Bloomington, Indiana, the home of Indiana University, is also home to two of Indiana’s oldest wineries – Oliver Winery and Butler Winery. They have each made their mark on the Hoosier state’s wine industry.
Read on to learn about my recent visits to Oliver Winery and Butler Winery, located within a mile of each other in the rolling hills of south-central Indiana.
Oliver Winery — Indiana’s Oldest and Largest Winery
Oliver Winery, which celebrated its 50th anniversary of operation in 2022, is the oldest in Indiana! William Oliver, its founder, was an I.U. law professor who started out making wine in his basement in the 1960s. Professor Oliver’s son, Bill, took over the winery in 1983. In 2006, it became 100% employee-owned.
The winery has grown throughout the decades and is now the state’s largest, producing over 800,000 cases of wine annually.
A partnership with NexPhase Capital was established in 2021 to help it continue to scale up and accelerate future growth.
Oliver Winery Ranks #28 Among All U.S. Wineries
Oliver Winery’s Tasting Room Hours: Monday-Thursday: noon–6pm; Friday-Saturday: 11am–6pm; Sunday, noon-6pm. (Credit: Oliver Winery)
With a product line of more than 30 varieties, Oliver currently ranks #28 among all wineries in the U.S., according to Wine Business Monthly. National recognition has also come from Travel + Leisure, which included Oliver among the Top 25 Wineries to Visit in the U.S. Trip Advisor includes it among the Top 7 wineries outside California to visit.
Camelot Mead and Sweet Red are Top Sellers
Its first big seller was a honey wine, Camelot Mead, and its reputation has continued to grow nationally. It is now the #1 selling honey wine in the U.S. Made with orange blossom honey, it pairs well with Asian cuisine, chicken, fruit salad, and mild, creamy cheeses.
Its top seller overall is Sweet Red, described as smooth and fruity with the aroma and flavor of classic Concord grapes. Suggested pairings include pepperoni pizza, burgers, BBQ, and chocolate.
While Oliver sources the majority of its grapes from outside Indiana, nine varietals are estate bottled as part of its Creekbend Collection. The Creekbend Vineyard grows grapes conducive to local growing conditions, including Chambourcin, Catawba, Vidal Blanc, Cabernet, Vignoles, and Chardonel. The Creekbend Chambourcin Rosé was my favorite.
Spring flowers were in full bloom on the day we visited Oliver Winery. The beautifully landscaped grounds include large monolithic rock sculptures reminiscent of Stonehenge, a stone fountain, large patio areas, and a small lake. In fair weather, visitors can enjoy their favorite wine with a picnic basket lunch or other snack items available for purchase in the gift shop.
Picnic packages are available from April through October, with reservations made in advance. The picnic basket includes an assortment of gourmet meat and cheeses, homemade garlic spread, seasonal and dried fruits, and freshly baked bread. You’ll have a reserved spot on the patio to enjoy, along with wine, for two hours.
Reserve a Wine Tasting or Guided Tour
We followed up our picnic lunch with a Reserved Wine Tasting experience of a wide selection of Oliver wines, from dry to sweet, including one of its Pilot Project™ wines. Ours was the Lavender Cucumber Chill wine spritzer. We also tasted BeanBlossom Bourbon Barrel Hard Cider, the newest of Oliver’s product line.
You may also choose to get a behind-the-scenes experience on a reserved guided tour (available Friday-Sunday only, by reservation.) After the one-hour walking tour of the production facilities and grounds, enjoy a 30-minute guided tasting in the tasting room.
They are available in 40 states and can also be ordered online.
Plan Your Visit to Oliver Winery
The winery is located at 200 East Winery Road, Bloomington, IN 47404 – Phone: 812-876-5800. Tasting Room Hours: Monday-Thursday: noon–6 pm; Friday: 11am–6 pm; Saturday, 11 am-6 pm; Sunday, noon-6 pm
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Butler Winery – Fourth Oldest Winery in Indiana
Butler Winery and Vineyards on Robinson Road, Bloomington. (Credit: Butler Winery)
Butler Winery, the fourth oldest winery in Indiana, celebrated its 40th year of operation in 2023. In contrast to Oliver Winery, it has stayed small and family-owned.
Jim Butler, his wife Susan, and his father, John, first opened for business in downtown Bloomington in 1983. While they’ve maintained a tasting room there, where they do tastings and sell wine, along with home wine-making supplies, they moved to their current Robinson Road location in 1992. By 1999, all production was based there.
In my conversation with Jim Butler, I learned he got his start in the wine industry in 1976. Oliver Winery employed him to work in their lab and the wine cellar. The following year he became Oliver’s winemaker and then left in 1982.
Taste Butler Wines from Sweet to Dry; Sparkling and Dessert wines, Too!
Butler Winery produces over 12,000 gallons of wine annually, equating to around 5,000 cases — all from Indiana-grown grapes. A total of 29 wines are produced, ranging from sweet and semi-sweet to dry, plus fruit wines (blackberry, blueberry, spiced apple, and peach) and a Brut-style sparkling wine. Be sure to taste the specialty port-style dessert wines, too. Black Currant Obsession, made from Indiana-grown black currants, was served on the day my husband and I visited.
Must-try wines include its best-selling Blackberry wine, a Late Harvest Vignoles, and Chambourcin (both a dry red and a rosé).
Tastings of six wines are available for $8. Charcuterie items (meats, crackers, olives, sweets, and cheeses) are available to purchase, including locally produced cheeses from The Goat Conspiracy and Jacobs & Brichford. Guests may bring their own food as well.
Or, book a private, guided tasting in the Barrel Room. They’re offered on a reservation-only basis (up to eight people, $20 per person) and include small bites, paired with up to seven of Butler’s estate bottled wines.
Butler Winery’s barrel room, used for private tastings. (Credit: Butler Winery)
The private tastings are ideal for those who want to learn more about Indiana’s wine history, including its geography, soil types, and grape varieties.
Note: If you visit on Sunday afternoon during the summer months, the winery may treat you to live music on the patio! Check the calendar on the website to see the event schedule.
Jim Butler has become a real leader in the wine industry. He not only led the effort to establish the Indiana Wine Grape Council based at Purdue University in 1998, but he went on to write a book along with his son, John, in 2001. Indiana Wine: A History (Indiana University Press) established the little-known fact that Indiana was the first successful commercial wine producing state in the U.S.
Butler was also instrumental in petitioning the Federal government to designate the unglaciated portion of South Central Indiana as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) called the Indiana Uplands. It was approved in 2013.
Debbra Dunning Brouillette has always been a tropical girl. A scuba diver and avid photographer, she enjoys exploring the reefs and natural wonders, and finding what makes each island unique. She also enjoys savoring the food and wine wherever her travels take her. Debbra is Associate Editor for Food, Wine, Travel magazine (fwtmagazine.com) and serves on the Board of Directors for International Food, Wine, Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA). Visit her website, Tropical Travel Girl, at https://tropicaltravelgirl.com.
Camelot Mead and Sweet Red are Top Sellers
