.....AND THE WINNERS ARE........

We want to take a second here to say that we are very proud of our customers and our winners.  We appreciate our loyal customers.  We appreciate every person who comes through our doors. Some of our winners are first or second batch winemakers.  If you ever had thoughts of trying your hand at winemaking, now is the time and RED BARN WINEMAKER SUPPLIES is the place.   Visit our web site for more information.   www.redbarnwinemakersupplies.com

Jamie and Christopher Haliburt

Jamie and Chris won two SILVER MEDALS and one BRONZE.  White Zin, silver..Peach Char, silver and Piesporter, bronze.  They have been wine makers for a couple of years now and are really turning out some great wines.  You may have seen their labels on display in the store.  They have done fantastic things with the AVERY system and labels to complement their fabulous wines.

John Dyke

John Dyke  won a GOLD MEDAL.   John's entry was the Island Mist Mango Citrus Symphony.  He also brought us a bottle to have in the store for a short taste.  However, once we posted his gold medal win with that kit, we sold out of it.  But that will be solved this week.  John also makes Mead and a Dutch raisin brandy kind of drink.  It was very interesting to taste.   This has become a family hobby for his adult children.  John Sr, John Jr, Mark and Tim are all winemakers.  Mark has a New Zealand Pinot Noir  that will be about 1 1/2 years old by next years INDY.  I hope to see it there.

Debra and Paul Fraley

Paul won a SILVER MEDAL for his Australian Cab/Shiraz and Debra won a BRONZE MEDAL for her Reisling Ice Wine. They came to our winemaking / winetasting class about 2 years ago and they have been making fabulous wines ever since.   Last night they brought a bottle of their Island Mist Pomegranate / Zinfandel so we could have a bottle for customers to try before buying.  It is delicious!!!  We have plenty of these kits in stock.  Stop in for a taste before it's all gone.

Jerry Heward

Jerry Heward won a SILVER MEDAL this year with his single entry of Barolo red wine.  Jerry was one of our DOUBLE GOLD winners in last years contest. Jerry and his wife Jill are also very involved in flower gardening.   After he buys what he needs in the store he looks over Maureen's flower beds and gardens.  He has given her some good tips on gardening.

Tammy Jones

Tammy Jones won three SILVER MEDALS this year.  She began her wine making in 2005.  She was seeking a new hobby to call her own.  She asked a friend of hers, Fred Chadwell to teach her the art of wine making.  She quickly learned the process and began making various wines year after year.  She also has taken courses and has read lots of books on wine making. Her daughter, Amanda Jones helps in the bottling process by corking the wines.  Thus, the reason for the name of her wines called Tamanda s.   Tammy would love to open up her own winery someday. She just needs to meet Mr. Right to help fund her adventurous dream.  Tammy strives to win the Gold Medal at the Indy International Wine Competition in the future. Wish her luck!!!!

Lynnea and Jeff Huizenga

Lynnea and Jeff won four BRONZE MEDALS this year.  They attended our class last fall and have already purchased and fermented 24+ WINEXPERT kits in the past 9 months.  (love you, man!)  They entered a Luna Rosa, Gewurztraminer, Piesporter and an Italian Montepulciano.  I'm convinced that if these wines take a long nap in a cool, dark place, they will score very high in next years competition.      Here are two quotes from Jeff.  "It is amazing how relaxing and therapeutic it is, either that or I am 1 can short of a six pack.  I would think that 24+ wine kits in 9 months might be some Red Barn record, deserving of some "are you nuts?" award.  And secondly,   "The only way to age your wine is to make sure you make more than enough in the first place".  - Jeff.

Brenda and Dave Long

Brenda and Dave entered 3 wines and won 3 GOLD MEDALS.  They were a New Zealand Pinot Noir, a Port wine and an Australian Shiraz. Dave came in Red Barn on 12/06/07 to buy a winemaker equipment kit for Brenda for Christmas.  I started to explain the kits when he held up his hand and said, "this is for my wife for Christmas...I want the best of everything." And he got it.  In February, Brenda came in for labels.  I asked how it was going, and she said, "Well....ok."  I asked about..well, ok..and she said that this was supposed to be her Christmas present....but she was not supposed to use it unless Dave was there!!  I was thrilled to hear that we have another husband-wife winemaking team.  It's great to have a common hobby and they're producing fabulous wines together.  Dave is our local State Farm Insurance agent in DeMotte.  So if you want to talk insurance or wine, talk turkey with Dave at 219-987-4437.

