As Lanthier Winery's wines gained popularity and more wines were created, the winery had to look for quality grapes and juices to meet the demand that was quickly rising. Prior to using grapes from the finger lakes region, the winery had used grapes from Switzerland County, Indiana - just a 20 minute drive along the Ohio River from Madison. As you followed the rambling roads from Madison, Indiana to Jacksonville Vineyards, located on a curvy interlude in nearby Vevay, a beautiful vineyard appeared and provided luscious fruit for Madison's oldest winery, Lanthier Winery. What once were fields of tobacco, are now sunny, rolling hillsides sprouting posts and wires. Draped vines glisten with clusters of wine grapes and give homage to a tradition of the area from years ago. Welcome to one of the best vineyards in the Midwest.

​

The auspicious title of the Ohio River Wine Grape Appellation was awarded to the rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana years ago. Since that time, some vineyards have begun to replace the traditional crops of corn and tobacco. To learn more about grape growing, or wine grape regions, visit indianawines.org

The hills of Steve and Mona Crabtree’s vineyard sit high above the Ohio River. The ideal location allows warm breezes to rustle the grape leaves and push back the killing fingers of late spring frosts. Lanthier Winery's wines were proudly first produced from the grapes of Jacksonville Vineyards, where some of the best fruit is available to Indiana vintners.

Lanthier Winery grapes were hand picked, placed in bins for rinsing, then tossed into the crusher-destemmer, where sharp blades rotated to break the grapes' skin and remove any stems, seed or debris. What remains, following the 'crush,' is grape must. The 'must' was then transported to Lanthier Winery, where Cellarmaster, Chris Lanthier, pressed the grapes to make juice.

​

Lanthier Winery owners, Chris Lanthier & Tami Hagemier, thank the Crabtree's and Jacksonville Vineyards for the amazing opportunity of placing some of the best grapes into our wines and experience of the hard work of plucking each grape to produce some of Lanthier Winery's first wines. Even though our grapes now come from the finger lakes region, Lanthier Winery cherishes the memories of days in the vineyard.