The GoTime 9: Top Wine Bars in Seattle

With March being Washington Wine Month we couldn’t think of a more perfect way to kick off the GoTime 9, than to feature the 9 best wine bars in the City.  Love ‘em or hate ‘em,  I went on a mission to find out what sets each apart from the pack (of 9) – read for yourself:

in alphabetical order…

1) Black Bottle

Humble space, humble staff, humble menu.  Black Bottle has a great wine selection, but one thing you may not know is that they pride themselves on their family style dishes.  The average meal is under $10, and if you’re sharing, that’s a steal of a deal.

Manager’s Favorite Bottle: True Grit Sirah: $38
Manager’s Favorite Glass: Hedges Red Mt. Blend: $7

2) Bricco della Regina Anna

Bricco’s ambiance is charming, and like the in-house cellar, very chill.  The bartender and I schmoozed about owning my pallet and in spite of my attempts, I couldn’t detect even an ounce of wine snob, he knows his stuff and was happy to share (in layman’s terms).  Thanks Jason!  Their delicious cured meat and cheese plate is their signature (aside from the knowledgeable staff).  See their chalkboard for the daily specials made with Salumi Artisan Cured Meats.  A plate is simply perfect when paired with:

General Manager’s Favorite Bottle: Barolo: $135
General Manager’s Favorite Glass: Sandrone: $10

3) Campagne

Straight off the bat what sets Campagne apart from its other wine bar competitors is:

1. It’s French
2. It’s more like a great wine restaurant than wine bar

Sure, come for the wine, but don’t leave without having a meal.  For those lucky enough to bop in on a rare sunny Seattle afternoon, sit outside on the patio, you can thank me later.

4) The Harvest Vine

Everyone knows that Tapas and Wine go together like Peanut Butter and Jelly.  You can’t have one without the other, and The Harvest Vine NAILS this pairing.  Order a couple per person and leave entirely full.  The food, like I said, was made to pair with wine and the staff is ready to help you do so.  Be sure to sit upstairs at the counter.  Watching the chef work his magic is the only way to get the complete Harvest Vine experience.

5) The Local Vine

Clean and chic, The Local Vine is bigger than one might assume from the outside.  They’ve got a smashing new happy hour with 50% off all food from 4-6 and 10-midnight.  But what makes us the happiest is how unbelievably accommodating they are, ready and waiting to personalize a tasting for you.  Be it a romantic tasting for two, or a bachelorette party pre-funk of bubbly.  They’ll pick the perfect tastes for the occasion and you’ll get the kind of service one needs to enjoy it; warm but noninvasive.

Owner’s Favorite Bottle: Mia Cara: $26, AND $10 for a bottle to-go!
Owner’s Favorite Glass: DeLille D2: $18 (and apparently extremely hard to come by)

6) Poco Wine Room

It’s always a good sign when employees arrive to work an hour and a half early to “sit and read a book” before their shift.  Doesn’t that speak VOLUMES for the Poco vibe?  This uber friendly wine bar is a hidden gem amongst the Capitol Hill madness.  With tasty wine and bites to boot, don’t be fooled by the smaller space, they’ll give you bang for your buck.  But the real specialty of Poco is how you feel like their long lost friend as soon as you step in the door.  Their menu is ever-changing, but they love their loyal customers and always make a point to  have some of the local favorite wines on hand.  Stop in to try what’s new, or pick a fan favorite, either or, you’ll feel right at home.

Be sure to check out the rotating artwork – yes, they feature a different local artist every couple of weeks or so.   How much do we love Poco?

*All wines available by the bottle and by the glass

Bartender’s Favorite Bottle: Graham Beck Brat Rose: $40
Bartender’s Favorite Glass: Forbidden Red: $8

7) Purple Cafe and Wine Bar

Chris, Purple’s wine manager, officially won my heart.  You’ve gotta give it up to someone who started his wine obsession in college, opting for a jug of Carlo Rossi over a 24 pack of Busch Light because he could get drunk on a more economical budget.  In fact, when I asked him what his favorite wine was, he picked one if “his friends were buying”: a $135 bottle of champagne, and one if HE were buying: the much cheaper $45 bottle of winter red, Quinta de Vegia, which he calls “Exhuberant.”  Even if you don’t meet Chris first hand you know that his influence in picking what wines are featured at Purple permeates and represent both the shallow and the deep end of the pocket pool.

Something you may not know: inside that massive wine tower there is actually a little room that you can dine in.  Make a reservation, or ask if you can go up and take a peek.  For those fellas out there looking for a romantic dinner spot to impress the ladies – this is it.

8) The Sitting Room

The coziest of all rooms would be the Sitting Room.  With lots of different sitting options to choose from, pick your poison and settle in.  It’s quiet, dimly lit, and the staff will leave you be as you enjoy a glass of wine, or two or three.  They’re used to visitors sitting down and staying a while.  One of their not so best kept secrets (advertised prominently at the entrance) is their happy hour, where a glass of house red goes for $4.00 and many appetizers go for less than that.

9) Smash Wine Bar & Bistro

“Where wine and food collide” SMASH – get it?? Ok so their tag line isn’t the most brilliant, but it’s extremely applicable.  All the food at Smash collides nicely with the wine, creating a wine experience one should expect from a well thought out wine bar.  What makes Smash special is the knowledge that comes with each glass.  Their staff REALLY knows their wine, and is happy to give you the low-down on every pick you sip.  If you’ve got spare cash laying around (don’t we all now-a-days) enjoy one of their “Meet the Winemaker Series.”  It’s spendy indeed, but fun, personal, informative and you will leave happily satisfied.

There you have it!  If your favorite didn’t make our top 9, not to worry…  GoTime.com has a comprehensive list of all of the Wine Bars in Seattle.  Drop me a line and let me know what we missed and why it’s so special, maybe I’ll include it in a future blog!  In the meantime be sure to subscribe to our feed and stay tuned for the next GoTime 9 where we highlight the best of the best that Seattle has to offer.