Solely Wine- Indy's Newest Wine Bar

and the owner is giving us a discount!

Indy’s newest wine bar is officially open and we are so excited! Before her grand opening this past weekend, we were able to interview Amanda McLaurin, owner and founder of Soley Wine. Make sure you’re reading the full interview because Amanda is giving away something special just for our newsletter subscribers.

*Solely Wine is officially open, this interview was hosted prior to opening*

Indy Women in Food: Eeek, you’re so close to opening Indy’s newest neighborhood wine bar on 16th Street, just steps away from the Monon Trail. How are you feeling? 

Amanda: Wow, me?  I'm opening Indy's newest wine bar?! The idea of owning my business and living out my dream hasn't fully settled in yet. It's so fun and easy to dream, but making the dream a reality is hard work, and I may have initially underestimated how hard. But as we approach opening day, I'm filled with gratitude... and when something feels tough, I ground myself in that gratitude.

Indy Women in Food: You spoke at our last Indy Women in Food event and you shared about taking risks and going for the thing. What were your final steps before going for the thing you really wanted? 

Amanda: I made sure I had a plan and I was intentional with my time.  Every spare second of every day, I spent dedicated to learning about opening a business, spent learning and growing in wine culture, and making sure I was integrating myself into this awesome small-business community.  The more I learned, the more confident I became in leaving my full-time job (as a Biochemical Engineer), and doing the damn thing.  

Indy Women in Food: What inspired you to focus on low-intervention wines, and how do you select the producers you feature?

Amanda: My passion for low/minimal intervention wines, organic wines, biodynamic wines, and smaller producers actually stemmed from my passion and relationship with health and wellness.  Most people are unaware that over 80 types of chemicals can be added to wine, and for someone who is conscious about what she eats it made sense for me to also be conscious about what I'm drinking.  If I avoid foods because of all the unnecessary additives, then why wouldn't I do the same with wine?  And to be totally honest, I noticed a huge difference in how I felt after consuming these more "natural" style wines.  I've learned from many small producers that you can do less to the wine, in the winery, without it compromising quality, flavor, and consistency.  In my opinion the real work, the hard work, is done in the vineyards.

Indy Women in Food: How do you think you’ll balance offering a curated wine selection with making wine culture accessible to newcomers?

Amanda: I may be offering a curated wine selection, but ultimately that curation is driven by my customer base, their feedback, and experience.  I remember that feeling of intimidation, when walking into a wine shop or when ordering wine from a menu...  it sucks not feeling empowered.  But with anything, we can make information palatable and relatable for those who are new learners.  And if we don't have answers to the questions asked, we'll seek them out.  And if we can't find the answers, we may just have to open a bottle and taste the wine :)

Indy Women in Food: How do you envision Solely Wine contributing to the wine scene in Indianapolis?

Amanda: Solely Wine will contribute to Indy's wine scene by focusing on the discovery of new wines, encouraging more mindful sips, and connecting other wine enthusiasts.  As someone who is passionate about wine, I hope to deepen my customers’ appreciation and love for wine through educational events, tastings and social gatherings.  There was a lot of thought put into designing and developing a welcoming space for learning, connection, and appreciation for the craft.  Together we can dive into the rich history of wine making, while exploring how wine culture is evolving. 

Indy Women in Food: Do you have any wines you’re particularly excited to offer your first week being open? 

Amanda: Can I say all of them??  I truly am excited about all the wines, and I am excited to help my customer base discover what THEY like and what THEIR preferences are.  What excites me, may not excite you, and that's kind of the beauty of wine.  We can all be excited about something different.

Indy Women in Food: Last wine you drank? 

Amanda: Chateau Lamothe Bordeaux Rouge, a small-family producer located in the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux, France.  I spent some time at their family owned Chateau, in France, May of this year.  This wine in particular is a Merlot based, red blend (Bordeaux is known for their blends).  It's great, easy drinking (I like mine with a little chill).

Indy Women in Food: Sounds amazing, can’t wait!

Solely Wine vibes will leave customers feeling as if they were transported to a destination, where they have the opportunity to taste and purchase wine from all over the world.  We know when their opening day is going to be and it’s around the corner! Make sure you’re following Solely Wine to find out the exact day! The store's wine offerings will embody its customers; stylish, casual, unique and diverse.

📍 1102 E 16th Street suite 100 

Solely Wine Credits

Professional photos: Rick Goltowski Photography

Mural: Megan Jefferson Art

Branding: Guide & Anchor

If you read this far, thanks! Amanda has decided to be extra generous to our newsletter subscribers and is offering $2 off a glass of wine from now until Monday, October 2nd. All you have to do is mention to your bartender you read Amanda’s interview on Indy Women in Food and they’ll get you your discount. Can only be used once per customer! Wow, thanks Amanda! We’ll be back to Solely very soon!

Solely Wine Hours:

Monday: 2pm-9pm

Tuesday: CLOSED

Wed: 12pm-9pm

Thursday: 12pm-9pm

Friday/Sat: 12pm-10pm

Sun: 12pm-6pm