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Madison, Indiana is a picturesque town on the banks of the Ohio River, complete with well-preserved historical homes and landmarks, unique shops and a vibrant arts and cultural district. It’s also home to 3 distinct wineries- Madison Vineyards, Lanthier Winery and Thomas Family Winery. Each winery blends the history of Madison with winemaking to create a memorable experience for visitors.
Madison Vineyards Estate Winery
The first of the 3 wineries in Madison, Indiana is Madison Vineyards. It is one of the first wineries to open in Indiana, post-prohibition. The winery opened in the late 1900’s and was only the 13th winery in the state at that time.
Madison Vineyards Location and Hours
The winery is located on the owner’s estate at 1456 East 400 North in Madison, IN. They are only a few miles from downtown Madison and the Ohio River.
They are open Wednesday through Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm for winery visits and tastings.
Email them at- [email protected]
The Winery at Madison Vineyards
As one of the original modern wineries in Indiana, Madison Vineyard’s mission was to restore and preserve the wine growing heritage of the region. The first commercial winery in the United States was established in 1802 about 20 miles away in Vevay, Indiana.
Over the next 50 years, grape growing increased rapidly in the Ohio River Valley and the area from Cincinnati to Louisville, KY was called “The Rhineland of America.” After the Civil War though, many vineyards were lost to vine diseases and bankruptcies and were then dealt a final blow by Prohibition.
Steve and Sandy Palmer were among the first contemporary winemakers to begin growing grapes and producing wine again in the Ohio River Valley of Indiana. Their vineyard is part of the Ohio River Valley Viticulture Area and produces award-winning wines.
A True Estate Winery
Madison Vineyards only produces wines from estate grown grapes, meaning if they don’t grow it themselves, it doesn’t go in their wine. Most wineries, even California wineries, source at least some grapes and/or juice from other regions. Madison is the only completely estate-grown winery in Indiana.
Madison Vineyards grows Vidal Blanc, Cayuga White, Niagara, Syrah and Concord grapes, as well as a few hybrid varietals.
The vineyards surround the 40 acre property where the winery, tasting room, bed and breakfast and guest cottages are. The tasting room has ample indoor seating and lots of wine related merchandise for sale. They also offer cheese and crackers to enjoy with your wine.
There is also outdoor seating on the patio off the tasting room, as well as a picnic area overlooking the vineyards. I visited on an early fall afternoon and the vineyard views from the deck were incredible.
The Wine List and Wine Tastings
They produce 11 varieties of wine- 7 whites, 3 reds and a blush wine. The wines tend to be on the dry side, even their sweet wines, which is unusual for Indiana wines. Most wineries in Indiana produce sweeter wines, like concord and catawba based varieties.
Of the 7 white wines on the wine list, the driest offering is a blend of Vidal Blanc and Cayuga White grapes named, “Ba-Da-Bing Bianco.”
Next is a German-style white called Kleineweiss, made from cayuga grapes. It’s an off-dry white, with hints of peach.
Country Red is a sweet red blend made from concord grapes and rougeon grapes. It’s fruity but not overly sweet.
Sunset Blush is the only blush wine on the wine list. It’s made from a blend of grapes and is light and sweet and would pair well with fruit and cheese. It would make a perfect picnic wine.
Their most popular wine is named “Black Dog.” The label features a picture of Bert, the Palmer’s black lab. Sadly, Bert died shortly after the picture on the label was taken, but he still makes visitors smile when they see his likeness on wine bottles and merchandise in the shop.
Like Bert himself, his namesake wine is a favorite at the winery and elsewhere. It was named the best sweet wine at the Indiana Wine fair.
Vidal Blanc is a sweet white wine with hints of pineapple, honey and raisins.
Their sweetest wine, Mystique, is Niagara grape based and pairs perfectly with desserts.
To view the complete wine list, click here.
Wine tastings are complimentary for up to 5 wines. You can sample additional wines for $.50 each.
Bed and Breakfast
Madison Vineyards is also home to a bed and breakfast. The main house has 4 guest rooms, each with private baths. The rooms have distinct decor, luxury bedding, satellite TV and sitting areas.
Each night’s stay includes a full breakfast, bottled water and complimentary chocolates. On certain dates, a complimentary wine tasting of international wines in the private wine cellar at the B&B is also included.
There are also two fully furnished guest cottages on the property. The Beaujolais Cottage is a 1 bedroom house with a living room, full kitchen and screened-in porch.
