The recent change in state law to allow Sunday Retail Alcohol sales got me thinking about the Indiana wineries again. They have been able to sell their product on Sundays since 1971. That's when a small group of wine policy pioneers, including Bill Oliver Sr. and Jack and Joan Easley, helped create and pass the Indiana Small Winery Act. Among other things it made it possible for wineries to be open for tasting and sales on Sundays. Smart. Their families continue to produce and sell award winning, tasty wines today.

About that same time in the Columbia Valley region of Washington state, Don and Linda Mercer expanded their multi generational family business of ranching and farming. In addition to sheep, cattle and wheat, they created an irrigation system and planted wine grapes in the Horse Heaven Hills. Smart. The wines of Mercer Estates have that rich, opulent, old world structure with an energetic fruit forward New World taste.

The Sharp Sisters Red Blend 2015 is a great example. It's named for Carma Sharp Mercer and her five sisters, who were some of the first settlers in that region in the 1800's. The wine opens with heady aromas of blackberry, and patchouli. The mouthfeel is lush. Flavors of ripe juicy blackberries and mulberry and plum envelop and lusciously linger on the palate. The blend is an homage to wine grape history - Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Grenache and Carignane. The grape-to-bottle method is thoroughly modern.

Grapes are fermented whole in stainless steel tanks, keeping the flavors fresh and recognizable. Aging in both American and French Oak barrels adds that smoothing touch for tannins that could be a little rough and rustic, but instead become silky and supple. Everything old is new again in this easy drinking dry red, that can now be enjoyed any day of the week.