Fall was made for a drive through Southeast Indiana. Rolling country roads trade their summer greens for shades of red and gold, vineyard rows take on a new look, and crisp afternoons make lingering outside with a glass of local wine especially inviting.
From estate vineyards and historic barns to gardens, locally made wines and a new downtown tasting room, Southeast Indiana offers plenty of ways to raise a glass to the season. Whether you’re planning a date, gathering a few friends or simply looking for somewhere new to spend an autumn afternoon, these local wineries are worth the drive.
Among the Vines
For the classic fall winery experience, start where the vineyard is as much a part of the visit as what’s in your glass.
Holtkamp Winery | Sunman
Set among the rolling countryside of Dearborn County, Holtkamp Winery checks plenty of boxes for an autumn afternoon. Vineyard rows, colorful foliage and views of the property’s pond create the backdrop, while a covered, temperature-controlled patio makes it easier to enjoy the scenery even when Midwest fall weather can’t quite make up its mind.
More than 30 wines are crafted on-site, ranging from estate-grown reds and bourbon barrel-aged selections to sweeter fruit-forward pours. For a taste that fits the season, look for Apple Crisp or Caramel Apple, made with fresh fruit sourced from nearby orchards.
Plan your visit around lunch or dinner and add a brick-oven pizza, served on select days, then find a spot outside and settle in. Live music and seasonal events throughout the year give you even more reasons to linger.
Pour This: Apple Crisp or Caramel Apple for a glass that tastes like fall in Southeast Indiana.
At The Barn Winery | Lawrenceburg
Sometimes the setting tells the story before the first glass is poured. At The Barn Winery is housed in a restored 1870s barn originally built by the owner’s great-grandfather, giving this small, Lawrenceburg family-owned winery a sense of history that’s hard to recreate.
The surrounding vineyard is home to more than a dozen grape varieties, including Traminette, Concord and Cayuga White. Grab a spot on the patio, beneath the pergola or on the elevated deck overlooking the vines and work your way through the winery’s rotating selection of handcrafted, small-batch wines.
Favorites can include names like Spaghetti Red, Dragon Kiss and Peach Chardonnay, although the small-batch approach means there’s often something different waiting behind the tasting counter.
There isn’t a full restaurant on-site, which can actually make the visit more fun. Pack a few cheeses, crackers and other picnic favorites to enjoy alongside your wine, or pick up something nearby before settling in.
Make It a Picnic: Bring a basket of your favorite snacks, choose a bottle and find a seat overlooking the vineyard.
Wine, Dine & Stay Awhile
If your ideal winery visit includes more than a tasting, make lunch or dinner part of the experience.
Ertel Cellars Winery | Batesville
Surrounded by the rolling hills outside Batesville, Ertel Cellars Winery combines a traditional vineyard experience with a full-service restaurant, making it an easy place to turn a quick tasting into a leisurely afternoon.
Step up to the stone wine bar to explore wines ranging from dry to sweet, including fruit-forward selections and Traminette, a grape with a particularly strong connection to Indiana winemaking.
Then head to The Chateau Bistro, where the menu goes well beyond typical winery snacks. Dishes like baked brie, hand-cut filet and macadamia-nut-crusted sea bass make this a destination for the food as much as the wine.
When the weather cooperates, choose a table on the covered patio overlooking the vineyard. Inside, large windows offer a look into the wine production and fermentation area, giving you another glimpse of what goes into the glass.
Stay Awhile: Start with a tasting, follow it with a meal and leave a little time to enjoy the vineyard views.
More Than a Tasting
Wine may get you through the door, but some wineries give you plenty to explore once you’re there.
Lanthier Winery & Distillery | Madison
A visit to Lanthier Winery & Distillery can easily become an afternoon of its own. The Madison destination combines handcrafted wine and spirits with gardens, art and plenty of historic character.
