Really disappointed with the Cork&fork event tonight. Nearly an hour in the food line, another 25 in the wine purchase line. Only 4 staff for tasting area. A "clusterf$@&f"to quote a famous film actor. Not the level we have come to expect for an Oliver event, perhaps next time we should tailgate or eat before attending speaking with our wallets. No more Cork&fork for us. The tour of the vineyard was very nice, not too often you actually get to see grapes on the vine for next years release. read more

Oliver Winery is my favorite winery in all of Indiana. The location is absolutely beautiful, there is outdoor seating which is perfect in the summer and fall. There is limited space indoors, making it difficult to visit in the winter if it's busy, but the wine is so good, I'm willing to stand and wait. 8 generous tastings for only $5 is a steal - and there is a little something for everyone. I'm a sweet wine drinker so I love the soft wines, Cherry Moscato, and the ciders. The staff is always wonderful and accommodating. They have done construction on the highway, so exiting is a little confusing at this point. However, it is worth it for the deliciousness that you get! read more

I've only been once but it was a fun experience! The tasting room has so many neat things to look at and wine gifts. The wine list is very impressive. I was impressed that they actually grow the grapes on site and how large the property is. I'm a full-bodied wine drinker, specifically red wine, so only about 1/4 of the list was to my liking. But OMG the Chambourcin, 2011 was amazing. I tried some of the sweeter wines because that seems to be their specialty, and those were delicious too! Just not for me. Eight tastings for $5 was a great deal. Would definitely recommend going back in the spring or summer to enjoy the patio. It was gorgeous! read more

Excellent place! First time here, but the tasting was amazing. Chase was an excellent bar tender! 10/10 recommend him anytime you come. Make sure you ask for Chase! read more

The Creek Bend Catawba is incredible! Due to late frost last spring it will be in short supply so everyone needs to leave it all for me.. LOL The grounds during summer months are well designed and provide a romantic setting for and afternoon of sitting and enjoying a glass, or bottle, of wine with that special person. The holiday lights in the evening this time of year are amazing as you drive by and should be enjoyed by everyone. I hear Sparkling Catawba may be out in December 2010 and should be amazing. I can't wait. The map tag is wrong so if you want to "Check In" you need to drive about 16 miles south. The Winery is actually North of Bloomington not South. read more

I've lived in about 35 miles from Oliver for 27 years and I've had the wine but never had the pleasure of visiting the winery. Welcoming & knowledgeable staff, beautiful grounds and very delicious wine. I can't wait to visit again read more

Oliver Winery - Wineries Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

We love Hannah!!! She is so knowledgeable about the wines and we look forward to visiting the tasting room again. Oliver has something for everyone and the area is beautiful! Go check them out! read more

This place gets 4 stars solely based on its importance and the beauty of the grounds. The fact that Indiana is producing its own wines is extremely important, and Oliver has some great potential to produce some excellent wines should they stop producing the cloying shit they sell . The wine makers need to look closely at the residual sugar content of their wines and cut it down by half- I know this is coming off as pretentious wine geek talk, but what I'm saying is their wine is too damn sweet. They've got what seem to be some really excellent grapes to work with, now I wish they'd just work with them. I see a lot of potential for this winery in years to come as they gain some maturity. read more

The ground of Oliver Winery are beautiful. The experience, not always. I recommend not going to their events. They are often packed and if you had any desire to try to wine or buy something in the store, you can forget it. I finally gave up on waiting for a tasting after there was no movement in the line for over 10 minutes. That said, when there is not an event, it's a fun experience. The tastings I believe cost $5, which is a little steep considering you are only able to try a few of their many wines. Most of Oliver's wines, and certainly their most popular wines, are sweet. This isn't necessarily a bad thing and not unexpected for an Indiana winery. However, they do have a few decent drier options. These are usually more expensive, but some are made from grapes grown on site. The staff is helpful in selecting wines. They have a nice area outside to walk around or drink wine. There are also lots of wine-related goodies in their shop. read more

This is a great place to come with family or friends and straight up chillax for an afternoon. My parents, siblings, 4 year old nephew, we all have a good time here. You pretty much just need two adults per bottle of wine, then the fine folks at Oliver will pop it for you and you can purcahse some cheese, meat, and crackers and head down to the lakey pond area to sit on a blanket or at a picnic table and have a gay old time. This is one of my favorite and simplest things to do with my family in the warmer months. Also, while you're enjoying the wine tasting, shill out the $4 for a mimosa, they're phenomenal. And in the colder months, the mulled cider is straight up ballin' out of control. read more

