Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v13n09)
The Wine Scene: by Jill A. Ditmire
posted: Apr. 29, 2016
Purple Wine to Party Like it's 1999
Like so many others, the death of Prince hit me hard. His music was the soundtrack of my college years at Butler University. WTLC was THE leading R&B/funk station in the midwest and the radio dial in my car and stereo in my sorority house was glued to it. We would blast his tunes on Friday and Saturday nights, as we readied to go to Frat parties.
His show at Market Square Arena in April of 1985 was a night I will never forget. Sheila E opened. He did several encores. And the group of other Prince-loving friends and I were indeed in Purple heaven. MTV was new and his videos were a splendid mix of pop art, sensuality and rock and roll.
He played Indianapolis numerous times in many different venues, including an after party at Birdy's in 2002. I also feel as if he played The Patio or The Vogue though I wasn't able to find a written report.
In 2007, my Warfleigh neighbors and I watched the Colts win a Super Bowl and Prince blow the crowd away during a rain drenched half time show. During my many wine travel trips to South America and Europe I would hear his music played in restaurants, clubs, cabs and wineries. His craft was his life. His passion was discovery on all levels: musical, spiritual, humanitarian.
Over the weekend I gathered a group of similar life loving friends and neighbors and we DID party like its 1999. Of the many wines sampled the standout was a new box wine. Vinum Vault Cabernet Sauvignon packs a tooth purpling punch with juicy chewy flavors of black cherry and mocha and long lingering finish. It's a tremendous value too as one box equals 4 bottles and retails for $20 or less.
Jill A. Ditmire is an Omnimedia wine specialist, AWS certified wine judge, freelance broadcast journalist and 20+ year home owner in the Warfleigh neighborhood of Broad Ripple. Send your questions and comments to Jill at
jill@broadripplegazette.com
Also on INSTAGRAM @jaditmire
jill@broadripplegazette.com