Easley Winery began as a dream and a vision of Jack and Joan Easley in the late 1960's. Being home winemakers in
the basement of their home in Indianapolis, Jack and Joan dreamed of growing grapes and making wine in Indiana.
Jack was an attorney and Joan owned her own market research business.
After learning it was illegal to make and sell wine in Indiana, they invested in a small vineyard in southern Michigan. The long drives on poor roads quickly became old, and Jack and Joan decided to see if the Indiana prohibition laws could be changed.
Jack & Joan Easley
readying first wine order in 1974.
Fortunately there were other dreamers in Indiana such as Karl Banholzer, Mike and Liz Mancuso, Mary and Bill Oliver Sr., Ben and Lee Sparks and Dr. Don McDaniel. A group of about 12 people began meeting regularly to plan how to change Indiana's laws. The group adopted the name, Indiana Wine Growers Guild, and often met in the living room of Jack and Joan's house. Being a lawyer, Jack incorporated the Indiana Wine Growers Guild with the Secretary of State of Indiana.
•Vineyard History
Finally in 1974 the Indiana law was changed to allow wineries. Jack and Joan purchased the former Fertig Ice Cream factory in downtown Indianapolis and did their first crush in the fall of 1974. This facility is still in its original location. The site was chosen in the center of the state's population with great interstate access (I65, I70). The rest is history as they say.
•Winery Land History
Today the winery is run by Mark and Meredith Easley and a group of about 15 wonderful employees. Jack passed away in 1997 and Joan in 2011. Today we make 20 different grape wines, Indiana Champagne, mead, fruit wine and a seasonal mulled wine. Because of our increased gallonage demand, we also purchase grapes from other very skilled grape growers. Ninety percent of our grapes are grown within 300 miles of the winery.
Mark Easley (6 y/o) with father, Jack, and sister, Jacqueline
crushing grapes in 1974.
Easley Winery also offers charming private banquet rooms, The Arbor Room, that seats 80 people and has windows that look out into the fermentation room, and the Wine Ed Room, a smaller private room that accommodates up to 20 - perfect for bachelorette parties, bridal showers or birthdays. In addition, we also carry all the supplies to make your own wine and beer at home. If you are a home wine maker, be sure to register on our fresh juice list. During harvest we sell fresh juice for home wine and jelly makers.
Joan Easley
at the Easley tasting room bar, early 70s.
All of our wines are available for purchase in our tasting room seven days a week, and we also offer some of our wines for sale through central Indiana retailers. One of our longest running relationships has been with Marsh Supermarkets who began selling our wines in the early 1980's. Today we also have a great wine-selling partner in Republic National Distributing Company. They carry about ten of our wines and Champagne. Republic National Distributing Company makes our wines available to every restaurant, liquor store and supermarket in Indiana.
If you enjoy our wines, just ask your local liquor store, supermarket or restaurant to carry Easley Wines. It can be delivered in two to three days via Republic National Distributing Company.
After learning it was illegal to make and sell wine in Indiana, they invested in a small vineyard in southern Michigan. The long drives on poor roads quickly became old, and Jack and Joan decided to see if the Indiana prohibition laws could be changed.
Jack & Joan Easley
readying first wine order in 1974.
Fortunately there were other dreamers in Indiana such as Karl Banholzer, Mike and Liz Mancuso, Mary and Bill Oliver Sr., Ben and Lee Sparks and Dr. Don McDaniel. A group of about 12 people began meeting regularly to plan how to change Indiana's laws. The group adopted the name, Indiana Wine Growers Guild, and often met in the living room of Jack and Joan's house. Being a lawyer, Jack incorporated the Indiana Wine Growers Guild with the Secretary of State of Indiana.
•Vineyard History
Finally in 1974 the Indiana law was changed to allow wineries. Jack and Joan purchased the former Fertig Ice Cream factory in downtown Indianapolis and did their first crush in the fall of 1974. This facility is still in its original location. The site was chosen in the center of the state's population with great interstate access (I65, I70). The rest is history as they say.
•Winery Land History
Today the winery is run by Mark and Meredith Easley and a group of about 15 wonderful employees. Jack passed away in 1997 and Joan in 2011. Today we make 20 different grape wines, Indiana Champagne, mead, fruit wine and a seasonal mulled wine. Because of our increased gallonage demand, we also purchase grapes from other very skilled grape growers. Ninety percent of our grapes are grown within 300 miles of the winery.
Mark Easley (6 y/o) with father, Jack, and sister, Jacqueline
crushing grapes in 1974.
Easley Winery also offers charming private banquet rooms, The Arbor Room, that seats 80 people and has windows that look out into the fermentation room, and the Wine Ed Room, a smaller private room that accommodates up to 20 - perfect for bachelorette parties, bridal showers or birthdays. In addition, we also carry all the supplies to make your own wine and beer at home. If you are a home wine maker, be sure to register on our fresh juice list. During harvest we sell fresh juice for home wine and jelly makers.
Joan Easley
at the Easley tasting room bar, early 70s.
All of our wines are available for purchase in our tasting room seven days a week, and we also offer some of our wines for sale through central Indiana retailers. One of our longest running relationships has been with Marsh Supermarkets who began selling our wines in the early 1980's. Today we also have a great wine-selling partner in Republic National Distributing Company. They carry about ten of our wines and Champagne. Republic National Distributing Company makes our wines available to every restaurant, liquor store and supermarket in Indiana.
If you enjoy our wines, just ask your local liquor store, supermarket or restaurant to carry Easley Wines. It can be delivered in two to three days via Republic National Distributing Company.
