3 Things to Love about Fruit Hills Winery & Orchard Near Shipshewana

Whenever I go on vacation, I always have to try and visit at least one winery.

Because we've visited several wineries in our travels, we know what makes a good tasting experience. Recently, I had the chance to visit Fruit Hills Winery & Orchard in Bristol, Indiana (just a 20 minute drive from Shipshewana). I'm happy to say that this was one of the best tasting experiences I've ever had!

I was so happy to find such a great winery that is so close to where we live.

Fruit Hills opened in 2010 and is located 2 miles south of Bristol on State Road 15 on the Judson Fruit Farm. Owned by David and Michele Muir, the farm has been in David’s family since 1852 where it began producing fruit around 1898. 

When David lost his full-time job during the economic recession, he and his family decided to start Fruit Hills Winery & Orchard. He'd been making wine for years for his family and friends, and it was time to make the dream of owning a winery come true.

Now, they have several acres of planted vineyards, a cozy tasting room, and a gorgeous porch to host events! 

Here are three main things to love about Fruit Hills Winery & Orchard.

1. The Atmosphere

When my friend and I walked into the Fruit Hills Winery Tasting Room, I immediately felt at home. It's a peaceful room with a great view overlooking hills and trees.

The owners happened to be the ones to help us with our tasting, and they were happy to share with us the history behind the winery as well as details on how each wine was made. I loved the personal attention we received. We never felt rushed and very much enjoyed the conversation.

They also recently built a huge covered deck with lots of seating! So beautiful. It would be perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and catching up with dear ones.

2. The Wine

Of course I couldn't write a blog about a winery without mentioning the wine!

Presently, Fruit Hills grows six different varieties of grapes for their wines. They have to make sure the grapes they grow are cold hardy such as Marquette and Petite Pearl. For grapes that aren't feasible to grow in Northern Indiana they purchase, such as Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. 

They also produce several fruit wines including a signature Apple wine!

If you go in for a tasting, you get to choose five different varieties from a huge list of available red and white wines, from dry to sweet. The first-time tasting fee is $5.00, but you receive a card which allows you to taste for free for the the rest of the calendar year.

I personally loved the "Make Me Blush" wine and the "This and That White" blend (I'm a fan of sweet wines), but they were all amazing! 

3. Music on the Deck

Fruit Hills Winery also hosts "Music on the Deck" on Saturdays and Sundays in the summer. Local bands entertain guests on the deck, and they even try to have food trucks set up!

What a fun way to spend a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon. I'm always looking for things to do on Sundays near Shipshewana - so this is a great option!

So if you enjoy visiting wineries, the next time you're near Shipshewana, check out Fruit Hills Winery and Orchard! You won't be disappointed.

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