The Hoosier wine grape harvest is in. Juice is fermenting and bottling will begin for some of the white wines early next year, according to the man in the know when it comes to "all things wine grape", Bruce Bordelon. Among many titles, he is Professor of Viticulture in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Bruce has spent decades in the states vineyards, working hands-on with both grapes and the wine makers growing them. His lab work at Purdue has increased the quality and quantity of Indiana's wine grape harvests each year.

I emailed with him to learn more about this years harvest. "Quality was good for the most part. There's quite a bit of late leaf diseases this year, but they don't really hurt grape/wine quality. Probably more rain this harvest season than growers wanted, but that's the Midwest and we know how to deal with it," says Bordelon. He says the reds like Chambourcin and Norton fared the best because of the high temperatures. Late ripening grapes like Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petite Verdot also benefited from the hotter than normal summer and fall. You'll have to wait till fall of 2019 or Spring of 2020 to try them. Bordelon says most will age in barrel for 3-18 months before bottling.

Here's a big bold red to savor while you wait. PROPHECY RED. The lovers on the label reflect the harmony of the juice inside. This dry red offers up ripe rich flavors of cherry and blueberry jam with an uplifting touch of anise. Lush, but not flabby with a smooth dry finish. Widely available and priced at $11 or less.