Fremont Wine

A really great place to try wines from Washington state. You can try flights of whites or reds. Yesterday they had a tasting of Primitivo. This grape varietal is a fun wine.
They paired the wines with a chocolate and this amazing vegan pâté.
The wines were all super reasonable! Great way to try several small boutique wineries.
The staff was knowledgable and they have the winemakers come in on a rotating basis. Fun place to try wine!

LOVE this place!!! We had some time to kill before a chocolate tour, so we decided to stop in. We were lucky because we stopped in right as the owner and one of the sales associates were trying some new wines. They let my husband and I share in their sampling, which was so sweet of them. We tried an oaked Pinot Grigio… so GREAT. I found the owner and the woman who helped us very friendly and knowledgeable. After sampling the new wines, we did a tasting of both 3 whites and 3 reds. We checked-​in on Unilocal,which allowed us to do a BOGO (so I would recommend you do the same). They have wines from 7 different wineries and quite the selection. I also really enjoyed the ambiance. We ended up buying the oaked Pinot Grigio for $ 20, which was a decent price. Can’t wait to come back :)

This is a great wine store. Michael is really helpful and has excellent taste. I always enjoy doing a weekend tasting. I’m excited about the new format where you can order a full glass of wine and also get food. My wine flight and cheese plate last week were wonderful. Fremont has been in need of a wine bar for a long time.

Owner was very helpful and friendly and possessed a vast array of knowledge on the wines on the daily tasting and of other wines throughout the store. The flight we tried was «EU on a budget» and was a good selection of European Wines at great price points.
A table of food was also laid out for the enjoyment of Wine Tasting participants. Great cheeses and accompaniments! Definitely a good stop in while in Fremont.

My wife bought a Groupon for this place. She misread the deal and bought a lot of tastings for the two of us. I would normally complain, but this place is great. We came for our first, of many, tastings. It was an Italian and French tasting. They were excellent wines and none of them were over $ 22. They had a little meat, cheese and chocolate tray for pairings.
I looked around the shop while we tasted. Their selection is not huge, but what they do have is good affordable wine… bringing wine to the masses! I like that you can go in there, get a great bottle of wine and not have to worry about breaking the bank. I didn’t really see any above $ 40 and the vast majority were $ 25 and under.
The owners were very knowledgeable about their product and even more important they were nice and approachable. They love wine and want to talk about it and share their love with everyone.

Last week, Michael earned another dedicated customer with his outstanding customer service.
I dropped in looking for a specific Italian wine after being thwarted in my quest at my usual wine purveyors. He said he’d have to call his distributor to check, and that he’d let me know. By the time I got home, there was a message waiting for me that the distributor was out of stock, but the new vintage is coming out in a couple months. When I called to thank him for following up, he said that had heard that the U-​Village QFC still had two bottles on the shelf if I wanted to run across town for them.
That he so readily referred my business to another shop was enough to earn my business — he clearly cares that his customers are taken care of, even if by someone else.
Then Michael called me the next day to tell me that his distributor discovered three bottles of the wine in the wrong section at the warehouse, and would I like him to order them? Of course I did, and he had them waiting in the store for me the next day, two days earlier than promised.
Now that I know firsthand what all the fuss is about, I’ll be happy to go out of my way to make Fremont Avenue Cellars one of my go-​to wine shops.

This is mainly in response to berni k’s comment below.
I read your review, and as a long-​time customer at Fremont Avenue Cellars (even though I now live in California) I am shocked that someone could have this experience. I know that Michael can be direct and passionate, but to describe him as hideous is horribly insulting. Reading between the lines, it looks like someone went into a store and stole a truffle. I have never seen truffles as samples before, not at any store, and especially not at a small, mom-​and-​pop style wine shop. Whole Foods is a huge corporate grocery store than can afford to give away samples whenever they please and write it off to generate sales, but to assume that whatever is out within reach is free is ridiculous.
I understand that mistakes happen, but rather than being angry and arrogant about the whole thing I myself would have been mortified. To a small business things as simple as a two dollar truffle become big deals, and accidentally taking something that wasn’t for sale should be something one apologizes for, not fights the understandably upset owner about. It really angers me that some people in Seattle feel so entitled about so many things, including «I-thought-it-was-free-that’s-your-problem-not-mine.»
To anyone else that reads this, Michael is fantastic. He is knowledgeable, helpful, kind and charming. He was so kind to a guy that had just moved to Seattle and really helped me to settle in and meet people in the area. Not only that, but he introduced me to people in the wine business and to wines that I didn’t know! Please ignore this negative review. Look at all the praise, and you’ll know who is being irrational and who is being honest.

