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If you love visiting wineries and tasting all they have to offer, visiting the Indiana wine trails is for you. Indiana is home to a variety of wineries, and the wine trails let you travel to wineries that crisscross the Hoosier state.
Wine trails feature wineries that are located within a central area and are in close proximity to each other. As you venture along one of these wine trails, the participating wineries will often recommend not only other stops on the trail, but also local inns, restaurants, and other businesses where you can enjoy Hoosier hospitality.
From southern Indiana’s finest wineries to hidden gems outside Indy, let’s take a look at all of the Indiana wine trails that offer a one-of-a-kind experience, and of course, refreshing delicious wine.
CARDINAL FLIGHT WINE TRAIL
Dubbed the “Hoosier Wine Experience,” the Cardinal Flight Wine Trail is located in Central Indiana. The five participating wineries on the trail are located in Marion, Indiana and its surrounding counties.
A variety of wines are offered at the stops, with options for every palate, including dry barrel-aged wines, fruity wines, and sweet wines. Enjoy the drive through the countryside and allow the experts at these wineries to recommend something truly special!
The wineries on this trail include: Blackhawk Winery & Vineyard, Hopwood Cellars Winery and Urban Vines Winery
Trail Spotlight Winery: Blackhawk Winery
Blackhawk Winery was established in 2011 as a result of a hobby that has gotten out of control so the owners thought “why not open a winery?” They had a 5-acre field that could produce a reasonable amount of grapes to support a small winery and a large pole barn that they could renovate for wine production and a tasting bar. They expanded the vineyard in 2016 with the purchase on the land on the north side of the property.
Blackhawk Winery’s philosophy for wine is that “wine is simply meant to be enjoyed. Period.” Their goal is to produce quality wines with locally grown fruit. The owners’ taste in wine runs drier than the typical Midwest palate which leads to their wines not being as sweet as others in the area. They only sweeten a wine to achieve balance in flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel.
Click here to visit the CARDINAL FLIGHT WINE TRAIL website
HOOSIER WINE TRAIL
Travel the back roads or head straight down I-64 in southern Indiana to visit the boutique wineries on this trail. The Hoosier Wine Trail represents wineries located along the I-64 corridor and the rolling hills of the southern region of Indiana.
At 100 miles long, this southern Indiana wine trail is a pleasant one-day or multi-day trip for wine enthusiasts. Whether you visit the wineries just for a tasting or make a multiday sip and stay trip you, will enjoy taking in the sights and sounds of the area.
The wineries on this trail include: Blue Heron Vineyards & Winery, Indian Creek Winery, Monkey Hollow Winery, Pepper’s Ridge Winery, River City Winery and Scout Mountain Winery & Bed and Breakfast
Trail Spotlight Winery: Monkey Hollow Winery
Monkey Hollow Winery is a family owned and operated winery located on a farm outside St. Meinrad, Indiana. In the fall of 2003 the owners planted 300 grape vines, the first in their vineyard. The vineyard, which features ten varieties of French, American, and French Hybrid grapes, has continued to expand and contains approximately 7 acres of grapes.
You will find a well-rounded wine list that includes dry, semi-sweet and sweet wines. Their wines are made in small batches from estate grown grapes and crafted for all to enjoy. Having their own vineyard allows Monkey Hollow Winery to experiment with new and exciting wines, which makes them confident you will always find something to enjoy.
In 2011, Monkey Hollow Winery expanded to include Monkey Hollow Distillery. Now, there is no better place to enjoy a glass of wine, or try a new spirit while taking in the view of the vineyard that’s nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana.
Click to visit the HOOSIER WINE TRAIL website
HARRISON COUNTY WINE TRAIL
This Southern Indiana wine trail finds its home in historic Corydon and Harrison Counties. This trail consists of five wineries where you’ll find more than 50 different varieties of wine to taste. Many wineries offer live music and special events throughout the year, so there’s always something to do. Microbrewery and distillery fans aren’t left out either, as you’ll also find premiere beers and spirits offered on the trail.
The wineries on this trail include: Best Vineyards Winery, Turtle Run Winery, Indian Creek Winery, Scout Mountain Winery, and Quibble Hill Winery
Trail Spotlight Winery: Turtle Run
Turtle Run Winery is known for incredible scenery, insanely complex dry red and white wines and sweet wines with no sugar added. When purchasing the land to begin the winery the owners noticed a large population of turtles on the property including a large alligator snapper. This abundance of turtles provided a unique idea of naming the winery. The land consists of rolling hills, the winery and vineyard, completely surrounded by woods. With rustic old barns and beautiful landscape it’s very easy to relax, unwind and enjoy a glass of wine.
