By Jarred Meeks
A start-up wine bar offering tastings of hundreds of wines from around the world has opened in Zionsville at 6625 Whitestown Pkwy.
After celebrating its grand opening Nov. 6, Cork & Barrel will offer tasting flights, wine flights, glasses and bottles of wine. In addition to its wine selection, Cork & Barrel will present educational talks coupled with tastings to help customers learn everything from grapes to grape-growing regions.
Co-owners Alex and Sarah Hine, with help from the Boone County Economic Development Corp, Microloan Program – which helps businesses seeking funding for equipment purchases and specific projects – said they were able to accomplish their goal of opening a local wine bar.
“I’m not a beer drinker,” Sarah said. “There are so many breweries or brewpubs that have popped up in the area, but when you go to a lot of these places, they don’t offer anything but beer.”
She said some pubs offer spirits or a small selection of wine, but customers don’t get the opportunity to experience “the best of wine.”
Sarah said Cork & Barrel will expand its current inventory of 120 wines to 300.
“Most people don’t get the chance to travel around the world,” Sarah said. “Usually, you are stuck with the same wines from each restaurant. In the grocery stores, liquor stores, you see a lot of them have produced ones and those big brand-name ones, and so we only carry boutique wines, so people really get the chance to explore and taste different styles (and) regions.”
Cork & Barrel also will offer a variety of local hors d’oeuvres, a small beer selection, wine and food pairings, wine-themed gifts and a small event space for paint nights, candle making and other events, which will be updated on the company’s website, corkandbarrel.wine.
“There’s a wine for everyone. It’s just about being open to those possibilities,” Sarah said.
