The vast facilities of the Indiana State Fair in conjunction with the administrative capabilities of Purdue University's enology and computer science programs founded the Indy International Wine Competition in 1992. This alliance, along with additional support from American Airlines, Marsh Supermarkets and some of America's finest wine judges, has since advanced this event into a comprehensive international gathering ranking among the largest in the western hemisphere.
Well-known Indiana television and radio personalities including Jill
Ditmire, host of "The Good Life with Jill Ditmire" that airs on WFYI,
and Pat Carlini of "Sunrise" on WTHR have enjoyed interviews with our
judges and photographed the amazing spectacle of organizing, pouring,
judging and recording the results from more than 3200 wine entries.
In addition, dozens of newspaper articles proudly report the winery's accomplishments in their respective areas. (From New York to Chicago to Washington State.)
Classic red and white table wines represent the majority of the contestants; however, mid-western wineries know that well made fruit wines have a powerful appeal to a wide range of consumers. The Indy International Wine Competition dedicates a special panel of fruit wine experts to those entries - more than 200 last year - to be sure they are judged fairly by judges who appreciate the unique qualities of fruit wines.
The amateur wine class has grown steadily over the past 12 years to become the largest amateur wine competition in the country. Two panels of judges, including award winning amateur winemakers, American Wine Society certified judges, and wine supply shop consultants, deliberate and comment on every wine that is returned to the winemakers.