With 30 wines on the list they have got a wine for you. Turtle Run’s winemaking is both classic and super-modern and they follow a lot of classic French winemaking techniques. According to the winery “A sip of Max’s Small Batch Red will indulge your taste buds on the art of blending dry reds. A sip of Catherine’s Blend demonstrates that American sweet wine doesn’t need added sugar. Or a sip of “The Chard” shows how super cold fermentation can intensify the fruity flavors in a lovely dry white.”
Click to visit the HARRISON COUNTY WINE TRAIL website
INDIANA GROWN WINE TRAIL
This trail is statewide and consists of 50 wineries. Indiana’s most extensive wine trail celebrates Indiana Agriculture in every region of the state. Adventurers who complete the trail are granted a custom hardwood wine stopper! Visit the website to see participating wineries.
Click to visit the Indiana Grown Wine Trail website
INDIANA UPLANDS WINE TRAIL
The Indiana Uplands features 19 counties and is recognized as an AVA, American Viticultural Area, one of two AVA’s in the state. Roam the area of the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail stopping at the 9 wineries and experience up to 241 unique wines. The wineries on the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail represent the culture, heritage and taste of south-central Indiana. The distinct lands of Indiana give grapes great character and taste, and as you wind through the Indiana Uplands Wine Trail, you see what makes Indiana wines so special.
The wineries on this trail include: Best Vineyards Winery, Brown County Winery, Butler Winery, French Lick Winery, Huber Winery and Vineyard, Oliver Winery, Owen Valley Winery, Turtle Run Winery and Winzerwald Winery.
Trail Spotlight Winery: Oliver Winery
Oliver Winery started as a hobby of Indiana University law professor William Oliver back in the 1960s. His enthusiasm led him to establish a vineyard northwest of Bloomington (located in the Indiana Uplands AVA) quickly his thriving vines outpaced his needs as a hobby winemaker, thus plans to open a commercial winery emerged. Instrumental in passing the Indiana Small Winery Act in 1971, allowing for the creation of small wineries in Indiana, Professor Oliver opened Oliver Winery in 1972.
Today, Oliver Winery is one of the largest wineries east of the Mississippi and distributes award-winning, fruit-forward wines to 27 states across the United States. Oliver Winery feels quality has been their currency through the decades and are proud to continue that mission.
Click to visit the INDIANA UPLANDS WINE TRAIL website
INDIANA WINE TRAIL
Seven artisan wineries are nestled among the rolling hills and charming areas of the Indiana Wine Trail, with wineries that continue a proud Hoosier tradition of winemaking. These wineries are settled in a historic wine-making region in Southeast IN where farmers grew grapes and made wine as early as 1790. Taste the soil, sun, and vines of Southeast Indiana, which is often called the “birthplace of American wine-making.” An American Viticultural Area, the Indiana Wine Trail is located in the Ohio River Valley, the largest designated wine region in America.
To learn more about the three wineries in beautiful and historic downtown Madison, read our post about Lanthier Winery, Thomas Family and Madison Estates here.
The wineries on this trail include: Ertel Cellars Winery, Holtkamp Winery, Lanthier Winery, Madison Vineyards Estate Winery, Stream Cliff Farm Winery, Thomas Family Winery and The Ridge Winery.
Trail Spotlight Winery: Ertel Cellars Winery
The road leading to the vineyard is a tree-lined, hilly, narrow country road that adds to the charm of Ertel Cellars. The winery, tasting room and restaurant are housed inside a stone chateau-style building perched on a hill with grapevines stretching out around it. Ertel’s began in 1999 as a vineyard only, growing grapes for other wineries on 200 acres of rolling Indiana farm land. Founder Tom Ertel bottled his own wines beginning in 2006, when he transformed Ertel’s from a vineyard to a winery, tasting room and full-service upscale restaurant.
