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This gem near Bloomington is in South Central Indiana's small wine region. There are several good, local wineries in this area. This one, however, rocketed to the top of our list among Hoosier wineries whose products we have tried. Not only was the wine a treat, the experience of the visit was also memorable. The facility was very nice, from the impressive external landscaping to the lovely wine shop/tasting bar to the relaxing garden-patio-themed dining area. We visited with the intention of just doing a tasting but ended up having a light lunch along with that tasting. We were glad that we did as the charcuterie board that we ordered was terrific with olives, naan, hummus, chips, cucumbers and more. It was enough to be shareable. But the highlight was still the wine. We also shared the flight as we did not want to overdo it. We tried the Peach Sangrini, Peach Pie, Lemon Moscato, Raspberry Espresso and Sweet Red Lime. All were good but I'd have to say that the standouts to me were the Lemon Moscato, which was refreshing and tasty, and the Sweet Red Lime which delivered what the name implied with a citrusy, lightly sweet flavor. The prices were not bad as I thought it was a good value for what we received. I would be remiss if I did not also note that the service was top-notch. Our server was efficient, attentive and knowledgeable. The greeter was also pleasant and welcoming. It is likewise noteworthy that we had our 8-month-old granddaughter with us, and it was greatly appreciated that they offered a family-friendly experience that accommodated her as well. Our daughter and son-in-law live in Indy, so this place is just an hour or so away. We'll look forward to the next time we can visit as there are several other varieties of wine that appear to be worth trying.
If you are a sweet wine fan, you will not regret visiting! Prices were extremely reasonable. Some exclusive flavors are not found anywhere else but at their winery. We did the reserved tour and reserved picnic, as the reserved wine tastings were only for weekdays. The tour comes with a souvenir logo wine glass to use as you get a total of seven tastings throughout the tour. Our tour guide, Linda, was very knowledgeable and gave us some excellent recommendations based on our wine preferences. You get to explore different parts of the winery (indoors & outdoors). The reserved picnic comes with a variety of yummy snacks (cheese, spreads, meats, dessert, crackers, baguette, etc.) and a plastic souvenir logo tumbler. The picnic only allows up to four people per reservation, but I would recommend making it more of a solo or couple experience. Wine bottles, glasses, and flights are not included in the purchase of the picnic experience, but they make it very easy for you to order. There is also guaranteed seating with the picnic reservation, which was nice as it started pouring while we were there. I will definitely be back for another picnic experience and stock up on their exclusive flavors. My new favorites include the Blueberry Moscato, Blood Orange Spritz, Lavender Cucumber Chill, Peach Pie, and Creekbend Catawba.
Went on a tour here and loved it! It was a gorgeous day so walking from building to building was nice and easy. The lady who lead the tour was kind and super informative. The wine is absolutely delicious and the even if you do not do the tour, it is worth going!!
Love it so much. Beautiful. Relaxing. And the wine is great too! Staff is wonderful. Grounds are gorgeous.
We did the wine tasting experience in the cellar. It was a little chilly when we went. We also paid extra for the tasting plates. This was the most fun experience :) even for people who aren't big on wine. There's something for everyone. Even if you don't care for the wine, it's a fun experience to participate in. Amy favorite was their espresso raspberry experimental wine. Funky and different. I love that! We bought a bottle to enjoy at home. I also appreciate how affordable the wine is at Oliver.
The winery has beautiful grounds and is dog friendly. You can have 6 tastings inside or enjoy your tasting outside. They offer pilot wines that are not available anywhere else. It's worth the drive and a fun experience to try new flavors. A wine I had to try was the blood orange spritz so good I bought a bottle. The raspberry espresso was also a favorite.
We visited on a Friday in the late afternoon. The wait for a table on the terrace was about 30 minutes. No problem, we just walked around the lake and a while. The grounds are like a leisurely walk in the woods. Picnic tables are dotted around the property at a first come first served basis. The shop has snacks for sale, and lots of wine for purchase. Self guided (read: choose your own) flights of 5 tastes are $15. Lots to choose from, especially on the sweeter side. My favorite was the Cosmoberry. Will I visit again? Without a doubt. Cheers!
