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I made the drive to Chateau de Pique Winery a few weeks ago and I’m so glad I did. I was delighted by everything from the grounds to the tasting room to the wines.
The winery entrance is flanked by an iron gate with a center stone pillar and vineyards on either side. A restored 19th century barn with a large patio overlooking the vineyards welcomes visitors for tastings.
Chateau de Pique combines elegant touches with country charm in a gorgeous setting and gives visitors a friendly and memorable experience.
Location and Hours
Chateau de Pique is located in Seymour in southern Indiana. It’s about an hour drive from both Louisville, KY and Indianapolis and about a 2 hour drive from Cincinnati. In addition to having a lovely winery, Seymour is the literal “small town” that John Mellencamp was born in. It’s also the location of the first robbery on a moving train.
The winery is currently open Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 7:00pm and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00pm.
The address is 6361 N CR 760 East, Seymour, IN 47274
Phone: 812.522.9296
http://www.chateaudepique.com/
Chateau de Pique Wines
The winery opened in 2007 on 18 plus acres of bucolic Indiana farm land. Vinter Mark Bailey crafts an array of wines from dry to sweet, including some signature red blends.
Bailey is a former fundraising professional turned winemaker, brewer and part-time poet. He got his start brewing beer and then learned the art of wine-making. He is able to practice both crafts at Chateau de Pique, since they offer craft beers as well as wines. As for the poetry, one of his signature blends includes a poem he wrote on the label.
The wine selection features wines made from estate grown grapes as well as grapes and juice purchased from other regions.
Their dry white wines include a Chardonel wine and Vignoles made from Estate grown grapes.
The Traminette is refreshingly dry, which is unusual for Indiana Traminette, which tends to be semi-dry or semi-sweet.
Chateau de Pique’s dry reds include Cabernet Franc and estate-grown Chambourcin. Their cabernet franc will benefit from aeration to soften the tannins and enhance the berry flavors.
To learn more about aerating wines, click here.
The estate Steuben and estate Steuben Rose are both semi-dry reds.
Of the semi-sweet offerings, my favorite wine was the semi-sweet Late Harvest Riesling. It was light with notes of pear and apple.
Another semi-sweet, Make Her Blush, is a red blend made from Niagara and Concord grapes. This wine’s label features a poem written by Winemaker Mark. It reads:
Delightfully crisp and playfully delish, this wine is a moment for together you wish A hue that says love, a glass you don't rush, both as one, every sip: a smile with a blush!
One of the most popular wines is a semi-sweet concord red called Sweet Mile High. This wine has medium tannins and notes of green pepper.
The sweet wine offerings are an easy drinking Sweet Vignoles, Sweet Steuben and Peach Bum, a wine perfect for warm summer days.
Chateau de Pique Wine Tastings
Currently, the winery has 14 wines available. You can taste 3 wines for free or taste all of them for $12.00.
Glass prices range from $4-$6 and most bottles are reasonably priced between $10-$15.
The tasting room has plenty of tables, as well as some merchandise for sale. Outside, there is a beautiful patio with views of the vineyard. You can also stroll the grounds and venture up to the wedding ceremony space.
Interested in other wineries in the area? Check out Simmons Winery by clicking on the picture below:
Beer and Spirits and Charcuterie
Chateau de Pique has the loveliest charcuterie trays I’ve ever seen. They’re from “The Crafty Platter,” a local caterer, and are made with pretty combinations of meats, cheeses, fruits, chocolates, berries and nuts.
Unlike most boutique wineries that only serve wine, Chateau de Pique is also a brewery. They brew lagers and ales and usually have 3-4 beers on tap. They only had 1 IPA on tap during my visit, though because they have recently just reopened due to Covid-19. It was called Deuce IPA and was smoother and less hoppy than other IPAs I’ve tasted.
The beer is sold by the pint, growler or 5 gallon keg. They sometimes have other local brews available, too.
Even more unique for a boutique winery, they serve basic liquors and cocktails made with vodka, gin, bourbon, etc.
There are also TVs in the tasting room, giving it more of a pub-like atmosphere than most wineries. They do have various events there during the year, like live music and movie nights.
Chateau de Pique deck 
As with all things in 2020, be sure to check their website or FB page before visiting due to possible Covid-19 related changes.
Wedding and Events
This might be the prettiest spot for a wedding in all of southern Indiana. On a hill overlooking the vineyards, a towering stone arch forms an altar. A fountain and curved stone wall complete the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony. There are stone benches for guests, a center aisle and the entire area is surrounded by flowers and grasses. Pretty landscaping lines each side of the path that leads to the chapel area.
For wedding receptions, a large, white tent can accommodate up to 450 people. The tasting room is available for smaller events like corporate parties and baby showers and seats up to 125 people.
The loft of the barn can also be used as a ceremony and reception space.
Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place to enjoy some wine, a lively night with wine, beer and more or a beautiful wedding venue, Chateau de Pique has all that to offer an more.