Oliver Winery - koi pond at oliver - Wineries Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Love, love, love Oliver Winery. My friend and I just visited yesterday (1/5/13) and had an extraordinary experience! We were first met with a very pleasant greeter that was more than ready to answer any questions we had. We then proceeded to the register to purchase our wine tastings, which are $5 for 8 tastings, and an additional $3 if you wish to taste some specified dessert wines. Laura, a young gal that was full of energy, was our pourer/sampler and was absolutely phenomenal! She was super nice to my friend and I and very personable. Her knowledge of the wines was vast, but made it fun to learn about them, not the typical boring 'this is a dry white with hints of this and that...' description. After our tasting, we decided to sit out and have a little picnic on the heated patio. We each chose a bottle of wine to take home and a bottle/can of the hard cider to enjoy with our crackers and cheese outside. They also offer winery tours, of which I didn't partake, but is definitely on my list for next time! This is one of the best winery experiences I have ever had and will return if only to enjoy another bottle with snacks on the patio shortly. Thank you, Laura, for making our experience truly memorable and fun! read more

This winery is simply the best. I come here once a year with my girlfriends in the fall and it is by far the best winery for fall pictures, great wine, and girls days out! We always usually go on a Sunday. I'm sure it's less crowded than a Saturday. For first-timers, you need to enter the checkout line to purchase a tasting token, $5. This token allows you 8 tastings that you choose from on a list of about 20+ wines ranging from dry whites and reds to dessert wines. When you visit, there may be a few wines that cost a bit extra to taste (usually dessert wines), so be aware of that if you really want to try them. The guides that pour your tastings also give you a background of each wine and will answer any questions you may have. They also do a great job of setting everything up for you and letting you know what to expect during your tasting. Word to the wise...my girlfriends and I always bring our own snacks; crackers, cheese, fruit, meat, etc. The food and snacks sold at Oliver may be more than you're looking to spend and you don't want to leave without at least buying one bottle of wine to take home, so pack your snacks ahead of time and you'll save some $. Also, if the tasting rooms seem packed, go outside while you wait your turn and enjoy all the fall decorations or seasonal décor depending on the time of year you go. There is plenty of seating on multiple decks and even benches and trails down by the water feature. During the summer months, they even have live music! Oliver is literally a half hour drive from Greenwood and totally worth every mile. Give it a chance if you've never been, and be sure to visit in the fall! read more

Oliver Winery has been the site of many of my study sessions, gals' day out, and "it's Friday, please PLEASE pour me a drink" occasions. It's a beautiful locale to take out-of-towners and new friends alike, and I've been going there since 2009. I love it, but I've also seen it change, some positive and some negative. The positive: their staff, I think at least, is personable and knowledgeable. The hiring process around Oliver is pretty involved, and they really vet their applicants on wine knowledge. They're great at suggesting something fun for the winos, and going through a bit of education for newbies. I remember when Oliver's tastings were free, and I actually think charging for tastings is a good idea. Many wineries are doing it...and hey, they have salaries to pay. It also keeps people from getting schwasty on free tastings. There's a stunning park-like setting behind the main building, perfect for picnics. The negative: holy price increases, Batman. Since I no longer live in Bloomington and often come into town only on a random Sunday, I have to stock up on my requisite Shiraz at the downtown tasting room. I was a bit shocked when I saw their Shiraz was $16.25, when I think I remember considerably lower pricing on that particular wine a mere year ago. The Shiraz is good, don't get me wrong...but not $16.25 good. Ooof. Thank goodness for bulk pricing, but I certainly can no longer afford to just pick up a stray bottle. read more

Oliver's Soft Red and Soft White are staples in every Indiana grocery store and liquor store. I thought this was pretty much all they had to offer, and I think they're gross. I had basically written off Oliver as a bad yet inexplicably popular winery by the time I was barely past legal drinking age. Last year I decided to stop by the winery and give them another shot. First of all, the winery grounds are amazing. Everything is beautifully landscaped. The inside of the winery is nicely done as well. I can't stand sweet or semi-sweet wines, and I was amazed to find that Oliver has a wonderful selection of fantastic dry wines! I've now done a lot of wine tasting in California, and Oliver is still at the top of my list of favorite wineries. Before I moved to San Diego, I bought a case of different wines, which made the 2200 mile drive out West with me. When I came home for Christmas, I bought a bottle to share with my mom. The winery offers tours throughout the day. The tour is nice if you have some extra time to kill and you're there at the right time, but don't feel like you missed out if you miss it. The back patio has a lot of room for sitting back and relaxing with a glass of wine and a picnic lunch. An assortment of snacks and other beverages are available for purchase. I took a few mini-trips to Nashville and the surrounding area when I had days off, and I always finished out the day with a tasting and a picnic at Oliver. I'm so glad I gave Oliver a real shot and found that they had so much more to offer beyond the Soft Red and Soft White. I miss you, Oliver! Ever thought about expanding out to So Cal?? :-) read more

