Oliver Winery

Oliver Winery is the oldest and largest winery in the U.S. state of Indiana. Established in 1972, the winery has grown to become the 28th largest winery in the U.S.  The Oliver Winery tasting room operates in Monroe County north of Bloomington at 200 E Winery Road. It is open for visitors year-round, and can be rented for private events. Oliver wines are available nationwide and can be purchased at their tasting room, through their ecommerce website, or at retailers in over 40 states.

History

Professor William Oliver, a law instructor at Indiana University, moved to Bloomington with his family in 1959, and began making wine in his home from grapes purchased at an Ohio vineyard.  In the 1960s he purchased land near Bloomington in order to grow his own, and by 1970 operated some 30 acres (120,000 m²) of vineyard, now known as Creekbend Vineyard.

William Oliver played an integral part in the creation and passing of the Small Winery Act of 1971 in Indiana, which permitted direct sale of wine to the public—without distribution channels. Oliver Winery opened in the spring of 1972, and its first tasting room was opened to the public in 1973. Sales took off with Camelot Mead, and have continued since.

William's son Bill assumed management of the winery in 1983 and introduced the use of grapes from outside Indiana to Oliver wines in 1988.  Sales grew steadily in the '80s, and by 1990, reached 25,000 cases per year.

In 1993, Kathleen Oliver joined the winery as General Manager. Bill Oliver turned his attention to winemaking and viticulture at Creekbend Vineyard, which was re-planted in 1994. A new tasting room was built in 1997, and is still in use today. By the late 1990s, annual production exceeded 100,000 gallons.

In 2001, their best-selling wine Sweet Red (previously named Soft Red) rose to the #1 wine sold in Indiana, and in 2004 they launched their estate-bottled Creekbend Collection, releasing vintages through 2024. Major facility expansions occurred again in 2002 and 2007, making Oliver Winery one of the most modernly-equipped wineries in the eastern United States.

The winery became 100% employee-owned in 2006,  and was the only 100% employee-owned winery in the U.S. until 2021. In 2021, NexPhase Capital, LP{{Cite web , title=Oliver Winery & Vineyards Partners with NexPhase Capital to Accelerate Future Growth – NexPhase Capital , url=https://www.nexphase.com/oliver-winery-vineyards-partners-with-nexphase-capital-to-accelerate-future-growth/ , access-date=2025-01-27 , website=www.nexphase.com took ownership of the winery. Between 2011 and 2016, production capacity expanded, packages were redesigned, and Pilot Project Experimental and Apple Pie fall seasonal wines were released. In 2017, the winery released its first Real Fruit Moscato—Cherry Moscato. Blueberry Moscato’s release in 2019 propelled exponential growth and geographic expansion.

In 2021 and 2022, Oliver increased total production capacity with facility expansion, a 40K sq. ft. onsite warehouse, and a high-speed, state-of-the-art bottling line.

Winemaking

Oliver Winery is meticulous in its efforts to source the highest quality fruit for winemaking. For decades, the winery has partnered with vineyards in some of the most well-known growing regions in the U.S., such as Yakima Valley, Columbia Valley, Lodi and Monterey, as well as the Finger Lakes and Great Lakes. Creekbend Vineyard, part of the Indiana Uplands AVA, produced fruit for the estate-bottled Creekbend Collection through 2024.

Wine Portfolio

Oliver Winery’s portfolio includes more than 30 wines, ranging from dry to dessert. The hallmark of Oliver wine style is fruit-forward and approachable. The brand offers high quality at an affordable price, with most wines priced under $15. Notably, the award-winning Real Fruit Moscatos™ offer a variety of low-ABV options, and Oliver Sweet Red has earned a total of 56 medals since 2010 and a 93-point rating in the 2015 Consumer Wine Awards. For the more traditional wine enthusiast, Oliver’s Flight Series offers award-winning varietal wines at an affordable price. Overall, the brand has won 300 winemaking medals since 2013. Learn more about their wine collections below.

Collections

* The Soft Collection comes from the term “soft wines,” coined by the winery in 1983, and describes the less acidic, round, and gentle flavors of these semi-sweet wines.  The collection includes their best-selling Sweet Red, as well as Sweet Rosé, and Sweet White. In 2024, they released two new fruit-infused wines, inspired by Sweet Red: Cosmoberry and Dreamberry.
* The Real Fruit Moscato™ wines are made with real fruit juices and extracts with a hint of carbonation. A lower alcohol level (6.8% ABV) creates a light and refreshing flavor profile. Includes Cherry Moscato, Blueberry Moscato, and several other fruit varieties.
* The Bakery Series are the winery’s pie-inspired, limited-time seasonal offerings. These include their fall release of Apple Pie wine, and their spring release of Peach Pie wine.
* Camelot Mead began in 1972 and is still available today, ranking as the #1-selling mead in the U.S. While it is an old-world wine style, Oliver sources orange blossom honey to create a new-world twist with subtle citrus and honeycomb flavor.
* The Creekbend Collection is made with grape varieties that thrive in Indiana’s environment. Originally named for their estate vineyard, the collection was estate bottled through 2024. Including varietals such as Catawba, Chambourcin, Chambourcin Rosé, Vignoles, and Vidal Blanc Sparkling.
* The Flight Series is made with fruit sourced from the industry’s best growers, and the wines range from dry to semi-sweet including traditional varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Grigio.
* Their Signature Cocktail Collection was released in 2024 and features three wine-based, ready-to-drink cocktails made with real fruit and natural botanicals. The collection includes Blossom Drop, Peach Sangrini, and Passion Fleurtini.
* Beanblossom Hard Ciders are a trio of ciders crafted from the pure fruit juice of gently pressed Midwestern apples. Available in three flavors—Original, Peach, and Bourbon Barrel.

Notes

External links

Oliver Winery websiteWineries of Indiana: Oliver Winery

Monroe County, Indiana
Wineries in Indiana
1972 establishments in Indiana