Wineries of Indiana

32nd winery opens in Central Indiana

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Indiana's wine industry continues to expand with the opening of a new winery in Central Indiana .

Buck Creek Vineyard was established in 1991 by Jeff and Kelly Durm. The 4-acre vineyard grows twelve different grape varieties including Chambourcin, Chardonel, Traminette, Seyval Blanc, Stueben and Catawba.

Once the vineyard was established, the Durm's opened Buck Creek Winery earlier this summer. Located just off of Interstate 74 in Marion County , the winery is selling estate-grown Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, Arbor Red and Autumn Blush wines. Other varieties soon to be released are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Strawberry, Muscat Alexander and Seyval Grigio.

"My grandparents were farmers and he loved the farm lifestyle," said Jeff. "Kelly and I visited a small winery in central Ohio , and fell in love with the vineyard and the vines. We were hooked."

Kelly's mother, Josette and her husband, Dick, along with Jeff's mother and her husband, Ed assist in the daily operation. Jeff and Kelly's children, Joseph and Christopher work in the vineyard and do other chores as needed.

Free wine tasting is available. Buck Creek Winery is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

With the addition of this new winery, the Indiana wine industry has 32 commercial wineries and over 400 acres of grapes. Two more wineries are scheduled to open before the end of 2006.

About Indiana Wine Grape Council

The Indiana Wine Grape Council seeks to enhance economic development in the state by establishing a successful wine grape industry through research and marketing development. The program provides extension specialists in enology (winemaking), viticulture (grape growing), and marketing to assist commercial and amateur grape growers and winemakers. Since the creation of the Council in 1989, the number of Indiana wineries has increased from nine to more than 30, attracting nearly 900,000 visitors each year and reaching annual retail sales of nearly $9 million.

Contacts:

Jeanette Merritt, Marketing Director, Indiana Wine Grape Council, (765) 496-3842, [email protected].