Whether you're wine savvy or not, head on down to Oliver Winery for a taste of southern Indiana wine and hospitality! You may learn a thing or two. We celebrated our 1 year anniversary in Brown County, and on our way back to Indy we stopped at Oliver for a tasting of some exclusive wines only sold at the winery. Tastings are $5 for 8 types of wine. Samples of crackers and goat & cream cheese dip are offered with your tasting. Free food is my downfall. I sampled the pino grigio 2012, chardonnay 2012 (unoaked), creekbend noir, dry red blend (cabernet sauvignon & syrah), cabernet sauvignon 2010, original hard cider, riesling 2012, and white sangria classic. Honestly, I loved every single one, but maybe it was the wine talking. I came home with a bottle of creekbend noir and the original hard cider. I bought the cider to try it in the new glass bottle instead of aluminum. Yay! The aluminum made it taste weird. Now I can enjoy my hard cider the way nature intended. Walking up the path to the wine shop, you'd think you had stepped into a Zen garden. Fountains, stone paths, beautiful flowers. The staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable about their wines. The winery boasts live music every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. We may have wound up here on a rainy day, but it was a lovely end to a fabulous anniversary. Rain or shine, nothing beats a taste of Oliver Winery! read more

I went to Oliver Winery because the downtown location is closed (cries) When I first arrived at the winery, I was a little surprised to see children running around. Aren't wineries adult amusement parks? Anyway... I did the wine tasting and despite the crowds inside, the staff were completely helpful and knowledgeable. For $5, you get 8 wine samples and *maybe* an extra if you're nice. I did a sampling of all the red wines because everything else is gross (I'm a dry red fan) There was an outdoor concert that afternoon, and it was great sitting outside in the sunshine in friends. I wish that they would have let me purchase a bottle of wine (and uncorked it) for me without another person. I call shenanigans for single people. read more

Great experience. Don't pass this place by if you're visiting the area. Great wines, and a super friendly and knowledgeable staff. We did the tasting (you get to sample 8 for $5) and I had a mixed case of my favorites shipped back home. The Soft Red is their standout. And if you like really fruity wines for after dinner, the Blackberry is positively amazing. The ciders and honey wines were also a treat. Definitely put this on your list if your travels take you near. read more

I went to the winery with 7 of my friends and we had a blast! Even on a winter day when there were multiple other groups there, all the staff was very helpful and made our experience wonderful. We had a tour (that was very short but still informative) and did the tasting in the "old tasting room" which I preferred because it was more private. We had wonderful staff helping us pick our 8 wines to taste and had a lot of help while purchasing our cases. read more

Oliver Winery - Wineries Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Road-tripping through Indiana, my friend I was visiting brought me here and I'm so happy he did! I was a bit concerned as we drove through the full parking lot to park in the overflow section on the grass that it was going to be insanely crowded and therefore not very enjoyable. I was right that it was busy, but the staff was beyond friendly. Immediately upon entering and looking on (almost overwhelmingly) at the tasting area wondering how we were going to get a spot, someone very nicely approached us and welcomed us to the winery and explained how to get the tasting token to begin. We were shown the wines by a very friendly and knowledgeable older gentleman named Kim who clearly loves his job. He had so many little stories and appropriate metaphors to describe the different grapes used and subtleties in the wines that it was truly enjoyable. I didn't feel at all intimidated asking my near novice questions about the wine-making process and think I learned more during this tasting than any other tasting I've been to...and that's been a lot of tastings all around the country! The tasting was a great deal at $5 for 8 (generous) pours. It's not rushed, nor is it a militaristic countdown ticking off each tasting as some tastings have been in my past. Furthermore, the grounds are beautiful! So beautiful, we impulsively decided to buy our favorite bottle and some brie and crackers to hang out outside on the beautiful afternoon. FYI: you can bring your own snacks to accompany the wine if you are more prepared than we were, but even without being prepared, the brie and crackers weren't steeply overpriced like they could have easily been. All in all, I highly recommend this place. Their roots go back to 1959 and to top it off, their wine is actually quite delicious and highly varied! I left with two more bottles as gifts! A great time overall. read more

