Indiana ranks 11th in production of bottled wine

Indiana’s wine and grape industry had a total economic impact in 2016 of $604 million, according to a study commissioned by the Indiana Wine Grape Council, Purdue University Wine Grape Team and the Indiana Winery and Vineyard Association.

“What this study helped determine, and further confirm, is that the state is continuing to move forward in all aspects of the industry—from grape growing, to winemaking styles and techniques, to getting the word out about Indiana wines,” said Katie Barnett, Purdue wine grape marketing extension specialist.

The report found that, from 2011 to 2016, the number of bonded wineries in the state grew nearly 60 percent, to 116. In contrast, the state had just 31 wineries in 2001.

Hoosier wineries produced almost 2.4 million gallons of wine in 2016, and Indiana was the nation’s 11th-largest producer of bottled wine by gallon, according to data from the Alcohol Tax and Trade Bureau.

“That growth has had an impact that extends outside the industry and into communities throughout the state,” Barnett said in a statement. “For example, the study estimates that, in 2016, Indiana had more than 630,000 wine-related tourists, and tourism expenditures related to wine were $94 million.”

Other report highlights on the industry’s 2016 economic impact include:

◗ The wine industry paid $37 million in state and local taxes and $38 million in federal taxes.

◗ The industry supported 3,900 full-time-equivalent jobs, with total paid wages of $120 million.

◗ The retail value of wine produced in the state was $95 million, and vineyard revenue was $590,000.•