Bottle Shock at the Tasting Room

Trekking through Pike Place Market I watched shop keepers box up brightly colored produce and dainty hand carved jewelry as closing time neared. As stands were boarded up and trucks loaded, the market became quiet. Nearby, in a narrow alley way, groups filtered into restaurants and lights began illuminating store fronts. Different music filled the small space in front of each café as patiently waiting diners swayed to the rhythms.

Post Alley is literally a narrow alley way running parallel to Pike Place Market, with dozens of restaurants, music venues, and shops, this is where Market vendors, tourists, and locals alike gather after hours to grab a bite to eat and enjoy some of the many flavors of Seattle.

Last night I made my way to the Tasting Room, a place which blends into the alley wall, and draws no attention to itself. Pulling back the heavy wooden doors you are immediately taken back in time to a place where locals gather at tables and share baguettes with cheese and bottles of wine. You step over the threshold where a dog greets you and welcomes you inside. With low slung rafters and a small intimate bar, I immediately feel at home.

Wine at the Tasting Room is not a drink; it is an experience, an art form, and a community gathering. Served in everything from a carafe to a two ounce tasting glass, one could slowly make their way through the extensive wine list and always find a reason to return. With a menu showcasing Washington wines and small bites to eat, the Tasting Room has won numerous awards and been featured in dozens of publications.

On Tuesday nights at the Tasting Room, regulars gather for a free movie. Locals bring their favorite snacks and Lucy the dog snuggles down in her bed as the lights are dimmed. On this particular night, my husband and I enjoyed the movie Bottle Shock, a fabulous film which follows the true story of the Chateau Montelena and other Napa wineries in the 1970’s as they compete against the established French wine makers in a blind taste test. Who wins? Well, you will just have to watch it to find out!

It is hard to believe this was my first experience at the Tasting Room, I feel like I am a part of the family and I am missing home already. The next time you are in Seattle, please let me know, so that I may share this wonderful home away from home with you.