Indy's Quiet Overachiever Has Range
Herron-Morton Place · Indianapolis · Fine-Casual American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tinker Street’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You walk into what looks like a cozy neighborhood spot in Herron-Morton Place and then the wine list shows up — and suddenly you're staring down a 2016 Puligny-Montrachet and a Horsepower Syrah sitting next to Tonnino Ramato and Lebanese imports. It doesn't feel like it belongs here, and that's exactly the point. This list has genuine ambition.
Tinker Street casts a genuinely wide net: France, Italy, Spain, California, Oregon, Washington, Chile, South Africa, Lebanon, and Australia all show up with purpose rather than as obligatory checkboxes. The high-end anchor bottles are serious — the 2016 Domaine Bouzereau 'Les Folatiéres' Puligny-Montrachet at $275 and the 2021 Domaine de l'Arlot Nuits-St.-Georges at $285 signal that someone here actually cares about Burgundy. The California contingent is strong too, with Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir and Turley Zinfandel sitting alongside the more trophy-bait Silver Oak and Gemstone picks. The one frustration: markups on the everyday bottles are aggressive enough to blunt some of the goodwill that the deeper selections earn.
The by-the-glass program runs $14–$22 and shows real personality — Blandy's 10-Year Malmsey Madeira at $14 a glass is a flex almost no restaurant in Indiana would bother making, and the Tonnino Ramato brings some orange wine energy to a crowd that may not expect it. We'd love a tighter rotation or clearer seasonal changes, but the range here beats most full-service wine bars in town.
Turley Zinfandel — $70/bottle ($18/glass)
Turley is one of the most respected Zinfandel producers in California and routinely retails around $35–40. At $70 on the list, it's one of the fairer markups on the menu and delivers serious concentration and character — order the bottle, not the glass.
Blandy's Malmsey 10 Year Rich Madeira
At $14 a glass, this is the most interesting pour on the menu that almost no one will order. Madeira is indestructible, complex, and endlessly food-friendly — nutty, rich, slightly oxidative in the best way. Skip it and you're leaving the most interesting thing on the list untouched.
Mistinguett Vallformosa Brut
A $15 retail bottle sitting at $50 on the list is a 233% markup, and it's not a wine worth defending at any price. If you want bubbles here, look elsewhere on the list — this one exists to pad the bottom line, not your evening.
Tonnino Pinot Grigio Ramato + Charcuterie or cured meat board
The Ramato's light tannin structure and savory, slightly oxidative character cut through the fat of cured meats in a way that a standard white can't. It's an unconventional pour that rewards the curious and handles a full spread without flinching.
Unspecified — Half-priced wine bottles offered on a specific night — check with the restaurant for the current day and any restrictions.
The Bottom Line
Tinker Street is the wine list that Indianapolis shouldn't have yet somehow does — globally curious, genuinely deep in spots, and anchored by a few pours that would feel at home at a serious wine bar in any major city. The markups on entry-level bottles keep it from being a full Rager, but the ambition earns a trip.
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
Prime 47 is a dependable, California-forward steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — not because it takes risks, but because it executes the classics reliably and keeps the Cabs flowing. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with a great steak; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Indianapolis · Indianapolis · French, Japanese
Vida is the kind of wine program that makes you wish more mid-sized American cities had a Jared May running their lists — deep Burgundy, serious California, and a dining concept that actually justifies both. Yes, you'll pay for it, but this is a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winner for real reasons.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Steakhouse
St. Elmo is the rare steakhouse that earns its Best of Award of Excellence without feeling like it's trying to impress anyone — the list is deep, the wines are real, and Monday half-price night is genuinely one of the best deals in Indianapolis. The markups can sting, but the bones of this program are excellent.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Mass Ave · Indianapolis · Southern, American, Brew Pub
The Eagle is a genuinely great place to eat fried chicken — the wine list, however, is an afterthought dressed up in a menu. Drink the beer, order the bubbles if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Indianapolis · New American
Cerulean is exactly what a serious restaurant in a mid-sized American city should be doing with wine — real producers, fair pours, a sommelier who actually knows the list. Send your friends here, especially if they're doing the tasting menu.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Indianapolis · Indianapolis · American Tavern
Pippin's Tavern is the rare Indianapolis neighborhood spot where the wine list actually makes you stop and look twice. It's not deep, it won't impress a collector, but it's curated with a point of view — and that counts for a lot in a tavern setting.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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