The vineyard produces 7 types of grapes: Marechal Foch, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Traminette, Steuben, Catawba and Chambourcin. Winemaker Brian Ahaus bottles 18 different wines all together, and purchases grapes or juice for varieties that aren’t estate grown. With over 30 years’ experience as a vinter, Ahaus crafts award-winning full-bodied reds, light and crisp whites and sweet wines with lovely fruit flavors.
The dining room overlooks the winery and has great views of the vineyard. They’ve also got a beautiful patio with outdoor seating and a covered porch where you can sit in a rocking chair and enjoy the wine. On select nights, they have musical entertainment in the dining room or on the patio. The complimentary wine tastings, varied wine menu, excellent food, and beautiful venue make Ertel Cellars a must- visit and an easy day trip from Cincinnati, Louisville or Indianapolis.
Click to visit the INDIANA WINE TRAIL website
INDY WINE TRAIL
From sun drenched vineyards to a downtown winery, this trail is a charming way to taste Indy’s local wines. Perfect for visitors in Indianapolis, this trail lets you visit five award-winning wineries in Indiana. Just a short drive from downtown Indianapolis you will experience the diversity of Indiana wineries. Thanks to their close proximity, you can visit all of the wineries in this Indiana wine trail within a single day. Track your visits on a complimentary Trail Passport, available at any of the participating wineries, and you’ll receive a commemorative 18 oz wine glass!
The wineries on this trail include: Brandywine Creek Vineyards, Buck Creek Winery, Cedar Creek Winery, Easley Winery and Chateau Thomas Winery
Trail Spotlight Winery: Buck Creek Winery
Buck Creek Winery is located in southeast Indianapolis, right off of Interstate 74 West and is one of 4 wineries on the Indy Wine Trail. The Indy Wine Trail wineries are all within minutes of downtown Indianapolis.
Buck Creek’s vineyard occupies 4-1/2 acres and is the only commercial vineyard in Indianapolis. The first vines were planted in 1991 and are the foundation of many of the wines they bottle today. The vineyard grows a variety of grapes: Steuben, Catawba, Cayuga, Chambourcin, Seyval Blanc, Traminette and Cabernet Franc. They purchase grapes and juice from out of state vineyards to produce varietals that don’t grow in Indiana.
Buck Creek Winery might have one of the largest wine lists of any Indiana wineries. They produce over 30 different varieties of wine. Their wine list has more dry and semi-dry offerings than a typical Indiana winery as well. There are 7 dry reds, 3 dry whites and 5 semi-dry wines on the wine list. The sweet wines on Buck Creek’s wine list include sweet whites and reds, berry wines, sparkling options, fortified wines and ice wines.
Everything about Buck Creek Winery is pleasantly surprising. The inside of the tasting room is cozy and welcoming and the large selection of wines makes it easy for wine lovers of all types to find a wine that suits their palate.
Click to visit the INDY WINE TRAIL website
SOUTH SHORE WINE TRAIL
Visit the shores of Lake Michigan along northwest/east-central Indiana and taste delicious wines like Traminette, made from the signature Hoosier wine grape. The South Shore Indiana Winery Trail features several distinct wineries producing vintages using some of the finest Midwestern grape varieties. Wines can be sampled featuring five red and six white wine grape varietals at the wineries on the trail. This creates a diverse selection of custom wines that will please even the most discriminating tastes. Best of all, these wines can be enjoyed in the gorgeous surroundings of the South Shore wineries.
The wineries on this trail include: Aftermath Cidery & Winery, Anderson’s Vineyard & Winery, Butler Winery & Vineyards, Carpenter Creek Cellars, LambStone Cellars, Manic Mead, Misbeehavin’ Meads, Running Vines Winery, Shady Creek Winery, and Whyte Horse Winery
Trail Spotlight Winery: Butler Winery and Vineyards
Downtown Bloomington, Indiana was the original home to Butler Winery starting in 1983 at their location on the corner of 15th St. and College Avenue. They planted their first grapes on their Robinson Road property, just 10 minutes north of downtown, in 1992 and moved all the wine production to that location in 1995. This has become Butler Winery and Vineyards main location and the original downtown Bloomington location became a satellite tasting room. Their vineyard sits within the northern boundaries of the Indiana Uplands Viticultural Area and they grow 6 different grape varieties that flourish in the midwestern climate including Chambourcin, Cabernet Franc, Norton, Chardonel, Vidal Blanc, and Vignole grapes. They produce over 12,000 gallons of wine every year!
