Calling All Hoosier Wine and Cheese Enthusiasts

Despite the fact that I am indeed 21 and a college student, I don’t usually spend my weekends hitting up the bars in Broad Ripple. I prefer a nice glass of wine, some tasty snacks and good company. Seriously, my roommates and I regularly sit around in our living rooms tasting wines and figuring out which ones pair best with certain cheeses. I know, I know, shouldn’t we be going crazy instead of aging ourselves 30 years? Nope. To me, there are few better things than a relaxing night with a bottle of Pinot Noir and an assorted cheese plate.

Apparently I’m not alone. For 12 years now, Vintage Indiana has been sharing its enthusiasm for wine with thousands of Hoosiers every year. The annual Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival will be June 4 from 11 AM to 7 PM in downtown Indianapolis. Can you think of a better way to spend one of the first summer Saturdays than enjoying an entire festival devoted to wine and cheese? The Vintage Indiana Wine and Food festival features wine tasting from 25 local wineries, more than 10 local restaurants and events where you can learn which Indiana cheeses go with which wines or discover local Indiana recipes are great for picnic baskets and grilling.

Not that you would need to take a break from enjoying an eight-hour wine festival….but if you did, there are plenty of other activities that don’t involve gorging yourself on wine and cheese. There will be arts and craft booths featuring more than 15 local artists, a KidZone with face painting, cartoonists and balloon artists, and even some of Indiana’s favorite local bands. Check out the website for scheduled events and more information.

Remember how I’m a college student? Well, I know all about penny pinching. Tickets are $25 in advance but you can save $3 by purchasing them ahead of time at a Marsh Supermarket or by calling 800.359.2968. If you want to go but don’t want to drink, you can buy a $10 designated driver ticket. Anyone between the ages of six and 20 can get in for $5. And the first 10,000 people to enter get a free etched wine glass. Don’t forget to bring your ID if you plan on sampling any wines!

If you are an old soul like me or simply enjoy spending a relaxing afternoon at an awesome festival, the Vintage Indiana Wine and Food Festival is a great way to kick off your Indiana summer.