Pontiff Declares Best Wines in Indiana!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 24, 2008
Pontiff Announces the Best Wines in Indiana
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"Surprises, surprises."
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Each year, on the eve of the Indiana Wine Fair, Dr. Allen Dale ("Ole") Olson a/k/a the "Pontiff of Palate" and several independent judges sequester themselves for an entire afternoon in a 19th century grain mill in Story Indiana. Their delicious task: to declare the very best wines produced in the Hoosier state. "From what I can observe, it is a process not dissimilar to electing the real Pontiff" observes Rick Hofstetter, owner of the Story Inn, located 13 miles south of Nashville. "When the process is over, I expect to see white smoke curling up from the chimney."
This year, the Pontiff assembled an august panel of five judges: Jerry Cartmel, Peg Pardieck, Bob Van Vleet, Joan Olson, Dianne Cartmel. Their task was to sample nearly 100 entries submitted by Indiana's wineries. "The wineries submit the entries on one of six categories (dry red, sweet red, dry white, sweet white, dessert and non-grape). "I make every effort to assure that the process is infallible" declares the Pontiff, who personally conceals the entries in numbered brown paper bags to assure an impartial assessment. Each wine is then judged in four distinct categories, the perfect point total being 20 for each judge. None of the judges know what they are tasting--the process is entirely blind" says Ole, who supervises the process but does not himself judge (except to break a tie). The top selection in each category will be added to the Story Inn's venerable wine list.
Though reasonable palates may differ, there was a consensus of opinion among the judges that Indiana wines have made a giant leap forward. "I've been at this gig for a few years now. This I can say with conviction: Hoosier wines have definitely come of age" observes Jerry Cartmel. "There were more good wines than I've seen before, and the competition for the top spot is much more intense".
The Indiana Wine Fair is the state's premier wine event, hosted each year by the Story Inn. "It is my task, Sisyphean as it may be, to wean the public from cheap domestic beer" says the Story Inn's owner Rick Hofstetter. The Story Inn is Indiana's oldest country inn, with "one inconvenient location since 1851." Despite its comparative inaccessibility, the Story Inn lures wine aficionados from all over the Midwest for the Indiana Wine Fair.
These wines, and hundreds of others, will be showcased on Saturday, April 26, at the Story Inn, from 1-8:00 p.m. "We are expecting a nice crowd, because the entry fee is only $15, and parking is free. Each customer will also receive a Story Inn wine glass keepsake. As an added bonus, the Weather Channel had promised sunny skies and 68 degrees" says Hofstetter.
The winners in each category:
CATEGORY WINERY WINE
Dry White
GOLD MEDAL Oliver Winery Pinot Grigio 2007
SILVER MEDAL Whyte Horse Winery American Traminette N.V.
BRONZE MEDAL Easley Winery Governor's Traminette 2007
Dry Red
GOLD MEDAL Easley Winery Governor's Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
SILVER MEDAL Turtle Run Winery Max's Small Batch Red N.V.
BRONZE MEDAL Buck Creek Winery Syrah N.V.
Sweet White
GOLD MEDAL Brown County Winery Vista White N.V.
SILVER MEDAL Buck Creek Winery Der Champion Riesling N.V.
BRONZE MEDAL Grape Inspirations Winery Fuzzy Passion N.V.
Sweet Red
GOLD MEDAL Butler Vineyard Vineyard Red N.V.
SILVER MEDAL Brown County Winery Vista Red N.V.
BRONZE MEDAL Easley Winery Reggae Red N.V.
Dessert
GOLD MEDAL Grape Inspirations Winery Showcase Crystal Vine N.V.
SILVER MEDAL Chateau Thomas 2007 Ice Wine
BRONZE MEDAL Chateau Pomije Niagra N.V.
Non-Grape
GOLD MEDAL Winzerwald Winery Blueberry Weisser
SILVER MEDAL Oliver Winery Harvest Flavors Mango
BRONZE MEDAL Oliver Winery Blackberry
Best of Show: TO BE ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 25 at the Story Inn.
The wine which obtains the highest cumulative point total is declared to be the "Best in Show", arguably the best wine in Indiana. The "Best of Show" will be announced at the music gala "Wine and all that Jazz" held at the Story Inn on Friday, April 25, from 8-10 p.m. The fundraiser will benefit Brown County Citizens Scholarships.
The most notable change from years past is that ten different wineries won accolades from the judges. The eighteen possible awards were shared among ten different wineries. "We have a lot of wineries in this state producing some great wines" remarks Ole. "The quality is well distributed".
Duplicate winners were Oliver Winery (Bloomington) and Easley Winery (Indianapolis), each with three medals, and Brown County Winery (Nashville), Buck Creek Winery (Indianapolis) and Grape Inspirations (Carmel), each with two medals. All of the medalists, as well as hundreds of other delicious wines, will be showcased at the Indiana Wine Fair on Saturday.
DETAILS:
What: The Indiana Wine Fair
When: Saturday, April 26, 2008, 1-8:00 p.m.
Where: Story Inn, 6404 South State Road 135, Nashville, In 47448
Admission: $15, parking is free
Extras: Food, live music.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Hofstetter (812) 988-2273
Also: Ole and Joan Olson
(812) 497-3568