The Vineyard House is a 2 bedroom house with a dining room and is perfect for a girls’ weekend getaway.
The B&B offers several different packages to turn your visit into a romantic weekend getaway or a wine trail adventure.
Madison Vineyards Estate Winery offers a unique perspective on Indiana winemaking by bottling wine made from estate grown grapes only. Their wines are distinctive and memorable. Consider a trip to the tasting room to sample these wines and a stay at the bed and breakfast for a complete wine experience.
Lanthier Winery
The second of the wineries in Madison, Indiana is Lanthier Winery. It is perched just off the Ohio River in historic downtown Madison. The winery building is believed to have been a fort in the mid-1700s. During the height of the steamboat and railroad days in the 19th century, the building was used as a storage depot and also a well-known brothel. Over the years, the sturdy stone building housed a stable, a market, a saloon, and eventually a scrap metal and recycling business. Located so close the river and on the proverbial “wrong side of the tracks,” the property frequently flooded and fell into disrepair.
Luckily for wine lovers, Chris Lanthier and his wife Tami purchased the property and worked for several years to restore the building and transform it into a winery. Today, Lanthier is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Madison. The winery produces 15 different wines and hosts events throughout the year.
Complimentary Tastings of 15 Different Wines
I happened upon Lanthier Winery almost by accident during a girls’ weekend trip to Madison. It was mid-November and after finding Thomas Family Wines in downtown Madison, we saw a brochure for Lanthier and made the short drive to the tasting room.
Like other wineries in Indiana, this one offered free tastings. We took our time with the varied offering and tasted several of the 15 different varieties.
Also like other wineries in Indiana, most of their wine is semi-sweet or sweet. They do offer a few dry wines, though: Rivertown White is similar to a Pinot Grigio, Chambourcin is a dry red and resembles a French Beaujolais and finally, Rivertown Red, an oaky Baco Noir.
The semi sweet-wines include a Traminette and an unusual wine (at least to me) called Chautauquablumchen, which means gathering of blossoms and is made from Catawba grapes.
Lanthier’s sweet wines include a blackberry flavored wine, one called “Strawberry Blush,” and a sweet after dinner wine named “Mill Street Red.”
Special Events- Christmas Trees, Art Exhibits and Flower Gardens
Lanthier hosts several events throughout the year, including art shows, garden exhibits and my favorite event- the “Festival of Trees,” which takes place every December.
Someone at this place has a serious Christmas obsession, which I support wholeheartedly. They fill the winery with hundreds of Christmas trees, each decorated differently from the next. In fact, you won’t see the same ornaments more often than once every three years!
The staff starts decorating trees at the beginning of October to have 350 trees by the day after Thanksgiving. The festival runs from the Friday after Thanksgiving through December 31st.
Along with the trees, the winery releases 3 holiday wines: St Nicholas Blush, Rudolph Red and Snowflake White. The festival is family friendly and Santa even makes an appearance or two.
In the warmer months, you can enjoy a glass of wine in the winery’s gardens. Co-owner Tami has a passion for gardening that is on display in the magnificent French country gardens that surround the winery. Tulips, lilies and daffodils by the thousands bloom in the spring and serve as the backdrop for the Tulip Days Festival and the Spring Celebration.
Tucked between blooms and along the garden paths, is art of all types and media, including sculptures, paintings and glass.
In addition to gardening, owner Tami is also a passionate animal rescue advocate. She has rescued more than 30 abused or abandoned cats over the years, one of whom, Gandalf, is now the official greeter in the tasting room.
The gardens also serve as a wild bird rehabilitation and release spot for injured birds. On any given day, you may see winery staff hand-feeding birds or bottle feeding a kitten.
If you’re passing through Madison, a stop at Lanthier is a must. The winery has a strict “no wine snobs allowed” policy and promotes the notion that the best wine is the wine that you like. This winery is a warm and friendly place, with welcoming staff, furry friends and lots of beautiful flowers and art to make your visit memorable.
Lanthier Winery Hours and Location
123 Mill Street
Madison, IN 47250
Hours:
Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Visit their website at lanthierwinery.com and like their Facebook page to learn about the frequent events and sales at Lanthier.
Thomas Family Winery
Thomas Family Location and Hours
The last of the wineries in Madison, Indiana is Thomas Family Winery. It is located in beautiful and historic downtown Madison, a few blocks from the Ohio River at 208 East Second Street.