We love coming here. Great for a mid day trip from Indy and the ambiance is awesome for a nice day out. Love the staff and e recommend flavors that have been added in the flights.
Overall, a good winery. They seem to be a well oiled machine and VERY popular. I was hoping to get a more personalized experience but there was just so many people it was difficult. They had a wide array of wines and even cider! They offer pretty affordable wine and there's lots of scenery to explore outside.
So here is the process - wait for a table - no service - get paper pick wines - wait in a ridiculous line to hand off your wine selection and pay - only two registers This is the stupidest and most inefficient setup of any winery I've been to, including paying 150 for a wine tasting in Napa
It's Oliver's 50 Year Anniversary, with a dream founded by Law Professor Oliver. I came here as the beginning to my investigation of Wine Wednesdays in Bloomington. It's harvest time so very exciting! I Started off my Reserved Wine Tasting (~$20) with delicious sea salt Spanish almonds, Manchego Cheese, Dried cherries and apricots with four kinds of Greek olives, and a cheese ball of Goat cheese, cream cheese, honey, slivered almonds, and dried cherries, Tasting Food was only a additional $6. We were on the deck with 4 small groups. I tried the Dry Flight with Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Creek-bend III 2021, Creekbend Chambourcin Rose 2021, dry red blend 2020, Zinfandel 2019, and an American Riesling 2021. The Sauvignon Blanc was light and a bit earthy with citrus but not as much as a New Zealand wine. Creekbend III is grown here with complex dry tropical notes with a hint of vanilla. I really enjoyed this interesting local wine. The Rose was extremely dry with strong berry notes. The Dry Red Blend has a blend of Cabernet & Syrah with dark cherry aromas and time in an Oak barrel to lighten the bitterness. Their Zinfandel smells of berries & cinnamon with long legs. It pairs nicely with spicy foods due to its warm mouth feel. Lastly I finished with a Washington state semi-sweet Riesling with strong floral notes and versatile tastes of apple. They sold an astonishing 786K cases of wine in 46 states in 2021! I miss the vibes when they were family owned but understand the desire to sell to corporate owners for some wine makers.
I went here back in February for a wine and chocolate tasting. I've only been here once before and only did a build your own flight. This time around, we got to sit in one of the distilling rooms and I will say, it was pretty chilly the entire time. For the tasting, we got 6 different wines paired with 6 different chocolates. All of the wines were pretty good but the chocolates were a little different. Definitely not your typical type of chocolates, more exotic and decadent truffles. After the tasting, we did sit outside on the heated patio. We split a chocolate board and oh my was that delicious! I also got a glass of the cherry moscato which is my favorite. Overall, I probably wouldn't do a special tasting again but would definitely go back to do my own tasting and sampling.
Went to this winery over the weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday. There were wine tastings, but before that we had a picnic lunch that was paid for ahead of time along with wine flights. The picnic was wonderful, but to be honest I wasn't overly thrilled with any of the wines I had that day. However, I have to say that the surroundings were absolutely gorgeous with amazing landscaping, picnic tables and water features. It was so relaxing! The servers were great as well. To be fair, some of the girls there said that they like and have bought some of their wines that I didn't taste that day.
