Bacchus smiled on the 15th edition of Vintage Indiana this year. What started in the year 2000, with a dozen wineries, a hand full of food vendors and a few musical acts gathered in Military Park downtown, has now grown into the "biggest celebration of Indiana Wines".

Visitors pay one price and get to sample wines from many of the state's wineries. You can pay for a full glass or buy a bottle to sip on site. Or enjoy what has become one of the best ideas in the wine festival business: A Pick Up Tent. Visitors purchase bottles to go, get a claim tag, then at the end of the day, pull up their car and their case is ready.

This year 30 wineries were on site. 17 food vendors offered food and the music line up included Zanna Doo, My Yellow Rickshaw and Jennie DeVoe. My role for the past 15 years has been to emcee the Wine and Food Experience pavilion. Here we offer a series of cooking demonstrations featuring Indiana product plus the chance to educate guests on food and wine pairing, wine styles, history of grapes, and the many new Indiana wine trails.

The record breaking crowd on Saturday, June 7th (10 thousand PLUS) was impressed with the variety and quality of Indiana wines they were tasting throughout the day. Guests raved over Butler Winery's Chambourcin and Winzerwald's Schweizer Spice. French Lick Winery offered up a Sparkling Catawba Wine that rivals any west coast sparkler. Many Indiana wineries still create tasty bottles of wines from native American grapes like Niagara and Concord. But more are taking the chance and doing an Indiana take on Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Zinfandel and even Pinot Noir. Once again, these wines are done in the spirit of "terroir" so it IS Indiana, not France or California. But it IS Indiana, and for that, each is worth a try.

Winemaking is farming, chemistry, passion and prayer. The past winter was brutal on many of the vineyards. Jim Butler at Butler Winery told me he has to pull out his Cabernet Franc vines because they did not survive the weeks of sub-zero temperatures. His Chambourcin and Chardonel took a hit too but he said he will have enough to create a 2014 vintage. Meanwhile Jim Pfeiffer at Turtle Run told me his Vignoles survived and he is happy with the forecast for his crop this year.

Bob Kraft with the Indy Wine Trail told guests about some of the NEW wines featured by the six wineries on the central Indiana route. Easley Winery's new Sweet Tulip is available at local grocery stores. Cedar Creek Winery in Martinsville is doing an interesting take on Pinot Noir. And Mallow Run offers a delightful rendition of Indiana's signature grape, Traminette.

Karen Lackey from the Indiana Turkey Council wowed guests with her creative take on Apple Pie Turkey Salad. Michelle Plummer with the American Dairy Association created a finger licking good Caprese Cottage Cheese Dip that gave guests a new respect for the curd.

Chef Ben from Clark's Appliance stole the show with his BBQ 101 lesson and tasting of Beef Tri Tip marinated in herbs and spicy sauce. (Did I tell you guests get to sample all of the food cooked during our four demo's as well? )

If you've never been, then be sure to mark the June date for 2015 on your calendar. Or check out Uncork The Uplands on Saturday August 2nd. www.uncorktheuplands.com This event takes place IN the vineyards at Oliver Winery in Bloomington. It is an up close and personal wine experience that shows you just how much hard work goes into planting, nurturing, harvesting, fermenting and creating a bottle of Indiana wine.

Visit www.indianawines.org for more on the nearly 70 Indiana wineries, plus wine trails and events.