Writer / Lisa Mitchell
Photography provided
Wine lovers, rejoice! LouVino is about to bring an expansive selection of premium wines, delicious southern-inspired small plates, and a new kind of dining energy to the Nickel Plate District in downtown Fishers.
Owners Chad and Lauren Coulter are bringing their highly successful wine bar concept to Fishers after opening two well-received LouVino locations in Louisville, Kentucky. The first opened in 2014 and the second in July, 2016.
Why Fishers as their first out-of-state expansion location?
“We had so many people visit our Louisville locations from Fishers and Carmel, and they always told us how much they needed a wine bar like this where they lived,” Chad explained. “We did a ton of research on both areas, and after seeing the explosive growth, smart development plan, and the need for more independent dining options, we decide that the Nickel Plate District area of Fishers was the right place for us to focus on. In the end, it came down to research and a gut feeling. This is where we needed to go first in our Indiana expansion efforts.”
Although they chose to open a location in Fishers, Chad and Lauren haven’t ruled out the possibility of opening additional locations in the Indy area, most likely in Carmel and on Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Indianapolis. Chad said they would like to eventually have up to 10 locations, as opportunity and resources allow.
True to its name, wine is at the top of the menu at LouVino. They offer 4-ounce and 6-ounce pours of their most popular wines, as well as several wine flights (tastings) for those who would like to sample their unique selections. Each flight is named after a local celebrity, with the flight names of the Fishers location not yet being revealed.
What makes LouVino unique from other wine bars is not only its vast selection of wine, bourbon, and beer, but also a unique take on its small plate menu. Chef Tavis Rockwell said while it’s his goal to make good food for the masses, it’s anything but basic. He focuses on using fresh seasonal offerings to keep the southern-inspired menu exciting, and he balances a selection of favorites, such as the loaded baked potato tots and fried chicken tacos, with seasonal dishes such as seared duck breast over five-spice risotto and crispy rock shrimp and grits.
“I never recommend trying just one dish,” Tavis said. “I always recommend you try at least three. Once you try one, you’re really going to want to try as many dishes as you can.”
General Manager Michael Henry will run the Fishers location. The soft opening is scheduled for December 1 to 3 and the official opening is scheduled for Tuesday, December 6. The soft opening is scheduled for December 13, watch their Facebook page for details. A lunch service will be added Tuesday to Friday, and a brunch option for the weekend is also planned.