We went to Oliver during Labor Day weekend. Everyone else seemed to have the same idea because the place was packed. Even though there were a lot of people, Oliver had a lot of options for how you could enjoy your visit. We had a large group. Half of us waited in a long line to do wine tasting since they were really looking forward to it and the other half of us made our own wine tasting experience. I like that this option was available. We were able to pick out a few wines we all wanted to try and Oliver opened them and provided plastic cups. There was also plenty of snack options in the gift shop. After our makeshift wine tasting, we walked around the lake and through the gorgeous gardens. We also happened to come for the last jazz concert of the summer. The musicians were young and very talented! I'm sure our wine club will make its way back :) read more
3 years ago
When I think of wine in Indiana, I immediately think of Oliver. Oliver is nicely located about 1 hour away from Indianapolis and 15 minutes or so from Bloomington. It's right off of the road with lots of parking, although I've seen it get very busy and not have enough parking. It's set on a beautiful set of land with some hills among the vineyard, a nice pond for watching as you drink your wine outside, and a waterfall at the entrance. The building is very pretty. I've been here two times for wine tours, and the staff are very knowledgable, friendly, and helpful. What I love best about Oliver is that, as our tour guide said, anyone from little-to-no knowledge about wine to someone that drinks wine everyday can walk in and they're able to cater to their preferences. I'm a fan of dryer wines, and I appreciate that Oliver caters to that. The Indiana/Hoosier palate loves sweet, and I'm glad that they offer those but stuff for those that can't stand the taste of Kool-Aid flavored wine. One of my favorites is the Dry Red Blend. It combines a variety of grapes and flavors into a nice, dry tasting flavor. It's a nice wine for starting to like dry reds, in my opinion. I also recently started to love their bubblecraft options. They're perfect for mimosas and a Sunday Funday setting! Proud that Oliver is housed in Indiana, making great, high quality wines with very experienced staff on beautiful grounds....all at a reasonable price. read more
8 years ago
Oliver winery is such a fun spot. I love wineries and this one definitely tops the list for Indy. If you're in Indy and want to wine taste don't waste your time anywhere else. So far my favs are: creekblend III 2016 Peach cider Creekblend Traminette 2016 If you come here see Kim! He's amazing! Huge selection! Wines aren't too sweet, and lots of good energy. read more
5 years ago
A couple Louisville Yelpers decided we were going to stage an INvasion for a day. Our number one reason was to visit Cardinal Sprits for their anniversary. I decided that we should see what else was in the area in order to make the 3-4 hour round trip road trip worth it. A brief search brought up Oliver Winery. I recognized the name from having had some of their wine before and suggested it to the group. They weren't going to say no to also stopping at a winery! We came in early afternoon on a Sunday. I was initially nervous about attempting to visit an alcohol production facility in *Indiana* on a Sunday (liquor sales laws and all) but it turns out that as long as the goods being sold are produced and sold on the same premises, carry-out sales and tastings are allowed. We paid for our tasting with the cashiers, and headed over to the oval bar in the center of the retail area with our chips and made our selections. For $5 you get to sample 8 wines. And there are a LOT of wines to choose from! Sweet, dry, red, white, bubbly, cider....there is certainly something for everyone! And their prices are exceptionally reasonable! I also paid the extra couple of bucks to sample the special dessert wines. Which...to be honest...wasn't worth the money. All the other wines I tried were WONDERFUL. Our tasting hosts, first Megan and then Dan, were super friendly and full of information and recommendations about and regarding their products. They also offer a free tour every half hour. They just ring a bell and alert those within earshot that a tour will be starting shortly. It was one of the better winery tours I have experienced. This is primarily because there was actually space to tour, large grounds, bottling and aging stuff onsite, to go along with the history of the winery and their how-we-do-what-we-do spiel....but it also had quite a bit to do with our wonderful and energetic tour guide Julie. The grounds and space are lovely! The keg-like drinking room is fun and cozy. Every single employee appeared to be engaged and passionate. I would gladly return anytime and would highly encourage any wine drinker to visit here, if given the chance. read more
7 years ago
Beautiful grounds & facility. Wine tasting, 8 tastings for $5. Excellent service & friendly staff. Did the tasting & got a glass with some cheeses, olives & crackers. Winery staff supplied plates & a knife so we could sit out by the pond. A great time, interesting & fun. Highly recommend this winery. read more
9 years ago