I love Oliver Winery! Not only is it absolutely scenic, but it is also a relatively inexpensive thing to do in the Bloomington area. The wine tasting is a steal at $5 (or $8 if you get the dessert wines which I HIGHLY suggest). The staff is knowledgeable and pretty friendly as well. They have a large selection of wines, some mead, chocolate, and a variety of other delicious snacks! read more

Another ode to the fantastic time that was undergraduate loveliness. My favorite favorite favorite was the sweet cherry wine which they no longer make, I heard. :( But it is a great local winery - with a gorgeous indoor tasting areas, tours of the winery, and beautiful expansive rolling hills and farmlands that highlight central Indiana's landscapes. It was perfection during the springs, summers, and falls. I wish I could transplant it to right outside Chicago. Now that would be outstanding. You can order wines online (as well as gift baskets and other goodies) and the shipping charges are quite reasonable. They even have mango, black cherry, strawberry, and blackberry wines, which I will be looking into as soon as my current beer and wine surplus in my own house goes down. read more

This place is great for chilling on a lazy summer afternoon. Live bands, BBQ, wine and cheese. Simple pleasures. Thanks, Oliver Winery.

A wonderful trip to our first winery tour. The staff was very knowledgeable, the wine tasting was at a fair price and the tour was nice to see some of the behind the scenes..... though I wish it was a little more in depth in length. We picked up plenty of wine and some you cant get in Ohio. We will definitely come back again. read more

See all

We love this place. Beautiful landscaping. Plenty of places to set in either the sun or the shade. Do the wine demonstration to find your favorite flavors. Purchase several bottles to take home and a couple of bottles to enjoy while on the property. Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon or evening with a date or celebrate a birthday or other special occasion. Always plenty of room. read more

I rarely drink any alcoholic beverages, but I have a dear friend who absolutely loves wine. She is suffering through cancer treatment at this time, so she's looking for some specific features when it comes to her wine choices. With this in mind, I sent a text to Oliver Winery inquiring about their wines. I received an extremely helpful and kindhearted reply. So now when friends are coming over or I need to grab a quick gift on the way to visiting friends, Oliver Winery's selections are at the top of my list. read more

The one thing I can say about visiting wineries is that it is not just the taste I am looking for. I want the whole package. I want great customer service and a person that gives me detail of each wine I taste. Oliver gives you this experience. Rachel G. was great with her descriptions. Thank you for that! My biggest pet peeve is a winery that pours and walks away... nope not Oliver! read more

Very nice. Beautiful property. Really good wine. Friendly and helpful staff. The wine. Wow, I'm pleasantly surprised. Most wineries can't meet the standard for dry reds. Oliver exceeds the standard. The cab, Shiraz, Pinot are very nice. The property. Bring a picnic. Or just buy some crackers and cheese in the store. Grab a bottle of wine and sit out in the garden by the pond. Am I in Napa Valley? The staff. Top notch. I visit a lot of wineries in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. They can all do the sweet wines pretty well but nobody can do the dries. Nobody but Oliver!! Well balanced wines, nice tannins. I strongly recommend you try their wine. read more

A really fun afternoon. We did the regular tasting and the dessert wine tasting. For $8 for both of them, it was a bargain and a great way to try a bunch of wines. Nicole helped us and she was very knowledgeable and helped us pick a bunch of wines. Afterwards we bought some wine, cheese and crackers and had a picnic. Lots of fun and we will definitely be back!! read more

I always love my trips to Oliver. The staff is always so friendly....and knowledgeable about their wines, as well as the wine Industry. They always want your visit to be special, regardless of the circumstances of your day. I've taken the tour of their facility several times and always learn something new each time, on how wine is produced.. The grounds are beautiful and always well kept. I'm on the "dry" side of their wines and enjoy being a wine club member. Awesome wines! Go visit them soon. read more

Yes beautiful grounds and great wine. The fact is they produce all styles of wine including locally grown grapes and sweeter varieties. read more

Oliver Winery - Wineries Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This winery is very beautifully landscaped. A short drive up the road from Bloomington, the winery offers tasting everyday. I visited during the fall, which was gorgeous. They had the grounds decorated with pumpkins and other festive decorations. I tried a lot of their wine, though my favorite was the blackberry; something you definitely don't see very often. If you are traveling down highway 37, stop by for sure! -Paige read more