Butler’s wines gained popularity so quickly in Chesterton, IN after the locals experienced them at the European Farmer’s Market that Butler Winery wanted to have a permanent presence. In June of 2008 opened a satellite tasting room in Chesterton that has become a second home to the winery.
At Butler Winery their mission is to make quality wines from Indiana grown grapes. When you are in Bloomington you must make a visit to one of the Butler Winery and Vineyards locations!
Click to visit the SOUTH SHORE WINE TRAIL website
STATE LINE WINE TRAIL
This trail boasts five Hoosier wineries and one across the border in Illinois, plus many road-side attractions! Getting its name because the wineries are located in western Indiana and eastern Illinois this trail offers variety for everyone. The wineries on this trail offer Brandy and fruit wines to distilled spirits. The State Line Wine Trail offers a Passport for $5 at any of the participating wineries. The Passport entitles you to specials at each winery. Once you have filled the passport with the stamps from all the participating wineries it can be redeem it for a “Gift.”
The wineries on this trail include: Britton Winery, Meier Winery & Vineyard, TJ Haase Winery, WaterTower Estates, Windy Ridge Vineyard & Winery and Castle Finn Vineyard & Winery across the Illinois border
Trail Spotlight Winery: TJ Haase Winery
The opening of TJ Haase Winery has been a dream to have a winery and live the Italian heritage through wine making come true. Traveling to several wineries throughout the country the owners took things from each winery that they liked and added their own special touch to create TJ Haase Winery. They achieved their dream when they opened the winery in November of 2014. The name of the winery is also significant because TJ are the initials of the owner’s son, Tyler Jacob, who passed away in 2010. They are keeping his memory alive while fulfilling their dream.
TJ Haase Winery has a building that has a warm, inviting tasting room and atmosphere. In the rear of the building there is a designated area for the winery where production occurs. The grapes are procured from the Little Vermillion Vineyard, in Cayuga Indiana. Juices, fruit and other products used in the wine are also obtained locally from Wabash Valley growers.
The winery offers many different varieties, including dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, and sweet wines. It also offers both red and white wines. TJ Haase Winery’s aspiration is for their customers to come in and relax, release their stress and enjoy drinking some fine wine. In 2017 the TJ Haase Winery introduced the Shaggy Ass Brewery to add craft beer to what is made on sight.
Click to visit the STATE LINE WINE TRAIL website
Wine Tours
If you want to enjoy the experience of tasting and not worry about a designated driver there are some tours that are also available around the state of Indiana. Maybe one of these is right for your next oenological adventure!
BEYOND THE VINE WINE TOURS
Beyond the Vine Wine Tours is a full day Chauffeured Wine experience departing from and returning to Lafayette, IN. Enjoy the day, the wine, & the trail while they do the planning and driving. Each tour includes four stops. There are 8 wineries – Whyte Horse Winery, Fruitshine Winery, Carpenter Creek Cellars, Indian Trails Winery, Hooker Corner Winery, The People’s Winery, McClure’s Winery, and Schnabeltier available for your tour. Also available on the trail are two breweries, The People’s Brewing Company and Crasian Brewing Company. Reservations can be made for as little as two guests or the entire luxury shuttle (up to 14 guests) may be reserved!
DE TOURS OF INDIANA WINES
Travel to Indiana wineries in style with de Tours of Indiana Wines. Let them do the driving while you sample delicious wines! De Tours of Indiana Wines is the perfect solution for a great wine tasting day in Central and Southern Indiana wine country! You set up the pickup and drop off locations. 10 wineries are available to visit; Oliver Winery, Butler Winery & Vineyard, Cedar Creek Winery, Mallow Run Winery, Brown County Winery, French Lick Winery, Huber’s Orchard, Winery & Vineyard, Chateau Thomas Winery, Buck Creek Winery, Easley Winery and De Tours can accommodate any wine touring needs, from small parties of two in a luxury sedan all the way up to 58 people in a deluxe motor coach.
Whether you have a day or a week to enjoy a new experience in a wine region, Indiana is the place for you. From the first sip to the vineyard disappearing in your rear view mirror, with two American Viticultural Areas, the wines of Indiana will leave you with a distinct experience you won’t soon forget. When you are thinking about your next wine tasting experience,make sure to keep the wine trails of Indiana in mind. From fruit wines to classic vintages, there is something for all wine lovers in the Hoosier state.