I love Oliver Winery ! It's beautiful and the wine is awesome and I love that it's such a well known local winery. This is a cute place to go for girls days because there are a lot of cute photo places. They have two wine tasting rooms and a lot of out door seating. So it's good for big groups. I wouldn't go on a day you know it will be busy if you have a lot of people because you will be waiting awhile for the wine tastings. I would definitely recommend bringing in some of your own food if you plan on doing a picnic because it's pretty expensive there. read more
I tried the Orchard Stand Mango Honey wine and it was delicious. I prefer a sweet wine and this dessert wine was perfect. I could barely, if at all, tell that there was alcohol in it. Nevertheless, it had 10% alcohol by volume. The flavor profile was dominated by the Honey flavor, but there were small hints of mango on the back end. There other selections are just as delicious and when paired with sweets might give you a sugar high you will never want to come down from. Things to know: 1. Since it is so sweet I would highly recommend getting it as cold as possible so the sweetness doesn't make you feel like you're drinking syrup!!! 2. It was a great value - under $10. 3. It was made in Indiana so it has a personal touch on it and would be s great gift for any Hoosier. read more
6 years ago
Oliver provides an amazing outdoor setting to enjoy wine and a picnic during these challenging times. They require masks inside the shop, but they have abundant outdoor seating options that comply with CDC social distancing guidelines. While many of their Oliver branded wines are quite sweet, their Creekbend Vineyard estate collection provides several dry varietals to enjoy. Between their ciders, sweet fruity wines and more traditional varietals, everyone will find something that suits their fancy. read more
Love love love this place! Let me start out with, we showed up with a group of about 10 girls on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Some went to do tastings, others went to go enjoy the great weather and music on the patio. Let's start with the good: The place is BEAUTIFUL. The outdoor patio is so well-kept. The backdrop of the lake & gardens was so overrule really nice. We kept talking about how gorgeous of a place it would be to host a wedding or rehearsal dinner. I also loved the band playing outside (think also it might have been high-school students, they were GREAT!). The music wasn't too loud either, which other places I know struggle with. The Wine: Well priced. Lots to choose from. You can;t go wrong. I decided to skip the tastings (will get into the why below) and get a bottle to enjoy outdoor. I went with the white Sangria. It was a little sweet for me, but I actually ending up mixing it with the red sangria and it was perfect! The not-so-good. Let me first say these things really aren't bad!! We went on a beautiful Sunday afternoon of Labor Day weekend and as expected the place was packed. Problem is, it doesn't seem like the winery can host that many people. I ended up not doing the tasting because the line was so long. I think our friends waited 15 minutes or so to do it. Again it isn't a bad thing, clearly people just love this place!! The lines to get wine & snacks though were extremely long. I wanted to grab a bottle of water for the ride home, but couldn't because there had to be at least 20 people waiting in line. They also in my opinion, need more food/snack choices. I like that people can bring their own food if they want, but in my opinion, if you're serving alcohol, you need food for people to eat. Real food, not just cheese & cracker (don't get me wrong, I love cheese & crackers). Overall, a great experience though & I am so looking forward to going back this fall. read more
Oliver is about a 40 minute drive from Indianapolis. There is plenty of parking. If you have mobility issues be aware that the outside courtyard entry area is scenic but if you are using a mobility aid, just call and tell them what you need and they will help. The building is nestled on a hill by a creek. There are lots of trees. It feels like a getaway winter retreat. Outside of the front door there is a waterfall area that's nice for a portrait. The sign by the door says no one under 21. (You may be asked for your id) however, as you will see in my photos, there was a kid in there. I only saw the kid in the "cellar" (it's the area with the curved metal walls). The kid was an angel and I wonder if because it was a separate area the rules were different. However, don't bring your kid here. There is nothing for them to do and they have no reason to be there. There is the main area with lofted ceilings, sculptures of grape vines wrapping around the wood architectural beams and a round bar in the middle. If you want to do a tasting (6$ I think) you go to the register and they sell you a token that you take to the bar and set it on the bar. A bartender/wine expert will come and help. There are no stools to sit on. You get a sheet with lists of wines for sampling. They have easy to understand descriptions. I think you get to choose 6 wines. The wine person may suggest you also try another one just to explain a difference between wines. Do they always stick to 6? Ehhhhh. Just count your 6 and if