Start outside in the French Country Gardens, where fall color fills the landscape alongside outdoor art and sculpture. Then wander through the property’s gallery spaces before heading inside for a tasting.
Wine isn’t the only option here. Lanthier has expanded into small-batch spirits as well, with selections that can include vodka, citrus gin and its distinctive “wineshines.”
The combination of art, gardens and local drinks makes Lanthier especially appealing if your group isn’t interested in spending the entire afternoon sitting at a tasting bar.
While You’re There:
- Wander the French Country Gardens and outdoor art.
- Browse the gallery spaces.
- Sample handcrafted wines or small-batch spirits.
- Leave time to explore historic Madison before heading home.
A Country Escape
Sometimes the best part of a winery visit begins before you even arrive.
Farm Hill Winery | Brookville
Take the backroads into the rolling countryside of Franklin County and you’ll find Farm Hill Winery, a laid-back destination that feels particularly fitting for a crisp fall afternoon.
Outdoor seating overlooks the surrounding Brookville country landscape, giving you a quiet place to settle in with a glass and watch the season change. The winery specializes in sweet and semi-sweet small-batch fruit wines, with selections like Blackberry, Cherry Moscato and Black Currant offering something a little different from traditional grape varietals. Craft beer is also brewed on-site for anyone in the group who would rather trade their wine glass for a pint.
Grab a pizza or bring along your own snacks and create an easygoing afternoon around the table. Live music and other activities are also offered at different times throughout the season, so it’s worth checking what’s happening before you visit.
Best For: A low-key country drive followed by wine, pizza and an afternoon outside.
Wine Meets Downtown
Not every local wine experience requires heading into the countryside.
The Ridge Winery | Lawrenceburg
After closing its longtime Vevay location, The Ridge Winery began a new chapter with a tasting room in downtown Lawrenceburg, bringing decades of family winemaking into a completely different setting.
The cozy space is designed for conversation and tasting, with around 16 wines ranging from dry selections to the sweeter, fruit-forward varieties for which the winery has become known. Build a flight to sample several, or start with the popular barrel-aged blackberry wine for a rich pour that feels right at home in cooler weather.
There’s also a quirky local tradition to listen for during your visit: when a train passes the tasting room, guests may be treated to a little surprise or sample.
With its downtown location, you can extend the visit beyond the tasting room and explore more of Lawrenceburg while you’re there.
Listen for the Train: You might get a little something extra when one rolls by.
What to Sip This Fall
Not sure where to start? Let the season inspire your glass.
- For apple flavor: Apple Crisp or Caramel Apple at Holtkamp Winery
- For something unexpected: Spaghetti Red or Dragon Kiss at At The Barn Winery
- For an Indiana connection: Traminette at Ertel Cellars
- For the fruit-wine fan: Blackberry or Black Currant at Farm Hill Winery
- For a cozy fall pour: Barrel-Aged Blackberry at The Ridge Winery
- For the adventurous sipper: Explore the wine and small-batch spirit selections at Lanthier Winery & Distillery
Pick Your Fall Winery Day
The best stop depends on what you’re looking for.
- For quintessential fall scenery: Holtkamp Winery
- For a picnic among the vines: At The Barn Winery
- For wine and a full meal: Ertel Cellars Winery
- For gardens and art: Lanthier Winery & Distillery
- For a laid-back country afternoon: Farm Hill Winery
- For a downtown tasting: The Ridge Winery
One Last Pour
You don’t need much of an itinerary to enjoy fall in Southeast Indiana. Pick a winding country road, watch the colors change outside the window and give yourself an afternoon to slow down.
Whether that leads to pizza beside the vines, a picnic at a historic barn, a stroll through autumn gardens or a flight of locally made wines, each stop offers a different way to experience the season.
Before heading out, check current tasting room hours, menus and event schedules directly with each winery, as offerings can change throughout the season.
Looking for more ways to explore Southeast Indiana this fall? Discover more local restaurants, destinations and seasonal adventures on Haus & Home.
