Oliver Winery, Indiana’s Oldest & Largest Winery

Oliver Winery, located just a few miles north of Bloomington on SR 37, is Indiana’s biggest and oldest. Founded in 1972 by IU professor William Oliver, Oliver Winery has grown into a Hoosier powerhouse, producing 700,000 bottles in 2008.

The winery has a timber-framed tasting room, which sits on 15 professionally landscaped acres (yeah, these guys have a full-time landscaper). They offer complimentary daily tasting of their 18 different varieties, from Cabernet Sauvignon to Pinot Grigio to my own favorite, the Merlot. (My in-laws like their fruit wines, like the Blackberry.)

Manager Bill Oliver, William’s son, works closely with vineyards in Oregon, California, Washington, and Michigan to get the high-quality grapes used to create their wine.

Indiana wine history: It was William Oliver who wrote Indiana’s Small Winery Act that allowed small state wineries to produce up to 100,000 gallons per year, set up tasting rooms, and sell wine on a retail and wholesale basis.