One of the things my wife and I enjoyed most about traveling around northern Italy was visiting an enoteca to taste the local wines. At each place visited, we could find a variety of wineries represented with dozens of tastes to choose from and sample. There were also light snacks or bar food to complement whatever you were drinking. It was just a wonderful way to discover and enjoy wine.

I had always thought this concept would do well in the US, especially here in Washington state. After recently visiting The Tasting Room in Pike Place Market, I have to say these folks have come close to recreating that same wine experience.

The Tasting Room represents seven boutique wineries that have come together to create a unique wine experience in downtown Seattle. I just loved the options available in terms of the variety of wines poured (60+ tastes by the glass), the different sized pours (1 oz, half glass, full glass or bottle), and the pairings with food (meats, cheese and chocolates). The Tasting Room's flexible approach to experiencing and enjoying wine was a breath of fresh air relative to some of the other wineries I have visited around the state.

The Tasting Room is a cooperative establishment featuring wines from Apex Cellars, Camaraderie Cellars, Harlequin Wine Cellars, Latitude 46 N, Mountain Dome Winery, Wilridge Winery, and Wineglass Cellars. You can sample any wine on its own or indulge in one of the dozen flights. You can also enjoy delicious food and wine pairings, such as their dessert and chocolate or wine and cheese combinations. Or you can order meat, cheese and chocolate on the side to create your own pairings.

In terms of setting, The Tasting Room is in a great location on Post Alley in Seattle's historic Pike Place Market. The inside is well designed with a warm, inviting atmosphere featuring a large sit down bar and plenty of space to walk around. There is also a large communal table for wine dinners and other events. Besides pouring wine, The Tasting Room is the primary retailer for its wineries so you can purchase a bottle of anything that's being poured and take it home with you.

Sitting down at the bar, I was greeted with a warm welcome by Sarah, who immediately placed a couple of wine tasting menus in front of me. I was drawn to the featured wine flights, as these usually offer some interesting arrangements. I decided on the "What the F@&%!" flight which featured an '04 Wilridge Sangiovese, an '03 Camaraderie Cabernet Franc, and an '05 Wilridge Nebbiolo. Each flight is served on top of a sheet of paper listing the wine and describing the varietal's origins and flavor profile. This is a nice feature allowing you to connect to the who, what and where of each wine.

To my delight, I noticed at the top of the flight menu they state, "Be adventurous and ask lots of questions!". Now that's encouraging folks to go beyond the bottle. I suddenly felt right at home!

Not only did I ask a lot of questions of Sarah, my server, but the answers she provided were complemented with her own stories and perspective on wine. Sarah knew a lot about each winery and more importantly had experience tasting their wines. Her energy and enthusiasm for the wines being poured was clearly evident, making for a fun tasting experience. And Sarah provided great service to me and others along the way.

There was a strong communal spirit on the afternoon I visited. I really enjoyed chatting with Sarah and the others at the bar about what they were drinking, how it tasted, and who was behind crafting it. While pouring wine for a Michigan couple seated next to me, Sarah shared a great story about harvesting ice wine there one cold fall night at 2 am. This led to more conversation around the current harvest season, which made the tasting experience that much more fun.

Overall, I had a fantastic experience at The Tasting Room and would highly recommend it as a must stop on anyone's tour of Pike Place Market. The setting, service and stories all made for a great wine experience that helped me connect to several wineries all in one place. Cheers!

Rating: