Indiana’s wine and grape industry is booming and industry leaders say they’re interested to see the impact younger generations will have on Hoosier wineries.
It’s economic impact for 2016 is estimated at more than $600 million, according to a new report by the Indiana Wine Grape Council, Purdue University Wine Grape Team and the Indiana Winery and Vineyard Association.
Indiana wineries have grown from 31 in 2001 to well over 100 now. And in 2016, wineries poured more than two million gallons of wine.
Katie Barnett, the marketing extension specialist for the Purdue Wine Grape Team, says the growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down.
But as younger generations become more involved, which Barnett says is currently occurring through educational programs, it’s unclear what their impact could be.
"There’s a lot of positive that comes out of that," Barnett says. "And I believe will continue to come out of that as the millennial population comes in over the next several years and, you know, really takes over the alcohol industry."
Compared to wine, craft beer has a much larger economic impact on the state. Last year, it garnered more than $1 billion. That's according to the Brewer’s Association.