Our History

River City Winery’s Construction is Complete in New Albany, IN
The Baer building is the new home of River City Winery in historic New Albany Indiana. The demolition and remodeling started in November 2007 starting with the wine cellar.
The cellar will produce, bottle and store wine selections that range from sweet fruit wines to dry red and white wines. The first floor will has a bar, gift shop, delicatessen featuring Boars Head meats and gourmet pizza.
The History of the Baer Building
In 1900, New Albany Contractors S. Day & Sons built this two story neoclassical style building at 319-321 Pearl Street for John Baer's Dry Goods & Department Store which was first established in New Albany in 1871. George L. Mesker, Evansville, IN, who designed and manufactured store fronts (probably designed and manufactured the pressed metal cornice for this structure).
New York concern, W.T. Grant Company, began occupancy of this space after Baer’s Department Store went out of business in 1931. The great flood of 1937 submerged the first floor of the building with about four feet of water. Grant remodeled and enlarged the store in 1941 and remained in the building until its new building was erected at the southeast corner of Pearl and Spring Streets in 1957.