If you're a wine lover and you're driving through, this place is a MUST stop. Not your traditional sweet Midwestern wines. Some really good dry whites and reds. The space is awesome & staff are knowledgeable. read more

Oliver Winery - Wineries Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

The wine tasting experience did not disappoint and the venue was pure eye candy. The staff was super friendly and knowledgeable, it was fun to learn more about the chemistry and types of wines. We enjoyed a bottle outside on the deck and grabbed a couple for later. This trip did not disappoint and we already have plans to return. read more

See all

My favorite winery by far! They are down to earth, so friendly! When we need a little escape for the day, it's the place to go! We love their dry reds and whites! Finally took the wine tour! Loved our guide! Been to their Creekbend location during the Upland wine festival a few years ago! It was like transporting me to "Napa" without the pretentiousness Hope to attend Cork and Fork sometime soon! read more

When you always find yourself taking people to a certain place you know they're on to something. Here, Oliver Winery has the experience right. It's a beautiful, tastefully done, and manicured grounds. The staff is always gracious and knowledgeable. I highly recommend a tasting. For five bucks you get and easy tipsy's worth of most of their wines. Also, take advantage of the tasting severs. They are usually quite knowledgeable and authentic people. You can buy a bottle of wine at price, some cheese, and baguettes and sit outside on the beautiful patios over the water. read more

I visited with a friend for the first time over the weekend and I gotta say, the amount of people there scared me a bit. Large crowds typically mean slow service, rudeness from other patrons, tired and cranky staff, and other unpleasantries. This was far from the case during our visit. I absolutely give five stars for the staff's friendliness and knowledge (and willingness to share it) in the height of people flocking in for *7-8 wine samplings for $5*! Generous samples at that. After determining what to take home (hello Peach Cider), I nearly didn't for the line that stretched back to the lavatories... it moved fast! And the grounds!! Stunning views; beautiful flowers, bushes, and mature trees; and butterflies everywhere. read more

I wanted to love Oliver Winery 100%. And I did love it...but maybe only 85%. This was our second stop, after driving up to Bloomington on a Sunday and they were understandably busy. The gardens and areas in front of the building were gorgeous it would have been nice to spend some time out front with some wines. Once inside you get your token at which point, once you are ready, you are to get in line to be directed where to go for your tasting (as they had multiple areas set up). A women tried to heard un in that direction, but the few us were waiting on someone still to come inside, and some to get out of the bathroom. As we wanted to be in a group together, we were waiting for them to get in line. She seemed to be fine with that and let us be. Once our two other people were heading toward us(as we were going to get in line), the same woman stopped us to remind us to get in line, where the line started, and then scolded me for standing in the doorway which I was standing in as I had stopped to hear what she was saying and turn and face her instead of just walking away from her. Once at our tasting area, we were given our sheets to select the our options from. The girl working did ask if this was an of our first times here, which it was for me, but then gave no explanation as to how their wine menu was laid out, how their tastings went, or the difference between their large array of products. I was able to pick some things that I like and as we got our pours, the girl was friendly and quick to fill our glasses (and then the girl that replaced her as her shift ended was fine as well) , but honestly, the customer service aspect of the whole stop here, left me a little disappointed. I am sure I will be back, and I hope my next trip will allow me to bump this place up to 5 stars. read more

Great winery! The Tour Guide was engaging and provided lots of info about the wine making process! The best part was the wine tasting. For $5 you get to sample 8 wines of your choice! We purchased several bottles we'd have never been exposed to otherwise. read more

Situated on picturesque rolling green hills in Bloomington, IN, Oliver Winery is a gem in the midwest. My husband and I stopped off here on our anniversary trip to Brown County. I had only tasted Oliver wines purchased from the local liquor stores in Louisville, so I assumed that all of their wines were of the sweet variety such as the Blackberry and Moscato. Man, have i been missing out! Not only do they have a huge selection of dry wines, but some of the best reds I have tasted from any winery in this region of the United States. The Shiraz Reserve and Red Blend were among my favorites. It was only $5 to taste 8 wines. The gentleman serving us was very knowledgeable, polite and professional. After our tasting, we purchased a bottle to enjoy on the patio outside. Live music, great wine, beautiful scenery. A little piece of heaven. read more

We absolutely loved this winery! It was gorgeous. The grounds are huge. You can sit down by the pond or up on the patio. There was jazz out on the patio when we were there. We loved the wine! Left with several bottles. It was a fun tasting. Beautiful! read more