Michael and Sally, you’re right everyone on Unilocal does love you, including me. From the moment we walked in with our four legged friend with us — Sally and Mike made us feel at home.
It was on a Saturday so our tasting was $ 5 each (sometimes it is complimentary). The wines were amazing as they it was «Owners’ Choice» day.
Michael’s knowledge of wines is priceless; paired with Sally’s passion for wine they are great duo nestled in Fremont on the corner of 36^th and Fremont Avenue.
Look for our pooch, Riley, on their board. We left with only one purchased bottle and resisted purchasing even more. Most wines are less than $ 25 but are amazingly price.
No smoke and mirrors — just great product and an amazing costumer experience.

If you are looking for a bottle of wine, I strongly suggest dropping by the warehouse. They have many selections from a variety of regions in every price range.
And what a personable owner! On several occasions I have dropped by with a particular name in mind and if they do not carry it, he has guided me to one with a similar undertones. There are tastings every week if you want to sample a few bottles.

I came here for their free tasting. They were sampling 90 pts wines for under $ 20. After tasting while for over the past year or 2. I felt like that coming here would help me expand my palet. I’m not usually a big spender when it comes to wines, but I was really impressed by the selection they had here, and how helpful and resource the people were here.
Something else that I like about the store is they keep track of what wines you have purchased, so that they can help tell you what you had months ago, or help make recommendations on what you have already purchased. I’m glad I found this place.

This is our goto wine shop in Seattle bar none! We try to make it out to the (free!) tastings every saturday and usually walk away with a few bottles (maybe even 4 for the discount) each time.
Michael the owner is super friendly and knowledgeable and helps make the experience very approachable.

I had several kid-​free hours of bliss during a great chocolate & wine tasting this past weekend, walked out with a case of wine (15% discount for a case!), and couldn’t be happier.
It is a small, but diverse wine shop. Most bottles under $ 25, many I’ve seen, many I haven’t. I am looking forward to going back, thought it’s not really in my regular travel path.
We stopped here because it was close to where our kiddo was (for a v-​day drop-​off swimming party) & we read GREAT Unilocal reviews beforehand. It was a great way to kick-​off our afternoon of wandering/​shopping in Fremont.
Although it was a dreary, cold, rainy day I had a great time. I left all warm & fuzzy & am keeping my eye on the calendar for future tasting events!

I’ve been to lots of Seattle wine stores, and believe me — most are really good — but this one hit all the right notes perfectly. Good selection, laid out in logical fashion and with clear signage. All the wines are below $ 25, with the exception of a few special ones in a case in back. And an owner that was super nice and helpful, but never oppressively in your face.
We came here for one of their Saturday wine tastings — this time for DiStefano wine —, and were treated really well. The wine tasting, in case you didn’t know, is free. We also happened to attend one that had hand-​made chocolate from Paul Staley @ Emerald City Cakes and Chocolates paired with the wine. That really took the wine tasting to another level.
The wine and the chocolate were great — so we left with a bunch of both. They have discounts for buying 4 bottles (10%) and a case (15%) — and as I mentioned up-​top, the overall wine prices are such that you could easily get a case and not break the bank.
Even cooler is something that as of this review only this place is doing — you can get a refillable bottle of their house wine for truly excellent prices. Just keep bringing the bottle back and get it refilled. If you are a wino (I mean that in a loving way) it’s a great bargain.
As others have mentioned, they keep track of what you buy if you give them your deets/​info, so if you drink so much you forget what you bought and want it again, they can jog your memory.
The other reviews do not lie — worth 5 stars and highly recommended.

My New Years resolution for this year is to drop by Fremont Wine Warehouse at least every other week. Maybe even once a week? In a perfect world I would actually be there every day! Maybe numerous times a day! Michael (the owner) is just that awesome, his selection is that amazing, and the prices that reasonable that there’s no reason not to visit all the time!
I hosted an event last week where I was in search of a nice selection of wine for a reasonable price. I was in touch with a few different wine stores, browsed the selection at Costco, and asked my fellow Unilocalers for advice. While all searches proved to be helpful, it wasn’t until I checked out FWW that I found exactly what I was looking for. Michael listened to what I wanted and provided some excellent suggestions. I had so much faith in him that I bought 3 cases of a white he recommended… I didn’t know anything about it! Never tasted it! I almost immediately had buyer’s remorse and went to a store immediately to buy a bottle to make sure I hadn’t made a horrible decision… and… nope… his recommendation was spot on.
I placed the order over a week before the event (although typically less time is needed) and Michael was perfect with following up. He emailed me instructions on how to pick up the wine (where and when) and sent confirmation that the orders were placed and received. He was also incredibly accomodating to my schedule and made sure everything was ready for pick-​up as I had a billion other things to do that day.
The one thing I regret? I ran in and out of his store and said about 10 words to him. I wish I would have had more time to talk to him and browse his selection.

What a gem! I enjoy wine, but would never dream of calling myself a connoisseur. I love this place because it is unpretentious and reasonably priced. Michael is super friendly, helpful, and really passionate about wine. They have regular tastings and if you buy a bottle of wine, corkage is only 5 bucks at Kylie’s!
The next time you’re in need of a good bottle of wine, stop here! You will leave happy and glad that you supported a local business.

