Wine lovers flock to Harrison County, IN wine trail

March 24, 2015 - PRLog -- Travelers are invited to plan a getaway to Corydon, IN, where they can explore the area’s five wineries all summer long, with tastings and special wine events held throughout the year. Slated for May 23, the Southern Indiana Uncorked (http://www.southernindianauncorked.com/) festival features live entertainment and tastings of local wines. The annual Winter Wine Walk (http://www.southernindianauncorked.com/www/index.htm), scheduled late in the year, on Dec. 12, combines holiday lights, shopping and more than a dozen stops at shops and businesses in charming and historic downtown Corydon. For just $15, which includes a souvenir glass to keep, each stop will feature appetizers and local wine samples, for a festive seasonal experience.

Each of Corydon's five winemakers share a passion for the grape, and each welcomes visitors to a tasting room to sample their locally produced wines, which are winning awards and garnering high praise. From a seasoned winemaker who doubles as a viticulture educator, to a retired couple whose hobby has gotten just a little out of hand, each of Corydon's wineries has its own unique story and approach to winemaking.

Quibble Hill Winery (http://www.quibblehillwinery.com/) is located on owners Jamie and Steve Kraft’s family farm. Just two years ago, the couple cleared a patch of land and built a two-story log cabin to house the winery. The Krafts developed a love for the grape over their entire adult lives, with visiting and touring wineries among their favorite hobbies. After retiring, the two began making their own wines and decided to share the experience with others. Quibble Hill now has 160 grape vines on property, with a variety of wines available at the tasting room.

Scout Mountain Winery (http://www.scoutmountainwinery.com/) opened just a few years ago, but Mike and Margaret Schad have been making wine for nearly 20 years. Scout Mountain wines boast sweet, fruity flavors and travelers can sample them all in the on-site tasting room. Visitors are invited to stay the night in the Scout Mountain’s on-property bed and breakfast—a charming yellow home built in the 1920’s. Scout Mountain also has 100 apple trees ripe for picking in the fall and heirloom vegetable and herb plants and produce for sale in spring and summer.  The Schads also are generous with tips and expert advice for home vegetable and fruit growers.

Best Vineyards (http://www.bestvineyardswinery.com/) is owned by Wilbert Best and his two sisters, Rachel and Berretta. The three went into business after Wilbert purchased some farmland in 2000. With the idea of making a few extra bucks and starting a new hobby, the three decided to grow some grapes to sell. The farm’s 2,500 vines now provide fruit for Best Vineyard's own wines, after the family's successful winemaking experimentation. Wine can be enjoyed at the farm’s tasting room, which is so inviting, even the neighbor’s dogs can't stay away.

Indian Creek Winery (http://indiancreekwinery.org/) started as a hobby but quickly became a thriving business. Mark and Mary Jane Kendell decided to open the winery upon retirement. The couple travels by car to hand pick grapes and juices from some of the nation’s finest vineyards, stopping at local wineries along the way. Complimentary tastings of the winery’s seven different varieties are available at their tasting room.

Turtle Run Winery (http://www.turtlerunwinery.com/) was the first to open in Harrison County. Owner Jim Pfeiffer's wealth of knowledge provides visitors with in-depth wine-making facts and history. A professor of viticulture, Pfeiffer can even guess what types of wine travelers enjoy by the kind of food they like to eat. Turtle Run's more than 30 wines include specific selections named after each of Jim and wife Laura’s three children.  Barrel aged and crafted in the old French style, the Pfeiffers' wines have won awards and accolades, including Turtle Run's Traminette being ranked as one of the top 10 wines in the world under $20.

Beyond the area’s memorable wineries, Corydon visitors enjoy much more.  An incredible collection of sites and attractions awaits travelers, from a Civil War battlefield to thrilling caves and caverns, where enormous passages are highlighted by dazzling formations. The State Historic Site marks Corydon’s place as Indiana’s first capitol, while travelers are fascinated by the Constitution Elm and tours of the Leora Brown School, one of the nation’s oldest standing early African American schoolhouses. Plenty of diverse dining and accommodations include a historic B&B, affordable modern hotels, local eateries, and even a luxurious riverboat casino. Complete information and a free visitors guide are available at www.thisisIndiana.org or (888) 738-2137.

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Contact Amy Weirick, (614) 848-8380 or amy@WeirickCommunications.com.