Purdue Event to Feature Thousands of Wines

Organizers are expecting more than 2,000 entries in this year's Indy International Wine Competition at Purdue University. New Albany-based River City Winery took the top prize in last year's event. The three-day competition begins Wednesday.

West Lafayette, Ind. — More than 6,000 bottles of wine from the United States and around the world are on their way to Purdue University for the annual Indy International Wine Competition July 31 to Aug. 2.

The event, now in its 22nd edition and fourth consecutive year on the Purdue campus, is the nation's largest scientifically organized and independent wine competition. It takes place in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms.

“The prestige of the Indy International continues to grow,” said Christian Butzke, professor of enology for the Purdue Wine Grape Team and the competition's chief judge. “The Indy provides competitors with an outstanding gauge of continually evolving trends and preferences among wine consumers throughout the world as well as a direction to use the knowledge gained.”

The Purdue Wine Grape Team has put together a panel of 50 judges, selected from among leading winemakers, winegrowers, wine scientists, chefs, sommeliers, wine writers, wine distributors, retailers and consumers. Panel members will critique the more than 2,200 entries and award medals to wines judged superior in their categories.

Major trophies include Wine of the Year, White Wine of the Year, Red Wine of the Year, Sparkling Wine of the Year, Rose Wine of the Year, Dessert Wine of the Year, Winery of the Year and Winemaker of the Year.

The public is invited to witness the judging each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms. The Wine of the Year taste-off on Aug. 2 also is open to the public from 11 a.m. to noon.

Entry information, event history, past winners and more information are available at www.indyinternational.org.

Source: Purdue University