellent way for wine producers worldwide to showcase their skills.”
