Friday Foodie: The Wine Market at Fountain Square

If you’ve read my blog for long, you know I like wine. And if you’ve hung out with me in real life, you know I buy all my wine from Cork & Cracker in Broad Ripple because 1. I love the customer service and buying local and 2. My sister works there. BUT I may have cheated on them just a little last week when I went to check out Fountain Square’s newest wine edition in a rehabbed building on the corner of Virginia Avenue along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.

The Wine Market at Fountain Square is going for the whole “coffee shop” vibe, but with wine. I can totally get on board with that. You can buy wine by the glass or bottle and hang out in the open space while munching on some local meats and cheese or some chocolate truffles and macaroons. You can also buy bottles to go, even on Sundays (which is very rare in Indiana, but they do have to follow some specific laws about it which I now forget). The Market has open seating on the main floor and a special event space on the second floor.

I had a happy accident and showed up for Tuesday’s BOGO wine by the glass night, so that obviously put me in a very good mood to write this review. I tried the Sauvignon Blanc ($9) and a glass of sparkling Rosé ($7) while my friend started with Malbec ($7) and then also swapped to Rosé ($7.50). We shared a charcuterie board ($17) with our choice of 3 meats, 2 cheeses, and 1 spread served with warm bread. We walked up to the counter to order our drinks, but the bartender/server did come check on us once or twice.

Overall impressions? Pros: It’s a nice, clean space with chill music and a cozy fake fireplace (a real one would be better). Service was prompt and friendly. No lines or long waits on food. Wine glasses and bottles are sold at affordable prices. Open on Sundays. Cons: Decor is a little basic. I think more could be done to enhance the space and make it more inviting. There is very limited wine merchandise available, so it seems they should either add more or take it away. I thought wine quality was a little weak. I am not a wine snob by any means, but even I could tell the wines tasted a bit cheap.

Verdict? I will definitely go again as I had a positive experience and appreciate anywhere with BOGO wine specials. I hope this spot will continue to develop and make a few small adjustments that could make a huge difference between a “meh” and a “must go” destination.

Overall Rating: 4/5

The Wine Market at Fountain Square
1031 Virginia Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46203
317.426.5932

Hours:
Tuesday through Friday
2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Saturday
Noon to 10:00 p.m.
Sunday
1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.