Vineyards

Why Sugar Creek?

Sugar Creek is a clear running tributary stream of the Wabash River which travels in a generally northeast to southwest direction as it cuts across west-central Indiana. The source lies in Tipton County, Indiana and the entire river length to the Wabash confluence is approximately 90 miles. Sugar Creek is one of Indiana’s best canoeing rivers. There is a lot of use of the river in June, July and August….especially on the weekends.

Early Indians named the stream after seeing the many sugar maple trees in the area. Because of its swift water, Sugar Creek was important to the early pioneers as a source of power. It may not be Indiana’s fastest nor is it our most challenging canoe water, but it is generally conceded to be the most beautiful stream in the State. An added attraction in the area is the many covered bridges over Sugar Creek and other streams in the area. It borders much of the Cain Family Farm.

In late 2010, a vineyard site was selected for its slow, flowing topography, highway access and water well on site. It is located in the northeast corner of Montgomery County, Indiana, at the coordinates 40.7.21 N by 86.44.32 W with the approximate altitude of 761 feet. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Chart places this location in the southern range of Zone 5b with a cold hardiness temperature range of -10°F to -15°F. The 2.5 acre vineyard is laid out on a North/South direction to maximize sunlight exposure on the vines.

Discover Indiana wines

Including dry wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc as well as Indiana-grown semi-sweet wines such as Chambourcin, Marquette and Traminette.

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Sugar Creek Vineyard Varietals

Brianna is a white-wine grape that was hybridized by Elmer Swenson, a pioneering grape breeder who introduced a number of new cultivars that are hardy in the Upper Midwest. Brianna vines produce medium-sized clusters of grapes that mature early in the season to a greenish gold to gold color. This cultivar has good cold-hardiness and also shows good vigor. Brianna grapes produce a nicely balanced, semi-sweet, white wine with a fruity nose and apricot, peach, pineapple, and honey flavors. Technically, it is an interspecific hybrid (V. labrusca and V. riparia).

Chambourcin (SHAM-bore–sin) is a French-American hybrid grape variety. Its parentage is uncertain but is believed to be a hybrid produced by Joannes Seyve who often used Seibel hybrids produced in the 1860s. The grape has only been available since 1963. The Chambourcin grape produces a deep-colored wine with a full aromatic flavor, and no unpleasant hybrid flavors. It can be made into a dry style or one with a moderate residual sugar level, giving it a pleasant but not overbearing sweetness. Chambourcin wines are often paired with dark chocolate as the flavors intermingle exceptionally well. It is a late ripening grape that produces a highly rated red wine when the fruit fully matures. The large moderately loose bunches set a medium-sized blue clusters.

Marquette is also an inter-specific hybrid red wine grape. It was developed at the University of Minnesota, and is a cross between two other hybrids, MN 1094 and Ravat 262. It is considered the cousin of Frontenac and the grandson of Pinot noir. Marquette has an outstanding cold hardiness and good resistance to both downy and powdery mildew. Marquette high sugar and moderate acidity at ripeness make it very manageable in the winery. Finished wines are complex, with an attractive ruby color, pronounced tannins and desirable aroma of cherry, berry, black pepper. It has performed well in trials and tends to ripen early enough for northern Indiana.

Traminette is a cross of the French American hybrid Joannes Seyve 23.416 and the German Vitis vinifera cultivar Gewürztraminer made by Herb C. Barrett ca. 1965 at the University of Illinois. This grape will produce a large clustered table grape with the flavor of Gewürztraminer. Traminette has an excellent wine quality combined with good productivity and cold hardiness that is superior to its acclaimed parent, Gewürztraminer, while retaining a similar character. Traminette wine has been chosen by the Indiana Wine Grape Council as the signature wine grape of Indiana. (http://www.tryontraminette.org/).