Vintage Story

Epistemological epiphany:
Life must be lived forwards,
but can only be understood backwards
Mercifully, life may be enjoyed sideways!

Full Moon: April 2, 2007. Allen Dale Olson a/k/a the Pontiff of Palate, Story Inn’s Wine Connoisseur. Copyright 2007 Story Bed & Breakfast, LLP, d/b/a Story Inn, all rights reserved.

            OH TO BE AT STORY, NOW THAT APRIL’S HERE

            There are more than 30 reasons to visit the Story Inn on April 28. To be sure, most of the reasons are because of the annual Indiana Wine Fair, the largest single showcase of Indiana wines anywhere. Story, on that day, is the only place where you can sample just about every wine produced at just about every winery in Indiana.

            You will also find elegant cuisine, along with zesty snacks, beautiful scenery, pedigreed horses, and some of the finest paintings, jewelry, and sculptures produced in the Hoosier state. You’ll even meet several of Indiana’s finest artists in the Story Gallery. And parking is free, overseen by professional security guards.

            But on April 28, wine takes center stage. Wine to sample. Wine to take home. Sweet wine. Dry wine. Dessert and fruit wines. Sparkling wine. A $10-admission gets you a glass (to keep) and access to any and all of the winery booths under two big tents on the Story lawn. Yes, tents.  There is no rain out. You sample and buy any of the wines on show, even the 2007 award winning wines and see film director Angelo Pizzo (“Hoosiers” and “Rudy”)  present the awards to the winning winery representatives.

A panel of five judges – experienced in the wine world but not professionals in the wine trade – will evaluate every wine entered in the competition and select the best in such categories as dry white, sweet white, dry red, sweet red, dessert, fruit, sparkling, etc. In a word, the judges are just like most of you – people who use and enjoy wine, consume wine as often as possible – and judge it for its quality and appeal. And like them, you, too, will get a vote. Every year, there is a “people’s choice” award based on ballots cast during the fair by attendees. Winning wines are always added to the Story Inn wine list, right along with the wines from nearly every major wine-producing region in the world.

As if wine, food, and art aren’t enough, there will be entertainment throughout the day – music ranging from folk and bluegrass to Broadway show and grand opera. To experience the haute cuisine of the Story Dining Room and the comfort of the Story overnight accommodations, however, you had better reserve well in advance. With a great many persons descending on a village with a population of five, not many tables or beds remain available.  This year, there'll be bus service to Nashville. 

And while at the Wine Fair, stop at the VinSense booth and join the cause to liberate wines from the exclusive monopoly of the wholesale distributors.

 If you have not already done so, look at www.vinsense.org and learn how you can join forces with those seeking to change the wine distribution laws in Indiana. Membership is free, but VinSense needs members to be effective.

Vintage Story is an e-newsletter authored by Ole Olson and published by the Story Inn, and is available free of charge to all who appreciate good wine. Vintage Story is published at each full moon. The author and the Story Inn specifically authorize the republication, reprinting and circulation of any issue Vintage Story so long as due credit is given to the author and to the Story Inn (which holds the copyright).

If any newspaper or website desires to make use of any issue of Vintage Story, we do request that you notify us. Thanks, and here's to your health!