Madison Indiana is filled with history, none more unique or colorful than Lanthier Winery's. If walls could talk in the old 18th century building, they would whisper tales of early trappers and settlers who built the original 24 inch thick stone walls as a haven from the then wild west. What is now the Cellar Tasting Room is believed by some, to be an old fort or outpost established by settlers seeking comfort and safety as they moved through uncertain Indian territory in the mid 1700’s. Because the area was abundant with buffalo and wild game, trappers, explorers and settlers quickly made the colorful, rolling hillsides of scenic Historic Madison Indiana home.
.
In 1990, Chris
Lanthier and his soon to be bride, Tami Hagemier, purchased the property and
began the restoration process. In serious disrepair, it required four years of intense restoration, including 12 months to remove debris left from decades of neglect.
The process was complete in 1994 and Lanthier Winery opened it’s doors in
September of that year. The Cellarmaster produced 10 different wines for the
grand opening. Today the winery boasts 16 various wines plus 3 holiday wines and
is one of Madison's most popular tourist attractions.
Near 1850, railroad traders added a two story brick section
and used the buildings as a trading post and depot exchange. The “Depot
Exchange” became a well known house of ill repute with many “exchanges”
taking place during Madison Indiana’s great railroad and steamboat days. The
buildings were later used as a stable and storage for a nearby hotel.
Often plagued by swift flood waters of the Ohio, all the surrounding
buildings except the winery's stone structures were lost to the river and time. With the decline of rail and
river transport this beautiful city retreated from attention and the
community settled into small town life. What is now the winery gardens was
once an entire subdivision of wooden homes and "shotgun" houses. The "Depot
Exchange" was to house many other business. Continuing it's colorful past,
it became home to such endeavors as a local market, offices for a canning
factory, a saloon, and a brothel. Many
believe the winery is haunted by one of the gentle ladies of the buildings
intriguing
g past. Neighbors repeatedly claim to have seen an unknown elderly woman tending
to the garden blossoms. To this date the garden is scattered with remnants
of the properties history. (left: picture of railroad gear found on
grounds, right: railcar spring also found on grounds.) As the 1900's moved forward
and Madison Indiana's role in the civil war receded, citizens began looking for new
ways to sustain prosperity. Always located "on the wrong side of the
tracks", the property began to decline and during World Wars I and II the
grounds and buildings were used as a scrap yard. What is now the production
room was added during WWII: two stories of cardboard, broken glass and metal found its
way to the facility. Elderly Madison Indiana locals
recall bringing newspapers and bottles during the wars and collecting a few
cents for their “recyclables.” The area continued to be scrap materials
recycling site for many years through the 1970’s at which time the property was
abandoned and collapsed into disrepair. Tons of scrap metal, paper,
cardboard and glass were left in the building and on the grounds.
The most recent addition to
an already unique history was the 1997 flood of the Ohio River. The
river brought an eight and a half foot crest of water and mud to th
e
property, closing the winery for 6 months. You could not enter the building through any
of the doors unless you were on a boat! January of 2005 the mighty Ohio
rose again but not quite as high this time. The 2005 flood reached the winery's
south driveway near the garden but did little damage
and didn't keep visitors away.
