Exploring the World Through Wine at Solely, the Only Natural Wine Bar in Indianapolis
I’ve been traveling the world, but I haven’t left the country in months.
At Solely Wine, a natural wine bar in Indianapolis that opened its doors in September, I’ve been busy tasting my way through Spain, Italy, France, Georgia and Slovenia, to name a few.
Solely focuses on unique, low-intervention wines from passionate small producers. They offer a wide variety of bottles (bubbly, reds, whites, oranges, and roses), wines by the glass, wine flights, and special tasting events. They’ve also got a small food menu to tide you over between glasses.
Owner Amanda McLaurin, who I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over glasses of wine for the last few months, has created a space that’s simultaneously a place to share and absorb wine knowledge while remaining approachable, comfortable, and relaxed. Her expertise in wine shines especially bright when I’m asking her for a bottle recommendation or she’s sharing the latest by-the-glass options. Amanda and her team talk about wine in a way that makes you excited to taste, instead of overwhelmed or intimidated by technical lingo.
I work from home, and I’ve found myself craving community more and more recently. People have written ad nauseam about the loss of “third places” and why that’s a bad thing, but in a world we’re used to doing things on our own — like using streaming services instead of going to the movies, or, ahem, working from home instead of from an office — I’ve been looking for excuses to get out of my house and interacting with people in real life. Solely has become the place to go to do just that.
Wednesdays are for wine tasting at Solely, where for a few dollars you can taste a set of wines of a certain style or from a certain producer. It’s also an amazing excuse to get together with friends to share and explore wines together. With each pour, the Solely team briefly talks about what makes the wine exciting to them, suggests some tasting notes, and then you’re off to try the wine on your own.
With other specials throughout the week, like discounted glasses and bottles, plus the occasional trivia night or special event, there’s always something special going on at Solely. And when there’s not, it’s an incredible place to sit back and relax with a glass of wine you aren’t likely to find on another menu in Indianapolis.
I love having a place like Solely in Indianapolis — there’s truly no other place like what Amanda has created at Solely Wine. the level of detail, education, and fun can’t be overstated. Grab a seat (on the cozy couch if it’s open!), order a bottle, and stay a while. Cheers!
Solely Wine, 1102 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