They are open 7 days a week, Monday-Thursday from 11am to 6:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 11am to 9pm and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm.
Email them at steven-at-thomasfamilywinery.us
The Winery and Tasting Room
Thomas Family is located in a former carriage house, built in 1850. The tasting room is cozy, with exposed brick walls, tables and comfy seating areas. There are books lining the walls, board games and various musical instruments, too.
Seating area of The Thomas Family Winery 
Tasting Room, The Thomas Family Winery 
Shelving of products available at The Thomas Family Winery
Steve and Elizabeth Thomas opened the winery in 1995. Steve is a 3rd generation winemaker who wanted to open an old world style winery. Historic downtown Madison and the 19th century carriage house seemed like the perfect spot.
Thomas has some “rules” you should follow regarding wines, tastings and visits to his winery:
- Don’t come to the tasting bar while chewing gum, eating candy or drinking anything but water. The residual flavors in your mouth will ruin the taste of the wine.
- Treat wine like you would a puppy. This mostly means don’t leave your wine in a hot car in the summer.
- “God made Zinfandel to be red, and taste like barbed wire and pepper; humans made it pink and sweet.” ( I’m assuming from this that Thomas believes humans have ruined zinfandel wines, at least white zinfandels. But remember, the best wine is the wine you like best and if you like sweet wine, you should drink it.)
Bakery
Thomas Family makes more than wine; they are also a stone hearth bakery. They make delicious, rustic fresh bread with offerings that change frequently. Focaccia, Cuban Sandwich bread, sourdough and Italian semolina are just some of the types of bread you’ll find at the winery.
You can purchase the bread there, along with jams, oils, dips, etc. They also offer charcuterie boards with high quality meats and cheeses, nuts, relish and of course, their bread.
The Wine List
Thomas Family Winery focuses on traditional, European style wines. Since they view wine as food, their wines are crafted to be enjoyed with a meal. Each wine is meant to enhance and compliment the food it is paired with.
When I visited, they had 6 wines available and one hard cider for tasting. Their wine is all on the drier side and made using old world techniques. See their current wines here.
Wine tastings are complimentary and tips are appreciated. Some of the more memorable wines I tried were:
Dance Monkey Concord
Unlike most concord wines in this part of the country, this wine is semi-dry. There is only a small amount of added sugar so the wine doesn’t taste like grape juice, but more like, well, wine. It has flavors of cherry, grape and berries and is meant to be paired with chicken, fruit or cheese.
White Sangria is bright and tangy, with no sweetness. It reminded me of a flavored seltzer. It can be served over ice or just chilled. This is not your typical sangria.
Sack is perhaps the most unique wine on Thomas’ wine list. It is a sherry style wine but is drier and meant to be a mealtime drink, not an apertif like traditional sherries. This wine was popular in Colonial America and is nutty, with flavors of butterscotch and spice. It’s good served with rich soups, heavy hors d’oeuvres or turkey.
Gale’s Hard Cider
In addition to wine, Thomas Family also makes hard cider. Like their wine, it is traditional, old world style cider. It’s made from apples and fermented like ale. It’s tart, dry and strong and named after Steve’s grandfather, who made the illicit beverage during prohibition.
Patio, Music and Events
Thomas Family Winery has a quaint, covered patio with tables and gardens. There’s also a stage area for live music. You can book the patio for private events. There was a bridal shower planned for the day I visited.
Patio area The Thomas Family Winery 
Garden at The Thomas Family Winery 
Entry from the outdoor space at The Thomas Family Winery 
Sign me up for the Drinking Society at The Thomas Family Winery. 
Picnic space in the gardens at The Thomas Family Winery.
There is usually live music on the weekends and sometimes food served. They offer barbecues and other themed meals. Check their facebook page for a list of events. This past August, they hosted a Toga Party!
Thomas Family Winery is a must visit the next time you are near Madison, Indiana. It’s literally a Rand McNally “must see” location. The Thomas’ are warm and friendly proprietors who make their guests feel welcomed and appreciated.
3 Distinct Winery Experiences
The wineries of Madison, Indiana offer visitors a unique winery experience at each location. Lanthier Winery mixes art and whimsy with its sweet, easy-drinking wines. Thomas Family serves up old world style wines, steeped in tradition. And Madison Vineyards provides the only wine made from 100% locally grown grapes in Indiana.
Check out the wineries of Madison by clicking on their pictures below:
