Tastings Unveils ‘Wine Truck’
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTastings in Indianapolis is taking wine mobile. The Tastings Wine Truck has been making the rounds in the city. Owner Ross Bailey says he saw a need for wine offerings at local events that often only serve beer. The wine bar unveiled the truck, a restored 1952 International Harvester Metro, Thursday at its downtown location.
The wine bar purchased the vehicle in 2015, and began a ground-up restoration that wrapped up a few months ago. Bailey says the truck will be used for both private and public community events. He says any time the truck goes out, it requires certain permits, so, "as much as I’d like to drive around with ice cream music," the trips must be planned in advance.
He says the truck can hold up to eight kegs of wine, which averages out to nearly 1,000 glasses of wine. Bailey says "it was something there was a demand for that just wasn’t present in the market." He says local breweries have been supportive of the idea, saying, "we’re not competition."
The move continues the evolution of how Hoosiers make and buy wine.
In March, our Life Sciences INdiana e-newsletter reported on a Purdue University startup "decoding" the science behind grape growing to help vineyards produce the best possible fruit. West Lafayette-based VinSense’s platform involves detailed data collection and analysis, helping vineyards make decisions and alterations while the crop is still growing.
Last month, Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets announced a partnership with the Vivino wine rating system on a retail pilot program. The collaboration involves more than 60 Marsh stores featuring "shelf-talkers" that display ratings from the California-based company.
Last year, Governor Mike Pence signed a bill allowing wineries to more easily serve their products into law. The legislation, authored by State Representative Dave Ober (R-82), aims to embrace the state’s craft beverage industry and spark further growth by eliminating regulations.