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Wine making and wine tasting has long been a favorite American pastime, particularly in western states such as California - a subject humorously portrayed in the hit 2004 film, Sideways.

Yet, this pursuit seems to have traveled across the United States, with wineries appearing in the most unlikely of locations. Indianapolis, for instance, is highly valued for being a dedicated centre of sport; yet in 1996, Indianapolis saw the opening of Gaia Wines Contemporary Winery, the 19th winery in the area.

Named after the Greek Goddess of the Earth, Gaia Wines is owned and run by Cellar Master Angee Wallberry, and is the only winery in the US owned solely by a woman. Since its opening, Gaia Wines has tried to fit into its surroundings, but has also endeavored to create its own unique niche in the marketplace. Located in the central, up-market historic gallery and theater district on Massachusetts Avenue, only a few minutes away from the luxury Conrad Hotel, it has had to quickly establish a high reputation for itself - and to no little success: since its opening, Gaia Wines has managed to pull off the amazing feat of creating 14 new award winning wines, introducing tours and wine tasting events to the winery, as well as providing meeting rooms and playing host to public functions.

Gaia Wines Contemporary Winery also hosts various public activities, such as Sunday Jazz and comedy shows, along with monthly specials and wine appreciation classes. Clearly, Gaia Wines fits in well with Indianapolis’ growing wine tasting scene, which has been emerging since the 1990s. Among Indiana’s other wineries worth visiting are the Chateau Thomas Winery, and the Easley Winery, both of which offer free tasting sessions and regular tours, in addition to meeting space, events and activities.

The success of Gaia Wines Contemporary Winery since it opened ten years ago is not altogether surprising, as soil conditions and climate in Indiana are optimal for wine production - although this is not often acknowledged outside the state. In particular, Indiana’s conditions are great for cultivating the increasingly popular Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. The impressive quality of Indiana wines has led to its vintners being more generally acknowledged in the wider vintner community across America and the globe. Though it may still not be regarded on a scale to California’s Napa Valley, Indiana is certainly gaining regard as one of America’s up-and-coming wine growing regions; and if wineries continue to be as successful as Gaia Wines Contemporary Winery, the future looks rosy.

Michael is a keen writer living in Edinburgh. Michael’s Website: Belfast Airport Taxis

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Indianapolis is the capital and the largest city of Indiana. It is a major commercial center. With a population of close to 800,000, it is Indiana’s most populous city and one of the few cities in the Midwest that has seen a growth rate exceeding 5 percent.

Founded as the state capital in 1821, the city enjoyed great social, economic and cultural progress, mainly due to the discovery of a large natural gas deposit in the 1890s. With the state supplying free natural gas to factories in the region, there was a sharp increase in automobile and glass industries until 1915, when the deposits got depleted.

Indianapolis experiences hot summers and long and cold winters, with significant snowstorms. Spring is generally pleasant; however, since there are no mountains to protect the area, thunderstorms that occur in spring and fall often bring in tornadoes.

Indianapolis is rich in culture and in order to improve tourism, the government is taking further initiatives to project the city as a center of art and culture. Broad Ripple Village, War Memorial Plaza, Monument Circle, Massachusetts Avenue, Fountain Square and Wholesale Districare are some of the well-known cultural districts. The city is also known for its reputed educational institutions like Butler University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian College, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis. The Indianapolis International Airport caters to Indianapolis and Marion County.

Indianapolis is probably best known for hosting the largest single-day sporting event in the world: the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. This race is held at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which is the largest stadium in the world.

The city is also home to well-known sports teams, including the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Associaton and the Indiana Fever of the Women’s National Basketball Association. Beginning with the 2006 event, the NCAA will be holding the Final Four, which is the semifinals and finals of the men’s college basketball tournament in Indianapolis every four years. In recognition of its love for sports, the city has been dubbed “The Amateur Sports Capital of the World.”

Indianapolis provides detailed information on Indianapolis, Indianapolis Real Estate, Indianapolis Hotels, Indianapolis Directory and more. Indianapolis is affiliated with Cleveland Golf.

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