Midwestern wine is always the misbehaving little brother of the so-called “important” wine regions of the west coast.  Until a visit to several of Indiana’s best wineries late last summer, it was difficult to argue such slurs were incorrect.

Indiana wines are known as ‘all that sweet wine” – Concord, Niagra, and others with cute names. That’s changed dramatically in the last few years. The sweet wines pay the bills for Indiana wineries but also allows the winemakers to go in brave and exciting new directions.

One of Indiana’s very best red wines is Huber’s Heritage. The Huber Heritage 2008 HSR is a blend of just Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. “Just” is appropriate because depending on the vintage, winemaker Ted Huber uses different grapes – including Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Huber enjoys a very specific micro-climate overlooking the Ohio River Valley that lets him grow grapes that won’t survive in many other Hoosier locations.

I’d gladly put this wine against many California and Washington state blends as a great red wine. But back to that snobbish attitude expressed above, it would have to be a blind tasting. I think the Indiana wine would fare well!

The wine is aged at least a year in oak for each vintage. The 2008 Heritage has a bright blueberry flavor with big tannin and acid. Additionally, it comes in at a very reasonable 13.6 percent alcohol that makes it an awesome pairing with bold food. I   enjoyed the wine with nicely grilled, thick ribeye steaks.

Huber wines are available in a number of Midwestern states. The Huber reds are some of the Hoosier states very best.

Huber 2008 Heritage, $24.99, Highly Recommended.