The Hungry Hoosier

Indy International Wine Competition

The following is a transcript of the RadioMom 91.1 FM Hungry Hoosier radio program that originally aired on July 13, 2007

Here’s a pop quiz. Where do you think the largest U.S. international wine competition is held? Napa Valley? Nope. Washington State? Wrong. Indiana? Right you are! Yep, since 1992 the Indiana Wine Grape Council and the Indiana State Fair have partnered to hold this competition. It’s a big deal. Last year 3,600 wines from around the world were judged by a panel of 80 experts. This year’s competition will be held on July 26, 27, and 28 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The competition is open to the public. So if your interested in wines, this would be a great event to put on your calendar. Even if you aren’t into the vino, it might be fun to watch 80 judges sniff, swirl, sip, and spit their way though 3,600 bottles of wine.

You can find more about this event here.

Bottle of Red? Bottle of White?

When I first started getting interested in good food and good wine I would fret a great deal about what wine to serve with Thanksgiving dinner. White wine with poultry right? But what about all those bold flavors? Red right? I tried both over those first few years and never found the perfect wine. A couple of years ago, I decided to not worry about it and went with the wine of the season - Beaujolais, of course. This year I visited the Wine Guy and picked up two bottles of George Duboeuf Morgon Flower Label 2005. Here are the tasting notes.

The 2005 Morgon bursts forth with massive doses of waxy black fruits. Broad, suave, and satin-textured, this is a fleshy, concentrated wine. Its powerful core of fruit, principally dark cherries and blackberries, lingers in its long finish.

Indy International Wine Competition

Today kicks off the three-day Indy International Wine Competition. Check out uber wine blogger Good Grape's account of the festivities here.

The Wine Guy Never, Ever Dissapoints

I have never brought home a bottle of wine from Grapevine Cottage and been disappointed once I opened it. The Wine Guy and his staff are so knowledgeable and helpful and the new location is delightful. I've always loved getting lost in a great bookstore, browsing the isles, scanning the titled spins. I can, and have, spent hours doing this. I get that same joy from visiting the Grapevine Cottage in Zionsville.

One of the things I love about them is the wide range of prices they stock. There are even a few selections that rival Trader Joe's prices but you can bet these bargains were personally tasted and selected for the store and not some sort of massive corporate deal. On one of my most recent trips I came away with a few bottles of a 2003 Placido Chianti priced at just $8 a bottle. Chianti's are usually priced low but so often you end up with glass full of thin, watery nothingness. I knew The Wine Guy would not let me down. Once again, he lived up to his stellar reputation. This Chianti was the perfect accompaniment to a mid-week pasta with red sauce. Here are The Wine Guy's tasting noted.i

Shows full ripeness along with aromatics of leather, tobacco and earth. Keeps a snappy but rewarding form from the cherry and red-fruit palate through the full, juicy finish. More than solid, with medium weight.

Grapevine Cottage is located at 61 South Main Street in Zionsville.   

Ba-Da Bing

No, I've not joined the cast of the Sopranos. Ba-Da Bing is the name of a wine I picked up today. The producer of the Public Television segment I'm preparing for asked me to pair the dish I am making with an Indiana wine. An Indiana wine, you asking? Yep! This fruity red comes from the Madison Vineyards in Madison, Indiana which is located in the southern part of the state on the Ohio River. I picked up two bottles yesterday at Kahn's Wines and it was described as having "dark cherry, raspberry, and rustic earthy flavors." I opened a bottle last night to see how I thought it will work with the recipe I am preparing (Crostini with Chevre, Caramelized Onions, and Mission Fig Marmalade).

I don't have all the components of the crostini ready to go but I did have a little bit of the goat cheese with a glass of the Ba-Da Bing - nice combo. The wine is light on tannins and fruity, as advertised, and the earthiness of both the wine and the cheese are very complimentary of one another. This may be due to the close proximity of where the grapes are grown and where Capriole Farms is located. After all, the goats are eating grass grown in the same southern Indiana soils as the grapes.

Indiana wines have come a long way in the ten years I've been in Indiana. The Ba-Da Bing is just one of an increasing number of quality wines grown here in the heartland. Some may be surprised to learn that all 50 of the United States produce wine. Charlie Palmer Steaks, in Washington, DC has a wine list that includes wines from every state in the union. I'm not sure if Madison Vineyard's Ba-Da Bing is on their list or not, but it should be!   

The Wine Guy

In Zionsville, Indiana there is a great little wine store called the Grapevine Cottage. Even if you don't live near, if you have an interest in wine you may want to consider subscribing to their email newsletter. It features wine reviews and great recipes. The Wine Guy knows his stuff. Check them out and sign up for the newsletter at their website.