Pink Peony Club: An Indiana-Inspired Sparkling Wine Cocktail

Peony's Meet the Indiana State Wine Grape

At The Rejoicing Vine, we love creating cocktails that feel rooted in place, drinks that tell a story about the land, the season, and the people gathered around the table.

So when peony season arrived, inspiration came naturally. We even learned some life lessons along the way, check out post on the hidden lessons in the Pink Peony Club creation.

Meet the Pink Peony Club — our floral, sparkling twist on the classic French 75 made with our Big Yellow Traminette wine, lemon juice, alcohol-free gin and a homemade peony petal simple syrup.

It’s bright. Botanical. Effervescent. And unapologetically springtime.

But what makes this cocktail especially meaningful to us is that it quietly celebrates Indiana in two different ways:

• The Peony is Indiana’s state flower

• Traminette is Indiana’s signature wine grape

  
  

In other words, this cocktail is basically an Indiana garden party in a glass.

Why We Love Peonies

Peonies are one of those flowers that stop people in their tracks. Their blooms are oversized, fragrant, delicate, and dramatic all at once. For a few short weeks each spring, they completely steal the show.

There’s something fitting about pairing them with sparkling wine:

• both feel celebratory,

• both invite people to slow down,

• and both are best enjoyed together.

  
  

The floral notes from the peony syrup play beautifully with Traminette’s naturally aromatic character. If you’ve ever noticed hints of honeysuckle, citrus blossom, or tropical flowers in Indiana-grown Traminette, this cocktail leans right into those strengths.

The result is something refreshing and elegant without feeling overly serious — exactly the kind of drink we want on a patio with friends as the weather finally starts warming up.

🤓 NERD ALERT! ⚠️

Things are about to get delightfully dorky. Side-effects may include (but are not limited to): spontaneous laughter, accidental learning, curiosity cravings, and an uncontrollable urge to share fun facts with friends.

Fun Facts About Peonies 🌸

Because we can’t help ourselves.

Peonies Can Live for Generations

Peony plants are famous for their longevity. Some peony plants have been known to survive and bloom for over 100 years when properly cared for. Which means somewhere out there might be a peony older than Indiana statehood.

Ants on Peonies Are Totally Normal

Ever notice ants crawling all over peony buds?

Contrary to popular belief, ants don’t help peonies bloom — they’re just attracted to the sugary nectar on the outside of the buds. The flowers would open either way, but the ants are happy to stick around for the snack.

Peonies Symbolize Prosperity, Joy, and Good Fortune

Across many cultures, peonies are associated with celebration, abundance, romance, and happiness. Honestly sounds a lot like what we hope people experience when they gather around a table with good food and wine.

Indiana Loves Peonies

The peony became Indiana’s official state flower in 1957, replacing the zinnia. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable flowers grown in Midwest gardens thanks to its ability to thrive in Indiana’s climate.

Come Try the Pink Peony Club

Whether you’re a longtime wine lover or just looking for a unique spring cocktail near Indianapolis, the Pink Peony Club is one of our favorite seasonal pours we’ve created this year.

Floral without being perfumey. Refreshing without being too sweet. And full of Indiana-grown character from the first sip to the last bubble.

If you stop by this spring, there’s a good chance you’ll find one in our hands too.

Because life’s too short to skip the sparkling cocktails.

Join Us at the Indiana Peony Festival 🌸

If you’re as obsessed with peony season as we are, come celebrate with us next weekend (May 16th) at the Indiana Peony Festival in Noblesville! We'll have a booth at the VIPP (very important peony people) event on Friday night and a booth at the festival on Saturday.

We’ll be bringing wine (including a limited edition wine called "Full Bloom"), springtime vibes, and plenty of Indiana-grown flavor to one of the most beautiful weekends of the season. If you’ve never been, the festival is packed with flowers, local vendors, garden inspiration, food, music, and thousands of blooming peonies throughout downtown Noblesville.

And yes… there’s a very good chance the Pink Peony Club will be making an appearance too.

It’s one of our favorite kinds of events: local, joyful, community-centered, and fully in bloom. We’d love to see you there.