This wine shop makes me sad that I don’t Live in Seattle because it is fabulous.
My friends and I were in Seattle visiting family and were looking for a thank you gift for our hosts. We stumbled upon this wine store and thought that wine would make a great gift. We walked in and were immediately greeted by friendly faces ready to help. We gave them a price range and asked for something interesting. We were pleasantly surprised by the amazing wines that we left the store with in our small budget.
I wish that more wine stores could be as amazing and unpretentious as this store. I think that more people would be into wine with smart, down to earth wine people around like those in this store.

I adore this place. It won me over basically the moment I walked in and saw amazing deals on rare wines — and made from grapes I’d never even heard of before! Michael, the proprietor, is friendly, smart, and WOW does he know his wines. I actually emailed him a few weeks before going «warning» him that my fiancée and his father — wine aficionados both — would be coming with me, and to expect a challenge. Almost instantly he wrote me back, happy to oblige, and asked if there was anything in particular they’d like to check out!
So if you’re wondering if the gentlemen in question were impressed with this place — absolutely. I would be lying if I said we didn’t buy over ten bottles of wine on the spot. Next week they’re having a tasting of Italian wines, and barring something like my car exploding or being hit by a meteorite, I’m absolutely going to be there. Hooray, wine!

Still lovin’ this little place, and am so so so SO glad it’s hanging around.
Michael has spruced it up with a nice coat of paint, art on the walls, some new signage and a cabinet full of «higher-​end wines» to cater to his customers who might be seeking something extra special.
Plus, his wine tastings are generous and he’s full of great stories about the wineries, wine makers, and of course, all the notes in each bottle.
I never leave the store without at least 2 bottles of something. If you haven’t been, you really owe it to yourself to check it out — I noticed he currently has a large selection of bubbly stuff, so get down there before NYE!

Over the last 6 months, Michael and I have become tight.
I roll in there about once a week, in search of dark cherry cabs or reasonable Carmeneres. Not once have I ever been let down. In fact, every bottle that I’ve ever bought from «the Man» has been fantastic… and under $ 25, nevertheless.
On more than one occasion, he’s opened bottles and I’ve sampled wines when he’s not even hosting a tasting. If you are in for a tasting, it’s a real treat. His picks are fabulous and he’s not stingy with the pours.
He’s a great story teller and he’s a riot. I can always count on him to make me laugh if I’m having a tough day.
As far as I’m concerned, he’s about as close to Superman as it gets.
Recently, he’s decided to start carrying a few wines that are over $ 25 for those days when you just NEED that bottle that costs a few bones more. Good stuff.
My only issue: that my liver can’t afford to be in here everyday.
Otherwise, this is the only place where I buy wine now in Seattle. If you know what’s good for you and your pocketbook, you should really do the same.

I love stopping by the Fremont Wine Warehouse on my way to (or after hanging out at) the Fremont Sunday Market.
Michael frequently has some kind of good (and usually free) tasting going on (weekends), and we’ve bought bottles from that selection on several occasions.
The last tasting I went to was one where he had us compare wines (mostly from Chile) that were Classic to ones that were Reserve (from the same winery, same type, etc). He, as always, had plenty of knowledge to impart and it was great to listen while also experiencing the difference with my nose and taste buds. The main intent of this tasting was for us to decide whether we think paying a bit more for the Reserve is worth it (or if we prefer the Classic).
In any case, go to the Wine Warehouse for
+ Great wine that is affordable (every bottle is $ 25 or less!).
+ Great wine tastings (most of which are free).
+ Someone who’s down to talk wine and/​or give you suggestions based on what you’re looking for (and/​or have previously enjoyed).

Those who know me, know I’m not just Elite but an elitist. Which really means that they’re jealous of my good taste and vast stores of knowledge… with respect to food and drink, at least. Lest you resent me, remember that being a wine elitist is challenging. I have an excruciatingly difficult time when I go to a restaurant, gaze at the wine list, and think «Holy S**t, you want me to pay WHAT for THAT?!» Not always just think, either…
In preparation for a dinner at El Gaucho with my lovely, charming man, I wanted to avoid any such scenario, calculating even with a $ 30 corkage fee we could still have a fantastic bottle of wine for less than $ 50. So at the end of a long Saturday run in the snow, I stopped into Fremont Wine Warehouse. And is there a better way to end a long run than by doing a wine tasting? And by talking with Michael about varietals, micro-​climates and merits and subtleties of various Eastern Washington vineyards? And by buying four bottles of phenomenal wine for less than $ 80 you then excitedly carry home, nestled in your arms, through the snow in anticipation of a night full of decadence?
No, there is not, and I plan a reprise very soon. Since any dinner, including leftover cold mac & cheese, is an excuse for decadence in my elitist kitchen…