Sue and Todd Williams

Sue and Todd won 2 SILVER MEDALS this year. One for their Johannesburg Riesling and one for Merlot.  This is not their first medals.  They also won in last years INDY.  They have been customers since December of 2006 and have produced some fabulous wines in that time.  They have two fantastic teen-agers (boy and girl) who are very involved in the making and bottling of the wine.  In addition, they are both "book worms".  When we see mom and dad picking out what wine they want to make next and the kids making a pile of books they want to buy, it makes us feel that our RED BARN  venture was well worth while.

Paulette Kates

Paulette (center) won a DOUBLE GOLD, a SILVER and a BRONZE MEDAL this year.  She was already a medal winning wine maker, but what a showing!!!  And to win DOUBLE GOLD with the wine you made for your friends wedding....it doesn't get any better than that.  Ashly and Kyle Bruner were very pleased and proud to serve her wine at their wedding.  She won DOUBLE GOLD with her Luna Rosa, SILVER with the Okanagan Peach Ice Wine and BRONZE with a Rasberry wine.  So ladies, if there is a wedding in your future, and you want to serve DOUBLE GOLD LUNA ROSA at the affair, better find your own "Paulette" and start kissing up. (Luna Rosa is a registered trademark of WINEXPERT, INC.)

Renee and Robert O'Connor

Bob and Renee won a SILVER MEDAL for their New Zealand Pinot Noir. The couple had already done their homework before coming to RED BARN.  They listened briefly to the the different equipment kits and juice kits available and said, "We just want the best of both."  They followed the instructions to a tee, only called once with an additional question, and their first attempt at winemaking won them a silver medal.  They recently returned for another Pinot Noir and also for an Italian Pinot Gris.  I hope I get a taste of their Pinot Gris.  Asked what their secret was,  "We just followed the instructions!!!"

Leigh Littiken

Leigh won a GOLD MEDAL for her Luna Rosa by WINEXPERT. She and her husband Rob have been customers for a couple of years.  She also makes mead and fruit wines.  Leigh makes wine and Rob makes beer.  And we have everything they need for both hobbies here at RED BARN WINEMAKER SUPPLIES.

Janice Bates

Janice won a BRONZE MEDAL with their Chilian Malbec.  They have been winemakers for some time, but felt many of their wines were too young to enter this year.  That's no problem...they will be that much better for next years INDY contest.  Bates are the parents of our next couple, the Smiths.

Stephanie and Brian Smith

Stephanie and Brian won 3 SILVER MEDALS and 1 BRONZE MEDAL.  Cherry-Banana, silver...Honey (mead), silver...Valpolicella, silver...and Cayuga, bronze.  Many will remember this couple from last year...they cleaned house!!! In addition to their medals, they also won a trophy for Indiana Amatuer Mead Makers award.  They are from New Palastine, Indiana, just east of Indianapolis.  They found RED BARN through their parents who live in Lowell.  Keep up the good work!!

Mike Baird

Mike Baird is a bashful guy, but a great wine maker.  (Actually, Mike got too much sun and has sun poisoning, hence no picture).  Mike won a BRONZE medal with his entry of White Merlot.  Our guess is that it was borderline silver, because he brought a bottle in for Bob to taste, and left it here for others to try.  We thought the wine was great and the label is very interesting, also.  It is a scottish  pattern and the family crest on the label.  Good job, Mike.

Bob and Tom Modrowski

Bob and Tom entered three wines and won GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE.  Viognier, gold...Montagnac Vieux, silver and a Red Blend, bronze.  I believe they are on vacation and couldn't get a picture to me......or they are in the Federal Witness Protection Program....but I think they're on vacation.  They are also former medal winners.  Last year their Piesporter won them a gold medal.  This Red Blend is going to do fantastic at next years INDY!!