they choose to add one or two for teaching examples lucky you. Do not expect much re than 6. As the wine helper anything. "Why does wine...?" "How come ...?" Seriously if you are unsure or if you notice something and you aren't sure what to make of the taste or smell or anything, ask. It's normal to kinda chat about how you do or do not like the ones you try. Please don't say, "eaw I don't like that!" it is more appropriate to say, "I'm not fond of this one" or "I do not care for this one because..." i have said, I don't know what it is but this one I do not care for at all. The wine helped had me try another wine and I liked it. It was exactly the same wine but one sat in an oak barrel and one was in stainless steel. Don't ha e shame in not liking oaked wine. I don't. Some grapes are tasty and don't need any flavor changes. Not everyone can taste things super well. If you can't tell the difference, that's fine. Say so. It means you can drink anything and that's a reason to celebrate!! If you hear a cow bell a complimentary tour is about to start. They are maybe a half hour long. I've done a tasting and then bought a glass of wine and enjoyed it while on the tour. In summer you can sit outside and it's beautiful. Today (march) we bought a bottle of wine and a cheese olive and meat try and enjoyed it at a table in the cellar. Oliver is always well staffed and everyone is completely hospitable. They want you to have a perfect experience. My favorite person for wine tastings is Mike. He is very nice, he has white hair and he's trim and a little tall. everyone is great and different people like different hosts. Everyone over ever talked to there was welcoming. What to wear?! Are you going on a random Saturday? Jeans and loafers are fine. Ladies, wear flats. They are cement floors. Gents, khakis and a blazer is more than what is necessary but feel free to look nice. Stay away from yoga pants and leggings unless you have some medical condition requiring it. You will look a bit out of place. Oliver feels like you are visiting a nice but casual estate. if you've had a bit of wine that's fine but don't get noisy. Everyone is very polite but not uptight. read more
As a displaced Hoosier living and attending graduate school in Tucson, AZ any time I receive gifts from good ol B-Town I am delighted. I remember visiting Oliver often right before I left for the Air Force and have been to the tasting room multiple times every visit I make. My dad sent me a bottle of the Chambourcin for Christmas and he's since sent two more. It's one of my go to wines for dinner parties and my guests have loved it so much I ordered them surprise bottles and had it shipped to the Orlando area. A great flavor on the Creekbend Chambourcin as it is aged in french oak barrels and is quite comparable to a higher end Sangiovese. Great Job Oliver Winery. read more
Find a nice place and get away; it's easy like...driving down to Oliver Winery on a Sunday morning. I visited Oliver on a sunny, Sunday afternoon, Parking was simple, the path was clear...I was immediately taken by the beautiful landscaping of flowers, a mini waterfall guarded by a stone frog (photo op, anyone). I navigated my way to the entrance, and there, I was accosted by a friendly greeter who informed me on my options to taste wine, buy bottles, and tour the winery. A tasting is only $5 and a wide variety bottle prices are in every price range. Oliver Winery is nice if you're a couple on a date, a group enjoying wine in the company of others, or even solo-it's so peaceful outside by the little lake, I'd even go alone because I love wine and the scenery is very pretty. I look forward to visiting again, in the meantime I'll enjoy the bottles I got to-go! read more
7 years ago
Indiana's most recognized Winery certainly does not disappoint at its facility just outside of Bloomington! Venue: This facility is built so well and has such an attractive appeal to it. Sitting on top of a hill, the Winery overlooks a pond with small trails and a very large outdoor patio. This area has an indoor and outdoor bar that will serve you any of the venues wines and it's very relaxing to enjoy to outdoors here. Clean and updated bathrooms! Price: For the quality of wine, the price points of 8.50+ for a bottle is very favorable and will certainly leave you pleased with your purchase. Service: All of the employees seem to really enjoy their job and what they do for Oliver. History runs deep with Oliver Winery and the staff is happy to share the upbringing of the Winery and how they've become one of North America's best selling Wineries. Overall this is a MUST VISIT for any wine enthusiast. The venue makes for a very enjoyable outing with friends or family. Stopping here is well worth your time! read more
10 years ago
Finally had a chance to try a wine tasting at Oliver and it did not disappoint! I've tried some of the basics that can be purchased through the local grocery store, but the opportunity to try some wines that I would be hesitant to purchase a full bottle was great! Admittedly I tried a couple duds, but for the most part enjoyed each of the eight wines I tasted. The venue is absolutely gorgeous, and I look forward to going back in the fall sometime as I imagine the fall colors are beautiful! read more
