I hope as you read this that you are proud of your vote and that of your neighbors - from Indiana to Idaho to Alabama to Connecticut. We are all on the same team after all - humans living and giving more than we take. Or is that just a wine induced dream?

Whatever the outcome, here are some winners and ways for you to help get Indiana and the USA back on track. Simple things mean alot. And in the wine/food world YOU get more than you give.

West Baden Springs, Ind. - In recognition of their efforts to reduce and reuse, French Lick Winery has received the Business Recycler of the Year award from the Orange County Recycling Co-op.

"We are thrilled to receive this award," said John Doty, owner of French Lick Winery. "The winery has been recycling for 13 years and takes pride in being proactive to help protect our environment.

French Lick Winery's efforts also helped the Co-op receive the Governor's Award in Environmental Excellence in the category of "Recycling and Reuse."

The Orange County Recycling Co-op, Inc. has developed a 154 member cooperative and opened a recycling center that allows family and businesses to drop off recycling 24 hours a day. During 2007, the cooperative collected nearly 5,500 pounds of plastic containers, over 34,000 pounds of newspapers, and 17 tons of scrap metal. The cooperative also employs developmentally disabled individuals from the First Chance Center in their store, where the employees have the opportunity to work alongside cooperative members learning new skills.

NOTE: GOVERNOR DANIELS: PLEASE READ AND REPLICATE IN CENTRAL INDIANA. SOME PAY FOR PRIVATE RECYCLING. OTHERS HAUL TO LOCAL DROP OFF SITES WHERE BIN SPACE IS LIMITED IN CAPACITY AND SELECTION. HOW DOES SOMETHING SO SIMPLE BECOME SO SUCCESSFUL IN ORANGE COUNTY?

Most winemakers start working their passion as a hobby - then it becomes a way of life and from there - a commercial winery. Same goes for Rich - his passion with iron and steel in the racing world fueled his creative juices to take what he has known, and what he can find, into something others can use.

Functional art. And wine lovers-here is an example. Custom work happily accepted.

317-270-9360 or rb1lb278@att.net.

2006 Dry Creek Vineyards, Taylor's Vineyard, Musque - DCV is a stalwart when it comes to breathtakingly beautiful Fume Blancs, Chenin Blancs and Zinfandels. A new winemaker adds another level of excellence for DCV in the Cabernet Sauvignon world. But I'm reviewing the fantabulous one-of-a-kind wine made from a grape whose parents have characteristics of those fabulous french white grapes. I'm rambling-and you will too when you enjoy this wine. Fresh nose of honeydew melon and soft lily of the valley gives way to juicy delectable flavors of honeydew melon, ruby red grapefruit, and a bit of Gravenstein apple.