It seems that spring may finally have arrived, and not a moment too soon! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been longing for warmer days, bits of green starting to peek through the ground, and bright blue skies.

While it still may be a little chilly to be hanging around outside for any length of time, there are things that you can do to get out of the house and enjoy the sights and smells of spring - like taking a road trip, for example.

One of my favorite road trips is heading down to Carpenter Creek Cellars in Remington. Located on a winding country road, this gem of a winery is a great place to sit and relax and enjoy the peacefulness of the country. Sampling and sipping their exceptional wines makes the trip all the more worthwhile!

The winery's tasting room is housed in a beautifully restored draft horse barn circa 1919. This past winter, they've built an addition, which now houses the production room. They're also working on renovating the old hayloft into a banquet/rental facility which will seat 65 people and plan to have it done later this spring.

I always enjoy chatting with the Head Winos, as they call themselves - Joe, Randy and Ed - while I'm there. They're very knowledgeable about wine and fun to talk to as they let me sample different varieties of wine. My absolute favorite is the fruity and slightly spicy Traminette, made from Indiana's signature wine grape. Running a close second is their Sunset Red, a fruity semi-sweet red.

This coming Saturday, March 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CST, Carpenter Creek Cellars will be hosting its second anniversary party. Musician Steve Hill will be performing, and finger food and pizza will be available. It would make for a great road trip to check out this fantastic winery, enjoy a party and sample some delicious wine!

Carpenter Creek also hosts a music series, Music on the Lawn, has created its own wine club, and distributes its wine to local shops and restaurants. In the warmer months, they have outdoor seating, so that you can enjoy the sights and sounds of the local countryside while sipping a glass of wine.

Carpenter Creek Cellars is located at 11144 Jordan Road in Remington and is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST Mondays through Saturdays, and from noon to 5:00 p.m. CST on Sundays. For more information, visit their website at www.carpentercreekcellars.com or call 219-866-4334.

Contributing Editor: Amy Van Soest
Former communications coordinator with the South Shore CVA.