Winery x miles ahead. Those are the signs you see as you're driving down a little back Indiana Highway. And those are precisely the signs I like to see! I was actually on my way to Southern Indiana when I passed these signs, and having tried their Soft White about a month ago at a friends, I couldn't really pass it up. We got there half an hour before it opened at noon on a Sunday, so we didn't think we would stick around long. But then we started to stroll around the property and you before you know it.... This place is just Gorgeous!! In fact there was a senior picture photo shoot going on. Like other reviews have said, this place can get packed on the weekends. But it was neat to try so many different types of wine. All sorts of berry wines, and honey wines, and ice wines, it was great! And the fact that there's picnic tables set up all over is a huge plus. You can buy a bottle and they'll open it up for you and give you 2 glasses and you can either stroll around the lake, or the woods, or sit out on the patio and picnic or just enjoy the wine! They're apple cider wine is great either cold, room temp, or in a crockpot. If you're a Reisling fan, the Catawba is a must try!! I also love the fact that they have a local section for members of the area to sell paintings, decorations, books, and food. There were some amazing pretzel dips when we were there!! Even if you have a few minutes, I suggest stopping by just to check out the beautiful rock formations in the butterfly flower garden as you head towards the shop. read more
6 years ago
7 years ago
Enjoyed the winery! Beautiful gardens, awesome scenery outside with plenty of tables. You can pack your own picnic and buy a bottle of wine and enjoy the glory! read more
8 years ago
Spring Break at Oliver Winery! This winery is spectacular. The tasting room is recently renovated and it is light and open. There is a huge wrap around tasting bar that is staffed with knowledgeable employees. Nicole served us and was helpful and knowledgeable about all their wines. We had a bottle of cherry moscato.....so good :) we enjoyed our wine on the covered heated patio. One of Indiana's best wineries for a reason! read more
3 years ago
5 years ago
I love Oliver Winery! You have to check it out if you are in the Bloomington area. You can get 8 tastings for only $5, and I highly suggest doing the tastings! After your tastings, you can buy wine by the glass or the bottle! They have beautiful grounds with a ton of seating where you can enjoy your wine outside. You can also bring your own food with you! I love to pack a picnic and enjoy the delicious wine and the beautiful scenery! read more
8 years ago
Oliver Winery is a spot I always hit up when I'm in Bloomington! This is one of my favorite wineries and it offers so much. For $5 you can do a sample tasting of 8 wines. I was stuck between two and they gave me a free sample of a 9! This winery is so cool and accommodating. It's a great place to grab a bottle (or two) and hangout with friends. read more
Always one of our favorite stops. This has to be the prettiest wineries hands down. This was our third time here. I typically love their dry reds but decided to switch it up today and try their whites. I found two new favorites the Creekbend III & the Vignoles. Bring your patience here though it is always busy and I have never been when there weren't long lines. They always have some sort of entertainment going on on the patio. read more
9 years ago
This place is one of the most beautiful places I have been to in southern Indiana. The winery is beautiful and the greenery in the patio areas are breathtaking. $5 gets you 8 tastings and they have very good wines! This is a great place to hang out on a holiday weekend, it wasn't very busy today and that was amazing. The patio overlooking the pond is the perfect place to hangout, get some snacks and enjoy a bottle of wine or a cider. read more
I went here with two of my friends around 4pm and it closed at 6. That gave us plenty of time to do a wine tasting ($5 for 8 tastes!) and buy our own bottles. I do wish we had more time to walk around the venue because it was so picturesque! I ended up purchasing the white zinfandel and I will definitely be back to experience more of it! read more
More info about Oliver Winery
200 E Winery Rd
Bloomington, IN 47404
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(812) 876-5800
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http://www.oliverwinery.com
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Ask the Community - Oliver Winery
Are you dog friendly?
Yes, we are dog friendly. While dogs are not permitted inside the tasting room, we do allow leashed pups to enjoy our hillside area.
What is the dress code? I have some visitors coming who would like to do a casual activity but I wanted to bring them here.
You can attend Oliver in shorts and a t-shirt if you'd like. It's a great all around venue that has something for everybody. I forget on the free tours if you need close toed shoes or not, but would highly recommend that as well!
Review Highlights - Oliver Winery
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8 reviews that are not currently recommended
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