GOLD! The Rejoicing Vine voted BEST WINERY Indianapolis 2025

Owners Frances and Brent pose for Indy's Best Winery Award — *Owner's Frances & Brent Kumfer pose after winning the Current's Best Of Wineries 2025 Award (Photo by Leila Kheiry courtesy of Current Publishing)*

Pop Some Bubbly! 🍾

We’re raising a glass (or two) to some exciting news—The Rejoicing Vine was named Best Winery of the Indy North Suburbs 2025 by Current Publishing!

We’re honored, humbled, and feeling all the bubbly vibes. This recognition means the world to us because it comes from you—our incredible community of wine lovers, sustainability champions, and Hoosier neighbors. It gives us validation that when we focus on CULTIVATING LIFE for those around us we will HARVEST JOY!

Why This Award Matters

Being named Best Winery of the North Indianapolis Suburbs isn’t just about the wine (though we think it’s pretty fantastic). It’s about being recognized as a leader among 7 phenomenal Indiana wineries in the Current's publication area for how we approach farming, flavor, and the future.

Let me emphasize how much this means to us by letting you in on a secret. Starting a winery isn't all glitz and glam. It's hard and the winter months are particularly tough as customers vanish, bills pile up, and you start asking yourself what's wrong?

And if that's not enough, Frances and I have never done anything like this. Neither of us worked in a winery or in the hospitality industry. I made wine in my basement but not commercially...and to top that off I had only ever made one small 5 gallon batch of sparkling wine before we opened the winery. Now after less than 2 years in business we were facing off against some great and well established Indiana wineries?

But God...

If I'm honest I didn't think we had a snowballs chance in, well you know where, of winning. Then, I was reminded of two of my favorite words in times of doubt, BUT GOD.

God has plans, plans to give us hope and a future. Since we stepped out in faith on this journey we have been reminded time and time again of two Biblical facts:

(1) God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those who answer His call and

(2) God is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

To Him be the glory!

"Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20 NLT

So why does this award mean so much?

On personal level, after a hard 2nd winter, the win is validation that we are on the right track. On holistic, communal level, I pray that our story encourages others, who may feel unqualified for a calling, to step out in faith so that they may witness how He moves in ways infinitely beyond what they could ask or imagine.

Winemaker Brent Kumfer opens a bottle of Regen Rose to celebrate — Winemaker Brent Kumfer opens a bottle of Regen Rosé in celebration (Photo by Dave Evans at dimwest.com)

The Current's Best Winery Indianapolis Contest

Current Publishing is a local news publication with coverage throughout the north Indianapolis metropolitan area including north Indy, Zionsville, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, and Geist. The Current's territory includes 7 different Indiana wineries and it's publications are distributed to over 131,000 homes in the Indianapolis area.

The contest was run in early 2025 starting with the nomination process - businesses had to be nominated by others to be considered for voting. Once the nominations were completed, individuals were given several weeks to cast votes. In the Indy Wineries category there were 6 wineries nominated - Daniel Vineyards in McCordsville, Hopwood Cellars in Zionsville, Peace Water Winery in Carmel & Fishers, Spencer Farms in Noblesville, Urban Vines in Westfield, and lastly The Rejoicing Vine in Indianapolis.

MORE TO SHARE - Current's Article on Us

"It feels like you’re out in rural Indiana, but really, you’re only 20 minutes from downtown"

As part of the special "Best of" edition, the team at Current Publishing featured The Rejoicing Vine in an article that spotlights our commitment to sustainable winemaking in Indiana, our regenerative vineyard, and our mission to do things differently (and deliciously). If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, check it out—it's a great snapshot of what makes our little winery outside Carmel so special.

As the only regeneratively farmed vineyard in Indiana, we believe great wine starts in healthy soil—and ends with a strong community. From wine-on-tap in reusable kegs to events that celebrate local food and music, everything we do is about connection: to the land, to each other, and to the joy of raising a glass together.

Stop By & Celebrate With Us

Whether you're a longtime wine club member or a new friend just discovering local Indiana wine, we’d love to welcome you to our Indianapolis winery for a tasting, tour, or just a sunny afternoon with a glass of bubbly.

📍 Located just north of downtown Indianapolis, The Rejoicing Vine is your go-to spot for cultivating life through small-batch wine and a big love for the planet.