Indiana Uplands AVA

Indiana Uplands is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) encompassing much of the Indiana Uplands landform located in south-central Indiana. Its southern and eastern boundaries border the established multi-state Ohio River Valley AVA. The area was established on February 4, 2013, by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Jim L. Butler, president of Butler Winery of Bloomington, Indiana, on behalf of himself and local vintners, proposing the viticultural area to be named "Indiana Uplands."

TTB modified the boundary of the established 26,000 square miles (16,640,000 acres) Ohio River Valley AVA decreasing its size by approximately 1,530 square miles (980,000 acres) to eliminate a potential overlap with Indiana Uplands. At the outset, Indiana Uplands contained 19 vineyards with approximately 200 acres (81 ha) under vine, 2 planned vineyards of 15 to 20 acres (6–8 ha) each, and 17 wineries; the existing and planned vineyards are geographically distributed throughout the viticultural area, according to a map submitted with the petition. Once the final rule was established the Indiana Uplands viticultural area and the boundary of the Ohio River Valley viticultural area became effective, the TTB set a transition rule to label wines produced from grapes grown in the 1,530 sq mi (980,000 acres) area that was formerly within the Ohio River Valley viticultural area. Labels containing the words "Ohio River Valley" in the brand name or as appellation of origin may be used on wine bottled within two years from the effective date of the final rule, provided that such label was approved prior to the effective date and the wine conforms to the standards for use of the label in effect prior to the final rule. At the end of the two-year transition period, a wine was no longer eligible for labeling with the Ohio River Valley viticultural area name or as an appellation of origin would not be permitted on the bottle.

Indiana Uplands' 4,800 square miles (3,100,000 acres) extends 110 miles (180 km) north to south beginning at the line that separates Morgan and Monroe counties and extends south to the Ohio River at the Kentucky border. The viticultural area extends approximately 63 miles (101 km) east to west at its widest point, from Clark County to Martin County. Nineteen Indiana counties are located partially or totally within the viticultural area: Monroe, Brown, Morgan, Owen, Greene, Lawrence, Bartholomew, Orange, Washington, Floyd, Harrison, Perry, Crawford, Jackson, Martin, Daviess, Dubois, Scott, and Spencer.