Hartland Winery, 425 C.R. 23, won the Governor's Cup at the Indy International Wine Competition.

Held at Purdue University, the private judging held in mid-June is the largest scientific wine competition in the United States. Wines from throughout the nation and world are entered.

Winery of the year was Dakota Sun Gardens Winery of Carrington, North Dakota and winemaker of the year was Richard Batchelor of Maryhill Winery, Goldendale, Washington. The wine of the year was a 2014 Malbec from Nodland Cellars, Washington.

The Indiana wine of the year was the 2017 Valvin Muscat from Two EE's Winery in Huntington. The overall amateur fruit wine of the year came from Indiana, the 2017 Mustang Villa, an estate-grown blackberry wine by Pamela Hemmerling.

Hartland, open for two years now, has been an award winner. Winemaker Alan Lockhart pours over his grapes and his wines, putting long days of attention into his craft.

"Every day I'm out there," said Lockhart, his face showing a deep tan under a wide-brimmed sunhat. Along with a handful of seasonal vine tenders, Lockhart cares for ever-expanding rows of bright green vines. He currently has 3 1/2 acres of grapes, which is not close to enough to create the volume of wine needed for the growing business operated by himself and his wife, Brenda.

The objective said Alan, "is to make really great wines and to have wines that everybody doesn't make just like I do." He prides himself on small-batch, handcrafted wines.

He has honed his craft by learning from his mistakes, growing his own fruit and getting involved in the state's wine industry.

"I've had a lot of good mentors," Alan said.

"We all kind of help each other," said Brenda. "Indiana wine is pretty young compared to other states."

Last year, Alan trained alongside the Indy International Wine Competition officials to become a judge himself. This year, Shane Christ of Fremont's Satek Winery was a judge along with a representative from Two EE's. Participants are selected by invitation and Alan said he would be honored to have the opportunity to be involved in what he calls an "amazing" process of group judging.

Hartland entered seven wines in this year's Indy International, and six of them placed. The Chalet Reserve bourbon-barrel red blend and the Lakeside White both won double gold and best in class.

The Governor's Cup is given to the Indiana winery with the highest point total, with points awarded per placement. Hartland had the highest point average of any winery in the state.

Hartland wines also placing in the competition include the Fox Hollow Reserve red wine and Blackeye blackberry and blueberry blend, which took gold awards. The Montage red blend and Catawba blush wines received silver awards and the Marquette red got a bronze.

Read More at source: Kpcnews