[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” background_color_gradient_end=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/DIVI-Header-Image-1.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”8%||8%|” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”center” header_font_size=”80px” header_letter_spacing=”6px” header_line_height=”1.4em” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”800px” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”3%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” header_font_size_tablet=”40px” header_font_size_phone=”” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Est. 1852<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”18px” header_font_size=”40px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Welcome to Fruit Hills Winery and Orchard! We are David and Michele Muir, and in 2010, we opened a new farm winery in Northern Indiana with the encouragement of our son, Nathan, and daughter-in-law, Brittany.<\/p>\n
Our winery is located 2 miles south of Bristol on State Road 15 on the Judson Fruit Farm.<\/p>\n
The farm has been in David\u2019s family since 1852, where it began producing fruit around 1898, and we continue to grow fruit to this day.<\/p>\n
We currently have approximately 4 acres of vineyards planted, and we continue to expand.<\/p>\n
We focus primarily on newer cold-hardy grape varieties. We\u2019ve planted the University of Minnesota\u2019s Marquette, Frontenac Gris, and Itasca. Tom Plocher\u2019s Petite Pearl, Crimson Pearl, and Verona. We also grow a couple of older varieties, Vignoles and Brianna.<\/p>\n
We purchase grapes and juice of varieties that are not feasible to grow in our locale, such as Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, etc.<\/p>\n
We also produce a Blackberry fruit wine we call Black Velvet and two hard ciders from our apples. Just Peachy is an apple hard cider that has a little peach flavor added and is sweetened and carbonated Triple Hop is a dry hard cider that is infused with three different hops and then carbonated.<\/p>\n
In the fall, we offer apples fresh from our orchard as we have done for over one hundred years.<\/p>\n
You will be greeted warmly when you visit our winery in the scenic fruit hills of Bristol. We have an attractive and inviting tasting room where you have the opportunity to sample any of our different wines. You may also step outside onto our large deck or front porch and enjoy the view while having a glass of wine.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][dmpro_timeline line_area_size=”55px” timeline_line_width=”3px” timeline_line_color=”#9CB53D” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][dmpro_timeline_item date=”1852″ title=”David’s Great- Great-Grandfather Purchases the Farm” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
In 1852, William Judson purchased land in Bristol, Indiana.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”1898″ title=”Fruit Production Begins” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/044A1128-scaled.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The original Judson Fruit Farm was established by James’s brother, Charles E. Judson. Where a variety of fruits and vegetables were produced.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2009″ title=”Family Trip to Mt. Dora , Florida” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/36224278192_dedc9b26c8_b.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
We believe that when one door closes, another is opened. Our journey of opening this winery started on a family trip to Florida for a wedding. We stopped at a boutique winery that produced wines in a small room in the back of the shop.<\/p>\n
David had just lost his job of 15 years and commented that maybe making wine for others is something he could do since he had been making grape and fruit wines for many years for our family.<\/p>\n
We came home and got to work.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2010″ title=”We Break Ground” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#000000″ date_text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2010″ title=”Tasting Room Opens” image=”http:\/\/www.fruithillswinery.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/CPG_8263.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
On November 27, 2010, David and Michele, their son Nathan, and daughter-in-law Brittany opened their tasting room.<\/p>\n
This followed the culmination of a year and a half of planning, building, and struggling with governmental red tape on every level.<\/p>\n
We also added in the processing and fermentation of about eight tons of various varieties of wine grapes which were obtained from some of our friends in Michigan and Indiana.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2010″ title=”Let’s Grow Some Grapes” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Wines-Featured-Image-1200-\u00d7-650-px.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
While some wineries do not grow their own grapes, as fruit farmers, we knew we had to establish a vineyard. However, (even though we were fruit farmers) we didn’t know how to grow grapes!<\/p>\n
We began with 80 Traminette, 50 Marquette, 50 Fontenac Gris, 50 Reisling, and 50 Cabernet Franc grape vines.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2012″ title=”First Crop of Grapes Is Harvested” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture2.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In 2012, we harvested our first crop of grapes. The first vineyard was meant to be a learning vineyard to discover what worked and what didn’t. We immediately learned they needed more vines!<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2012″ title=”170 More Traminette Vines Are Planted” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture3.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2010″ title=”Winery is Completed” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture4.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2013-2022″ title=”More Vines are Planted” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/044A1123-scaled.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
We kept adding to the vineyard. In 2013, 260 Marquette and 140 Frontenac Gris vines were planted.<\/p>\n
In 2015, we pulled out the original Traminette vines and replaced them with Vignoles.<\/p>\n
In 2016, we planted 400 Petite Pearl vines.<\/p>\n
Two hundred Brianna vines were added in 2017.<\/p>\n
In 2021, we planted 150 Itasca vines.<\/p>\n
In 2022, 270 Crimson Pearl and 190 Verona vines were planted.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2011″ title=”Samples are well received at the IN Horticulture Congress” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In January, we took samples of the Noriet and Cabernet Franc that we made in Fall 2010 to the IN Horticulture Congress. It was a blind taste and they were both well received.<\/p>\n
We also had a few events during the winter that everyone in attendance enjoyed.<\/p>\n
All this led up to our Grand Opening on April 30.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2013″ title=”The Deck Gets a Roof” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture5.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2018″ title=”Another Deck is Added” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Fruit-Hills-Winery-Deck-1.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” title_text=”Fruit Hills Winery Deck 1″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
We added a 30’x40′ deck that allows for special events and live music during the summer.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”2021″ title=”The Orchard” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture8.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
While the orchard has diminished in size over the years, we continue to produce around 600 bushels of apples.<\/p>\n
[\/dmpro_timeline_item][dmpro_timeline_item date=”Now” title=”The Winery” image=”https:\/\/fruithillswinery.com\/staging\/4216\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Picture7.jpg” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
At Fruit Hills Winery and Orchard, we currently produce around 1,000 cases of wine per year. We grow around 15,000 lbs of grapes per year and purchase any additional grapes that we need.<\/p>\n
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