Whyte Horse Winery
About
Come visit Whyte Horse Winery in Monticello, Indiana for a fine wine experience. We offer free samples of our award-winning wines. Purchase to take home or stay for a glass and walk through our vineyard. All of our wines are made in our on-site processing facility. The tasting room is set in a renovated 1886 farmhouse, decorated with elegant woodwork and antique furnishings. Whyte Horse Winery is the result of a vision and a passion for fine wines. We are a family-owned and operated business and have been creating wine since 2006.
Location Description
Located in the heart of Monticello, Indiana.
Features
- Wines are made from estate-grown grapes.
Additional Information
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History
Molly became an important part of our grandchildren's lives and we all loved being at the farm. One day three years later, we headed to the farm after church, where I teach a Sunday school class and had been teaching on Bruce Wilkinson's book, "The Secret of the Vine". As we sat on the deck and looked out at our rolling pasture, I told Connie that I wanted to plant a vineyard. I wanted to care for the vines and for the fruit. It was only natural to take the interest in the vineyard and our passion for fine wine collecting to the next level, so we started looking for a site for the winery.
We approached my brother, Don Pampel, and his wife Denise, concerning them being a part of the project. Don, Denise, Connie, and I were all farm kids, so it felt like we were all returning to our roots.
When we were searching for the name of the winery, Connie came up with the name Whyte Horse, which was inspired by Molly, who was the reason we were able to buy the property. Since the land is located in White County in Indiana, we combined the two elements to come up with a different spelling reminiscent of Old World, which complements the style of wine we enjoy most.
The farmhouse was part of a large land holding on the south side of Monticello. At first I wanted to tear it down, but my wife put her gift of decorating and vision to work. She made the right decision. We have large porches that surround much of the house and the winery, furnished with rocking chairs and bistro sets for your enjoyment. We have added a music-filled garden for relaxing with friends.
The farmhouse tasting room has a handmade cherry bar. Our gift shop is decorated with antiques and offers wine accessories and gifts for sale. Specialized baskets can be made to order, and we also have an assortment of locally made snacks, dips, and cheeses.
The winery and processing facility is adjacent to our banquet facility, which can seat up to 70 for a catered lunch, dinner, or other event. It has a 20-foot hand-made tasting bar with an antique mirrored back-bar that was built in 1890. The processing area is visible from the banquet room and is equipped with stainless steel tanks made in Italy and oak barrels made in France.
The Team
Don and Larry's father, Carl, helps in the winery and vineyard. Don's daughters, Darcy and Dana, work in the vineyard and winery as needed. Larry is the winemaker, Don is the production manager, and Connie manages the tasting room and special events. Larry's son Eric, daughter Dodi, son-in-law Brad, and daughter-in-law Kelly help when needed. The grandchildren help with maintenance in the vineyard during the summer, and help in the labeling of the wine. All help with the harvest. We are truly a family-business.
The rest of the full-time staff includes Mary (sales & distributing), Cyndi (wine club), Connie (communications & events) Jackie (wine making), and Andy (production). Each member has a passion for wine and is willing to do whatever it takes to enhance your experience when you visit the winery. We are also blessed to have part-time employees, and family and friends who love working with us in the tasting room, at festivals, and in the vineyard
Estate Vineyards / AVA
Indiana is not known for grape-growing, but there are actually several cold-hardy grapes that can withstand the colder winters of our Midwestern climate. Our larger vineyard, located at the farm a few miles from the winery, is where we grow Traminette (Indiana's signature grape) and a couple other varieties. The on-site vineyard at the winery is where we grow our Vignoles grapes, often used to make a sweet late-harvest wine. This vineyard is also centered around a gazebo and is a beautiful scene for a summer wedding.
Awards
INDY Gold Medal Winner! A light-bodied, Indiana-grown dry red.