How Regenerative Farming is Changing the Way We Grow Wine in Indiana

What Is Regenerative Farming?

Here in Indiana, farming is part of our identity. It shapes our landscape, our communities, and the way we gather around the table. But not all farming looks the same—and more importantly, not all farming has the same impact on the environment.

If you’ve visited our winery, you’ve probably heard us use the word regenerative.

But what does that actually mean? And why does it matter—for your wine, your food, and even the water here in Indiana?

Let’s start with something simple. Take a drive through rural Indiana in late fall or early spring. You’ll likely see wide-open fields of bare soil. No crops, no cover—just dirt waiting for the next season.

It might look normal. But that bare soil is part of a bigger story, uglier story. One that has a negative effect so large and far reaching that it leads to a dead zone the size of New Jersey in the Gulf of Mexico.

In recent years, a new (or perhaps very old) approach has started to take root: regenerative farming. It’s a way of working with the land instead of against it. And for those of us who wish to be good stewards of our resources, it's changing how we look at farming.

At its core, regenerative farming is about restoring life to the soil.

Instead of relying on heavy inputs and practices that deplete the land over time, regenerative agriculture focuses on building healthy ecosystems. That means improving soil structure, increasing biodiversity, and allowing natural systems to do what they were designed to do.

It’s more than sustainability. It’s about leaving the land better than we found it.

And here in Indiana, where agriculture plays such a central role, that shift matters.

Why Regenerative Farming Matters in Indiana

Indiana sits in the heart of some of the most productive farmland in the world. But with that productivity comes responsibility.

Conventional farming practices—especially those that rely heavily on tillage and synthetic chemicals—can lead to nutrient runoff. Over time, those nutrients move through our local waterways - Ever visited the White River? If so you'd probably be surprised to know it used to be so clear that it got it's name from the white limestone rocks that could be seen on the bottom [Hamilton County Historical Society]. The river (along with most in Indiana) is now a muddy brown largely due to runoff from agriculture.

From our local waterways the runoff feeds into larger systems like the Ohio River and eventually the Mississippi River where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The runoff from farms is so bad that it creates an region in the Gulf of Mexico about the size of New Jersey that is uninhabitable by most life known as the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone [noaa.gov].

It’s a complex issue, but the takeaway is simple: what happens on farms here in Indiana doesn’t stay here.

That’s why regenerative farming in Indiana is so important. By focusing on soil health, reducing inputs, and increasing biodiversity, farms can play a role not only in sustaining our world but in restoring it—not just locally, but far beyond state lines.

Regenerative Farming and Wine: Why It Changes the Glass

Wine is deeply connected to the land it comes from. You'll often hear the French term "terroir" thrown around in the wine world. It's a term used to capture the essence of how a place - the soil, the climate, the surrounding ecosystem - all of it shows up in the final wine.

When you shift to regenerative farming, you’re not just changing how grapes are grown. You’re changing the quality and character of the wine itself.

Healthy Soil As The Foundation

Soil is the foundation for our farms. Healthy soil is FILLED with life - in fact there are more living organisms in a teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on the planet [Healthy Soils].

When our soils are healthy they provide nutrition to our plants, our plants remain healthy and can fend off diseases and pests on their own without pesticides. When our soils are healthy they can absorb and hold more rainfall preventing erosion, runoff, and the need for irrigation.

Conventional practices like tillage and reliance on pesticides destroy the health of the soil. The health of the soil the the microbes in it rely on plants and living roots to provide protection and nutrition to it. A soil with no plants very quickly becomes a lifeless soil. When you drive by those rural farms with bare dirt for as far as the eye can see you're viewing a largely lifeless soil and that bad. Bad for the farmer, bad for the consumer, bad for the water systems and bad for the environment.

Healthier Soils As A Solution To Climate Change

Life as we know is carbon based and so it happens by increasing the life in a soil we can essentially store carbon underground.

Conventional agriculture is directly responsible for climate change - creating 37% of global greenhouse gas admission and 70% of the worlds water usage [World Economic Forum]. Regenerative agriculture has been shown to have the opposite effect, instead of putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere it actually removes them. Climate scientists have shown regenerative agriculture to be a huge potential to be a solution to climate change [Rodale Institute].

Healthier Soils Lead to Healthier People

In addition to environmental health, there is a growing evidence that healthier soils produce more nutrient dense foods. More nutrient dense foods can lead to better nutrition and health for people.

What to learn more?

Ready to learn more about the issues? Head on over to the Hoosier Environmental Council's website. I wrote a recent article here with a little more depth and links to resources and information for those curious to dive deeper into the issues and more importantly the solutions.

A Different Approach at The Rejoicing Vine

For those searching for sustainably farmed wine or locally grown wine in Indiana, regenerative practices offer something deeper than a label. They offer a story rooted in care, intention, and connection to place.

At The Rejoicing Vine, regenerative farming isn’t just a concept, it’s the foundation of how we grow. You'll hear us refer to it as "Cultivating Life".

Our farm is intentionally diverse, with vineyard, prairie, and woodland working together as one ecosystem. This diversity supports pollinators, improves soil health, and creates a more balanced environment overall. The soil health and diversity allow us to eliminate the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

We’re proud to be home to Indiana’s only regeneratively farmed vineyard. And in the winery, that same commitment carries through. From using kegs to reduce packaging waste to producing wine from certified sustainable grapes, every decision is made with the long-term health of the land in mind.

It’s not the easiest path, but it’s the one we believe in.

Why It Matters When You Choose a Wine

When you choose a bottle of wine, you’re choosing more than flavor. You’re supporting a way of farming. A way of caring for the land. A vision for what agriculture can look like in the future.

Regenerative farming in Indiana is still growing, still evolving. But every visit, every glass, every conversation helps move it forward.

And maybe that’s the most meaningful part, knowing that something as simple as sharing a glass of wine can be connected to something much much bigger.