Quick and dirty:
Started as 5 stars but service after our tasting was lacking. (3.5 true rating)
Slow and clean:
My forever favorite weekend activity is a long hike followed by day drinking. So, after deciding that it was time to return to Clifty Falls for some nature, we decided to actually go in to Madison and see what it was all about...and get in some day drinking. We got a good 7+ hike in and then head down to the main street to find parking in between the two in-town wineries (so we could walk to both without having to move the car).
A couple blocks off the main drag, Thomas Family Winery is in a charming building near to the river. It has a cozy, bistro-like, welcoming atmosphere inside, and a cute little patio out to the side. When we walked in, we were greeted immediately and invited to sidle up at the small tasting bar with a group that had only just started their experience. It was a bit crowded, but I would have been cranky if I had had to wait for them to finish, when they were only on the first pour.
What is wonderful (and dangerous) is that many wine tastings in Indiana are FREE and you are welcome to try any number of their offerings...up to and including ALL. So having a DD or a plan to eat a big meal after a couple tastings would be a good idea. Thankfully, TFW has a manageable list of wines, number-wise.
Our tasting experience was WONDERFUL. The woman acting as tasting host was friendly and fun, full of information, and able to keep things moving. If we had left after the tasting, this review would be sitting pretty at 5 stars. But we enjoyed ourselves so much and liked some of the wines we tried, that with the opportunity to build-your-own charcuterie board...we decided we wanted to sit for a bit and have a glass of wine and some cheese before moving on.
This is where service fell through.
The other woman working on this day seemed to be responsible for serving the folks sitting at tables wanting to eat and drink and stay a while. We specifically asked if there was table service, and if that table service extended to the outdoor seating area. We were told "yes" and that someone would come to our table in no time. Instead, we sat for quite some time, with not a soul coming outside. Until another couple came out on to the patio to sit down. Great, we thought. With two groups out here, they are bound to come serve us in no time! Wrong.
Within a few minutes, their glasses of wine were brought out to them. I guess they ordered at the tasting bar? Then the server took their order for a charcuterie board. I honestly thought she would then come over to us to at least establish contact with our table. I turned around to try and get her attention via polite eye contact and a non-rude indication that we see you, and we are ready to order. Instead...she didn't look over to us at all and went inside.
They cut the cheese to order for the BYO-charcuterie, so it took a little longer than one might expect for these orders to come out. But then, I was SURE that once the other table had their cheese delivered, we would be approached and be able to place our order. Instead...again...she never even looked over at our table and went back inside.
Fine. My Fella was still interested in getting a glass of one of their wines, and we had our heart set on a couple of the cheeses they had to offer. So we went inside to get a seat and try and get some service in there. A plan that *eventually* worked, but again a table that seated themselves long after us got served first. It left a very sour taste in my mouth. I would have been more than ok with slower service, but we almost walked out without anything because we were completely ignored.
Eventually we got to enjoy a glass of wine each and some cheese and crackers. But after such a great tasting experience, the rest of our visit left a lot to be desired and really left us disappointed.
Go for a tasting. But if you want anything beyond that...buy what you want, to go. And then go. read more