"Wine should be a complex beverage. It can be served with a variety of foods in a variety of different atmospheres."

Dr. Charles Thomas, the master of fine wine making in Indiana, recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of his winery, Chateau Thomas with a party in Indianapolis and a party in Hollywood.

Dr. Thomas was invited to share his Slender specialty wines in the celebrity gift baskets at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. According to Dr. Thomas, Slender is the only sugar-free sweet wine made in the world.

This is only the latest vintage for the retired Indianapolis OB/GYN who took up making wine as a hobby 38 years ago. After traveling to Napa for years to study the art of winemaking, he opened Chateau Thomas on the south side of Indianapolis in 1984. In 1997, it moved to its present location in Plainfield.

Dr. Thomas is always experimenting with new techniques in the winemaking process. He focuses on making wines that have richness, dimension, elegance, and texture. "Our customers are drawn to richer, more intense styles and we plan to continue making our wines with concentration, complexity and individuality," Dr. Thomas says.

Over the past 25 years, Chateau Thomas wines have garnered over 500 medals in international competition alone. They've been served at the Governor's Mansion, to the President and the Vice-President of the United States, at the National Democratic Governor's Conference in Washington, D.C., and was the official wine of American TransAir Airline.

The winery is continuing to expand its presence all over Indiana. The winery has doubled its size and includes an extra building with food and wine service for the "Music on the Veranda" live music and also Farmer's Market on Thursday evenings. "In addition to becoming a member of the Indiana Artisan, Chateau Thomas has partnered with National Wine and Spirits, an Indiana wholesaler, to expand our presence and make our products available to everyone in Indiana."

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