One year, 800,000 gallons of wine

Wine is typically not something that is associated with Indiana, but since its public opening in 1972, Oliver Winery has fought that misconception.

Every year, close to 500,000 visitors flock to Bloomington’s Oliver Winery to enjoy great history, hospitality and over 30 different styles of wine.

“People like to try all the different wine possibilities,” said tasting team leader Kathy Bodle-Perez. “We have about every single thing you can think of.”

Oliver Winery is the oldest and largest winery in Indiana.

It produces over 800,000 gallons of wine each year, said Pamela Bonin, the winery’s hospitality director.

The grapes used to make about 40,000 gallons of that wine come from the winery’s local 35-acre vineyard.

Oliver currently owns over 100 acres of land and plans to increase their vineyard from 35 acres to 50 by the end of 2010, Bonin said. The other 50 acres are currently vacant.

Oliver Winery and its Creekbend Vineyard were created by William Oliver, a former IU law professor, Bonin said.

Oliver got the idea for a winery after seeing the grape fields in Ithaca, New York while teaching at Cornell University, Bonin said.

“Professor Oliver said, ‘Gosh, if you can grow grapes out here in New York, then you can do that in Indiana,’” Bonin said.

Oliver first began making wine in his basement using grapes he had purchased from local markets.

In 1971, Oliver wrote the Indiana Small Winery Act, which allowed Hoosiers to operate wine-tasting facilities, produce wine and sell it on Sundays. This, in turn, helped pave the way for the nearly 50 wineries throughout Indiana.

Today, Oliver Winery has over 80 staff members. About 20 of these employees are associated with IU, Bonin said.

The winery sells to companies across the Midwest, Colorado, Florida and Virginia.

“Our distributor works really hard and has been able to get our wines in Kroger, Marsh, Meijer and a lot of mom and pop shops that have been really important to us,” Bonin said.

Former IU student Jessica Choate and her boyfriend Bill Sylvester, were in Bloomington celebrating Bill’s 29th birthday when they decided to stop by.

Choate said her friends told her they enjoyed a previous tour and thought it would be a fun and unique experience.

“The scenery is really great and there’s a very friendly staff,” Choate said.

Hospitality is something Bonin says that current owner and Indiana graduate Bill Oliver has always stressed.

“His visions of making our winery a hospitality mecca has made us such a gem in Bloomington,” Bonin said. “We try to take care of all of our customers, from the wine novice to the connoisseur.”