Whether you ’re knocking back bottles of the honorable poppycock or something from the grocery bargain bin , there ’s a certain relaxation to drinking vino . And despite our reputation as a Pinot Chardonnay - two - icing - cubes city , Indianapolis has plenty of terroir on tap . This list is about the wine bars that prove just that , ones sew to the real grape lover – from weekenders to hard-core connoisseurs .
Corner Wine Bar
CWB is about as close as you could get to the vibration of a Paris cafe , specially if you stop by in the summer and grab a table outside . It ’s one of the few truly wine - centrical restaurants in the urban center , with a redoubtable lineup of dishes made to be enjoyed with a glass of wine . If you want to save a trivial hard currency , ask about the manager ’s $ 20 bank identification number excerpt or get a flight to travel to many vineyard in one night . If you ’re lucky , you ’ll show up on a night when they ’re play live bluegrass in the basement streak .
Louie’s Wine Dive
It might be a franchise , but that just means you ’ll get a wide and invariably changing selection of wines by the bottleful and methamphetamine hydrochloride . Best part : when they ’re almost out of one form , the Leontyne Price go down . With a carte du jour of dressed - down starter and sandwiches to go with your grape , Louie ’s is a big spot to taste some near wine-coloured and take hold of a collation after piece of work .
Tinker Street
Though it ’s technically a eating house , the wine-colored and modest plate selection makes this a good spot to advert out when you require the wine measure vibration and a delicious morsel . It ’s also a good choice if you want to learn a little about your wine or you need some suggestions to go with food , as the staff is well - civilise on the list . The restaurant ofttimes host wine maker dinners where the chefs create a free menu and a winemaker comes to talk about the wine being served . Keep an eye on their social media feeds to get the late updates .
Tastings
This wine barroom is basically an arcade for adult . You load a circuit card with however much money you want to spend , then you go around and swipe it and sip 2 oz pours until the John Cash runs out . Lord’s Day are great for getting $ 5 mimosas and bloodies , and they offer reservations for dinner feature a trajectory of wine to go with each course . If you get a footling out of control , grab yourself a way at the side by side , and swanky , Conrad Hotel .
Mallow Run Winery
While Indiana might never be famous for wine , there ’s something fun about sitting on the deck of cards at Mallow Run and sipping on a glass of homegrown Traminette – one of a handful of grapes that grows well in Hoosier filth . The tasting room and milieu at Mallow are gorgeous and deserving the parkway when you need a little penchant of Napa in Naptown . Be certain to make a architectural plan to go in mid - summer when the garden is in full swing and go for a walk with glass in handwriting .
Brugge Brasserie
Brugge is illustrious for its excerpt of craftsmanship brews , but the owner yield similar homage to terroir with their vino natural selection . Though it ’s limited , the wine listing give-up the ghost well with just about anything on the Belgian menu , from steak frites to waterzooi . Summer is the best time to visit ; you could settle into an outdoor table for an evening of wine and French pancake while watching foolish jogger pass by on the Monon .
BARcelona Tapas
passel of tapa and all the sangria you may drink make for a fun time at BARcelona – sometimes too much sport when it starts come out in pitcher . Get a few small plates of cheese and olives , and then tuck into the offerings at the legal profession one glass at a time to keep thing from getting too crazy . Sunday brunchers in lookup of value will also love this position ; they bid an all - you - can - consume buffet of Spanish brunch favorites that comes with a glass of sangria to boot .
Shiraz Wine Cafe
With a like dispensing system as Tastings , you’re able to explore the world of wine with the swipe of a placard . The position is tucked into a cunning workshop on Mass Ave , has a sexy DoI , and tons of communal seats if you involve a new place to meet up with your after work wine-colored ball club . They do serve food , but insiders know the actual draw poker : that wine .
Thirsty Scholar
Indy at long last has a cafe that service the drinkable needs of the masses at all hr of the night . The Thirsty Scholar will be well-chosen to serve well you a beer , a glass of wine , or a loving cup of hot espresso . One of the best elbow room to expend an evening here is to get a solo seat at the bar and sip and snack the night away while you keep an eye on the bunch turnover from Nox to late night .
Mass Ave Wine
It ’s a shop ! It ’s a coffee bar ! It ’s both ! There ’s in all likelihood no better place in town to shop for wine than at MAW . First , you ’ll get the benefit of an extremely passionate and knowledgeable staff . secondly , you could adhere around and have a few glasses after you ’ve made your selection . Third , after you ’ve had those glass , you may deplete all the Malva sylvestris you desire . Everyone wins .
Table by Market District
blend in along with the shop - n - swallow theme , this brand name new restaurant inside the bougiest food market store in the metropolis is not a bad position to end an otherwise uneventful Tuesday . Sadly , you ca n’t drink and shop class at the same prison term , but you could uncork the bottle of your selection to enjoy within the legal confines of this restaurant . So go onwards : assure your family you ’re hold up to the foodstuff store , then have a few glasses with some friends . After all , it ’s not technically lie .
The Enoteca at Goose the Market
It ’s not on the button a secret , but Goose the Market ’s Enoteca is probably one of the least - known ( and just ) place to drink wine in the city . Goose is a gourmand ’s paradise , so their mini basement cafe feature small charcuterie plates and a immense selection of wine-coloured is , unsurprisingly , delicious beyond comparison . Choose a wine off of the menu or have them spread whatever you take from the shelves along the walls , and ensure you get a bite of cheese and nitty-gritty from Goose ’s great excerpt of artisan food to go with the wine . It ’s completely worth it .
Vida
This is n’t your received large wine listing . Vida is fresh opened and has a wine cellar with some of the rarified labels available in Indianapolis . It ’s a cautiously curated list put together by certify wine waiter , so it might be a short intimidate to the novel drinker . That said , the stave is more than glad to pop the question drug user - friendly advice on what duad substantially with what , and early report card say the menu is a knockout .
Sign up herefor our daily Thrillist electronic mail , and get your location of the skillful in solid food / drink / fun .
Tastings Indianapolis
Flickr/Jim Grey
Courtesy of Audra Sternberg Photography
Tastings Indianapolis
Mallow Run Winery
BARcelona Tapas Indy
Shiraz
Thirsty Scholar
Market District
Vida