By Chelsey Carr
Sunglasses and hats adorned, customers basked in the bright sunshine on the unusually warm February day. Inside the building was even more crowded as lines formed for wine, food, and tours of the winery.
The last Sunday in February would not traditionally be a busy day for a winery. However, the 50-degree day wasn’t the only reason Huber’s Orchard, Winery, and Vineyards was open for business and bustling with activity.
Following the passing of legislation in 1978 that allowed the production of wine, Huber’s Orchard tacked on the title of winery.
According to Dana Huber, director of marketing and public relations, Huber’s Winery has partnered with Groupon to help increase business in the non-traditional months of January through April.
“We will probably see about 3000 people here today, and it’s a Sunday in February,” Huber said.
Huber’s has also partnered with eight other wineries to create the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail.
Most people don’t understand why competing businesses would partner, but it’s a really great idea because there is not set standard, Huber said. She described the different wine making processes, flavors, and set-ups that the various wineries offer.
In February, a Chocolate Lover’s Weekend was available, which paired chocolates with signature wines from each winery. July offers a signature event, which was traditionally hosted at Huber’s or Oliver Winery due to the ability to hold an event for 400 to 600 people. However, this year it will be held at French Lick.
Wanting to expand business further, especially during the off season, Huber’s investigated other ways to use their produce. Fruit infused brandy became the next big idea.
“We worked with our legislators to educate them and show the benefits of producing brandy and legislation was passed in 2001 which allowed us to start the process of production. We released our first brandy in 2004,” Huber said.
However, the family did not want to stop there. Realizing the possibilities that existed from the grain currently being produced, the Hubers began to advocate for legislation that would allow the production of spirits.
“We visited many distilleries and created our business model. We talked to legislators and proved that we would be responsible in distribution and that we were here to stay, rather than being in and out in 10 years,” Huber said.
In proving responsibility, Huber’s also had to show how the operation would cater to their guests while still maintaining a family friendly atmosphere and a safe environment. Bartenders are trained to check IDs and consumption of alcohol.
The legislation for spirits was passed in 2013 and the distillery released the first bottle in 2014.
Despite the expansion into brandies and spirits, Huber’s remains first and foremost as a farm and family destination spot.
“We are all about agriculture. Our mission as farmers is to feed the world,” said Huber.
Johnny Appleseed tours for elementary students fulfills part of that mission. They are held in September and October.
According to Huber, the family worked with legislators in Indianapolis to ensure that their program fulfilled state education standards.
“The kids learn how the crops are grown and how they end up in the grocery store because a lot of them don’t really understand that process. We had about 10 thousand kids last year,” Huber said.
October is also the month for pumpkin picking. Wagon rides bring families out to big pumpkin patches where kids and adults can pick their own pumpkins.
The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas trees are available for families to chop down their own tree.
“It’s becoming more of a tradition for families, especially as the younger generation is moving back to canning like their grandmothers used to do,” Huber said.
In addition to creating an atmosphere and place for families to form or carry-on traditions, Huber’s actively participates in the surrounding community.
“Even though my title is marketing and public relations, I feel like a larger part of what I do is community relations,” Huber said. “And probably my favorite part of the job is community and active community involvement.”
Dana Huber’s husband, Ted, co-owns the business with Greg Huber, whose wife is the farm manager for Huber’s Farm, which is the other half of the business.
“It’s always been a priority for this family. From a leadership perspective, both Jan and Greg and Ted and I, as well as the fifth generation family members and the future, the seventh generation, see how and value what we need to do for our community.”
“We ask our community every day to come in and help with stewards and guests in our business, but we also need to be sure we give back to our community through supporting our schools, through supporting our economic development organizations, through the support of our tourism, through the support of all of our school functions and auctions. We’re constantly giving a basket donation of fruit and or spirits to local functions all the way up to buying a table at a rotary toast for community leaders or helping to sponsor with a signature cocktail at certain events. Community involvement is really a heart and soul piece for the family,” Huber said.
Huber’s was established in 1843. It has remained in operation by the family since.
“We’re not just a company moving to Starlight or to Southern Indiana. We’re a company that’s been here already for many generations, so we want to see this community get even stronger in the future,” Huber said.
