Indiana Honey Wine producer New Day Meadery opens tasting room in Fountain Square

INDIANAPOLIS (August 10, 2010) When people hear the word mead, they think of Beowulf, Norse mythology, Tolkien, Celtic tales, or some other legendary literature. If Tia Agnew and Brett Canaday have their way, the mead back story will give way to thoughts of Indiana fruit and honey, and of Fountain Square.

Tia and Brett – both Indiana natives – started producing mead in Elwood, Indiana in 2005. New Day Meadery is the first and only Meadery, a winery that specializes in honey-based wine, in the State of Indiana. They focus on using only the finest, freshest ingredients to create small, handcrafted batches. The result: limited-edition wines of the highest quality, with flavor profiles ranging from dry to semi-sweet that bring out the delicate flavors and aromas of fresh fruit and honey.

For the past two years, Tia and Brett have been looking for a more accessible location for their tasting room so they can introduce their wine to a wider audience. They wanted a location that was more than just a retail outlet. “Our philosophy is that we’re not just selling wine, we’re creating community with our business,” says Tia. After looking at Bloomington, Zionsville, and Fishers, they settled on Fountain Square. Why? Because “there’s a collaborative spirit among the business owners,” says Tia, “and everyone is so welcoming and supportive.” Being in a vibrant, arts-focused neighborhood close to downtown helps too.

Who are their customers? Wine tourists, walk-ins, historicists, home brewers, beer and wine connoisseurs, foodies, conference attendees, and the curious. “Hipsters to Baby Boomers are trying our products,” says Brett, “and everyone from out of town visitors to our neighbors down the street find something they like.” He observes that most people think of mead as one-dimensional and syrupy-sweet, but everyone is pleasantly surprised at the level of sophistication of New Day honey wines. “The education process is part of the fun,” says Brett, “and the reactions are as great as our products!”

Visitors to the tasting room can sample individual styles of mead for $5 a glass, or a full flight of all 8 of New Day’s products for $5: Dry Mead, Dry Peach Honey Wine, Dry Blueberry Honey Wine, Dry Red Raspberry Honey Wine, Semi-Dry Mead, Semi-Sweet Plum Honey Wine, Semi-Sweet Black Raspberry Honey Wine and Dry Hard Cider. People are encouraged to linger, and there is comfortable furniture and free wi-fi. Local art is also part of the plan, with special art openings and later hours on First Fridays. Families with children are welcome too, and a small selection of non-alcoholic juices and sodas is available for the under-age or the non-drinker. They also feature an ever-growing assortment of local food products and gift items.

Soon, they will be offering small plates of prepared food that complement their wines, and will be hosting chef’s table dinners and other special functions in their back room, which is available to rent for events.

Tia and Brett have experienced a steady stream of customers since opening in late June. “There are so many new faces,” says Brett, “and we’re excited to be a part of this close-knit neighborhood in a big city, and to be yet another reason for people to come back to Fountain Square again and again.”

New Day Meadery Historic Fountain Square
1102 Prospect Street
Indianapolis, IN 46203
888-MEADERY (888-632-3379)
http://www.newdaymeadery.com