Meet The Winemakers

Brian Ahaus

Ertel Cellars Winery and Restaurant

What started as a manual labor job turned quickly into a labor of love for New Alsace, Indiana native Brian Ahaus. Beginning his career at another area winery, Brian quickly climbed the wine vines through education and trial and error to become the head winemaker and vineyard manager after only seven years. He attended many classes at Purdue University and Ohio State to learn as much as possible about making wine and growing grapes. As head winemaker for the area winery, Brian garnered many top State of Indiana awards. His fruit wines, as well as his dry reds, received awards. He has made his labor of love more challenging than others, being the first in Indiana to grow grapes for Vinefera wines for commercial use. They are one of the most difficult grapes to grow and are mainly grown in "old country" Europe and in California.

His success, he notes, comes from his education, the school of hard knocks, and the soil complexities in the area. Ahaus feels that some of the microclimates within the Midwest make for idea grape growing. The microclimate he works in now, thanks to owner Tom Ertel, is comprised of 15 acres of grapes, and more scheduled for the future. His wines are handcrafted from the vines to the wines. First opened in 2006 with a winery and restaurant, they now serve 18 wines from an Estate Chardonnay to Chambourcin to a variety of fruit wines, and the rewards are pouring in!

Brian noted he feels very blessed to not only be a winemaker in Indiana, but also to be picked to put together this new winery with the best of equipment. "It's very rare for a winemaker to have this opportunity." he added. He also feels blessed to have the support of his wife, Karen, and his three children.

Doug Holtkamp

Holtkamp Winery

NEED HOLTKAMP WINEMAKER INFORMATION!

Chris Lanthier

Lanthier Winemaker

Cellarmaster Christopher Lanthier is a chemical engineer and hails originally from Detroit Michigan. He balances his executive position with Dow Corning Corporation with his duties as Lanthier Winery's wine maker.
Christopher's dream to pursue his own business began with a simple thought inspired by visits to Napa Valley wine country in 1990. Following numerous "wine trail" trips throughout the United States and other countries, he investigated the possibilities of establishing a winery in Historic Madison. He discovered an old stone building, hidden behind immense shrubs and debris. What followed was four years of restoration, renovation and rehabilitation to the Mill Street building and grounds. During those four years the winery and surrounding properties were entirely stripped to make way for Lanthier's vision, a winery that felt as if it belonged in the small villages of Europe but had American appeal and comfort. Cellarmaster Christopher Lanthier premiered his handcrafted, award wining wines September of 1994 when he celebrated the grand-opening of Madison's oldest winery, Lanthier Winery during the winery's annual Harvest Celebration Festival.
Mr. Lanthier has traveled the world, tasting wine, studying tourism and learning more about the art and science of wine making. He is a member of the Indiana Wine Grape Guild. He has acted as consultant and advisor to numerous individuals seeking to open new wineries in Indiana and throughout the Midwest. Lanthier credits his staff for the winery's continued success and expansion and encourages anyone seeking a "far away feeling , close enough to taste" to visit his dream come true at Lanthier Winery in Historic Madison Indiana.

Gerald Manning

Stream Cliff Winery Winemaker