Sunglasses and hats adorned, customers basked in the bright sunshine on the unusually warm February day. Inside the building was even more crowded as lines formed for wine, food, and tours of the winery.
The last Sunday in February would not traditionally be a busy day for a winery. However, the 50-degree day wasn’t the only reason Huber’s Orchard, Winery, and Vineyards was open for business and bustling with activity.
Following the passing of legislation in 1978 that allowed the production of wine, Huber’s Orchard tacked on the title of winery.
According to Dana Huber, director of marketing and public relations, Huber’s Winery has partnered with Groupon to help increase business in the non-traditional months of January through April.
“We will probably see about 3000 people here today, and it’s a Sunday in February,” Huber said.
Huber’s has also partnered with eight other wineries to create the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail.
Most people don’t understand why competing businesses would partner, but it’s a really great idea because there is not set standard, Huber said. She described the different wine making processes, flavors, and set-ups that the various wineries offer.
In February, a Chocolate Lover’s Weekend was available, which paired chocolates with signature wines from each winery. July offers a signature event, which was traditionally hosted at Huber’s or Oliver Winery due to the ability to hold an event for 400 to 600 people. However, this year it will be held at French Lick.
Wanting to expand business further, especially during the off season, Huber’s investigated other ways to use their produce. Fruit infused brandy became the next big idea.
“We worked with our legislators to educate them and show the benefits of producing brandy and legislation was passed in 2001 which allowed us to start the process of production. We released our first brandy in 2004,” Huber said.
However, the family did not want to stop there. Realizing the possibilities that existed from the grain currently being produced, the Hubers began to advocate for legislation that would allow the production of spirits.
“We visited many distilleries and created our business model. We talked to legislators and proved that we would be responsible in distribution and that we were here to stay, rather than being in and out in 10 years,” Huber said.
In proving responsibility, Huber’s also had to show how the operation would cater to their guests while still maintaining a family friendly atmosphere and a safe environment. Bartenders are trained to check IDs and consumption of alcohol.
The legislation for spirits was passed in 2013 and the distillery released the first bottle in 2014.
Despite the expansion into brandies and spirits, Huber’s remains first and foremost as a farm and family destination spot.
“We are all about agriculture. Our mission as farmers is to feed the world,” said Huber.
Johnny Appleseed tours for elementary students fulfills part of that mission. They are held in September and October.
According to Huber, the family worked with legislators in Indianapolis to ensure that their program fulfilled state education standards.
“The kids learn how the crops are grown and how they end up in the grocery store because a lot of them don’t really understand that process. We had about 10 thousand kids last year,” Huber said.
October is also the month for pumpkin picking. Wagon rides bring families out to big pumpkin patches where kids and adults can pick their own pumpkins.
The day after Thanksgiving, Christmas trees are available for families to chop down their own tree.
“It’s becoming more of a tradition for families, especially as the younger generation is moving back to canning like their grandmothers used to do,” Huber said.
In addition to creating an atmosphere and place for families to form or carry-on traditions, Huber’s actively participates in the surrounding community.
“Even though my title is marketing and public relations, I feel like a larger part of what I do is community relations,” Huber said. “And probably my favorite part of the job is community and active community involvement.”
Dana Huber’s husband, Ted, co-owns the business with Greg Huber, whose wife is the farm manager for Huber’s Farm, which is the other half of the business.
“It’s always been a priority for this family. From a leadership perspective, both Jan and Greg and Ted and I, as well as the fifth generation family members and the future, the seventh generation, see how and value what we need to do for our community.”
“We ask our community every day to come in and help with stewards and guests in our business, but we also need to be sure we give back to our community through supporting our schools, through supporting our economic development organizations, through the support of our tourism, through the support of all of our school functions and auctions. We’re constantly giving a basket donation of fruit and or spirits to local functions all the way up to buying a table at a rotary toast for community leaders or helping to sponsor with a signature cocktail at certain events. Community involvement is really a heart and soul piece for the family,” Huber said.
Huber’s was established in 1843. It has remained in operation by the family since.
“We’re not just a company moving to Starlight or to Southern Indiana. We’re a company that’s been here already for many generations, so we want to see this community get even stronger in the future,” Huber said.