About Us

Our Story

Country Heritage Winery & Vineyard, founded by Jeremy and Jennifer Lutter, has deep roots in Northeast Indiana, where their family farm has thrived for over a century. The winery and vineyard, established in 2011, has grown into the largest vineyard in Indiana, achieving remarkable success and numerous accolades for its commitment to quality. In 2024, building on their winemaking expertise, they expanded into distilling with the creation of Backroads Distilling Company, which reflects the same care and dedication found in their vineyard. Each bottle from both Country Heritage Winery and Backroads Distilling celebrates their heritage and promises exceptional quality. As a family-owned business led by fourth and fifth-generation farmers, Jeremy and Jennifer’s passion for the land invites all who visit to raise a glass to tradition and innovation.

Meet Our Team

  • Jennifer & Jeremy Lutter

    PROPRIETORS

    We both grew up in farming families in the LaOtto Community. After graduating high school we married in 1997. We continued farming full time until 2000 when we purchased a 12-acre Blueberry Farm. In 2001 our son, Brian, came into our lives. We then decided to expand the Blueberry Farm for Jennifer to run while staying home with Brian. Our love for produce and specialty crops like red raspberries, blueberries, melons, sweet corn, and grapes brought us to where we are today with Country Heritage Winery.  

  • Kevin Geeting

    WINEMAKER

    Born and raised in Auburn, Indiana. I graduated in 1993 from Tri-State University (aka Trine) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematical Science. One evening, when away on a business trip at a sales convention, a colleague coaxed me into trying wine with dinner. It was a 1998 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. That one wine changed my life. Soon thereafter I bought a winemaking book and learned how to make wine, until I eventually became a full-time assistant winemaking position. I later moved to Virginia, taking a similar position for a year, before coming home to take the winemaker’s position here at County Heritage. I am back living in Auburn with my wife Denissa and our three girls, Abbey, Autumn, and Sophia. ​

  • Patrick Tanesky

    DISTILLER

    Born and raised in Fort Wayne IN, I graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School and then attended IVY Tech and studied Respiratory Therapy.  In 2012 I watched my Uncle Mike homebrew a beer and became obsessed with the process of brewing and fermenting. About two years later I switched careers and began work at the local homebrew shop teaching others and honing my skills in brewing. In 2016 I began looking for a job in alcohol production. I was hired at Three Rivers Distilling Co. after about 6 months of production I was given the opportunity to be the lead distiller in which I spent the next 8 years learning the art of distillation.