Indiana vitners uncork their dream
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John and Kim Doty named their vineyard Heaven's View. From
its highest point, they can see three different southern Indiana
counties Martin, Dubois and Orange.
Photo by Tom Campbell
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By Tom Campbell
Heaven's View Vineyard occupies a small sliver of Kim Doty's parents'
250-acre southern Indiana farm, just a 3.5-acre patch perched on a hillside
overlooking the White River Valley.
But every day, while caring for the Chambourcin, Traminette, Vidal,
Vincent and Norton grapes (the first grown commercially in Indiana),
John Doty, BS '78, must pinch himself.
On the top of his highest hill, vines and leaves reach to the sky,
grabbing all the sunshine and rain they can, to fill grapes with pure
sweetness that will become some of the 18 varieties of wines the Dotys
bottle and sell at their French Lick Winery.
Below, a herd of 40 cattle, mostly purebred Black Angus, wander the
wooded property, taking water from any of the seven ponds.
And behind him is the view. Oh, that marvelous view!
The farm has been in Kim's family for more than 100 years. From the
peak of their little piece of paradise, the Dotys can see three counties.
It's a view that is as green as an Irish postcard in the summer and
as colorful as a clown's suit in the fall.
It may not be heaven, but you can bet it's only a local call from here.
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