Vineyard Wine Shop

I love being able to buy my wine from a local business, and the nice guy that runs the place is always really helpful. I sometimes wish he were a little more eager to explain something to a novice like me, but I bet he would if I asked. I like bubbly, and this place always has a nice variety of $ 10 – 15 bottles. Don’t get me wrong, they also have bottles in the $ 50++ range, but I appreciate the many good options for ~$ 10. They seem to have a nice selection of red and white too, but I’m fancy and just drink sparkling wine. Kidding about fancy, serious about bubbly.

If you want a stereotypical «neighborhood» store, then this is the place. The proprietor definitely knows his stuff. He knows pairings and can tell you, in detail, how a particular wine will taste. Patrick lives down the street from the store (and up one block) and never ceases to be amusing. He’s been rather funny since growing a beard. Not sure why…
I frequently attend the Wednesday tastings. They are either $ 2 or $ 5, depending on the price of the wine sampled. Normally, I buy wine in the $ 10 – 20 range. Sometimes, I taste wine that exceeds my range by quite a bit, but I buy the wine anyway. I’ve never been disappointed.
Prices are reasonable and usually lower than the grocery store. Once example: (an Italian red) is typically $ 11 here, but $ 13 at Trader Joe’s. I’ve bought wines around $ 50 in the past that I’ve priced online at over $ 60. Overall, I think the wine sold is at a good value. Hence, I am confident when I buy more pricey bottles of wine. I’ve noticed that other patrons do stock their cellars here. Frequently, I’ve been in line behind people with $ 1000+ orders.

The fragrant aroma of wine welcomes any patron that ventures inside. As does the owner, a particularly knowledgeable man who is quite passionate about his business. My friend and I go to the wine tastings on Wednesday to sample wines too expensive for me to otherwise consider. It’s a ritual that highlights each week for me.

This is my favorite wine shop in Seattle. Selections lean toward old world preferences, but there is something for everyone, at every price point. The owner is so knowledgeable, and gives you space to peruse and time to meander, but readily lends his expert advice once you have a question. He will make a pithy recommendation whether you are asking for a $ 40 bottle of bubbly that you want to give as a gift, or a $ 10 – 15 bottle you want to have around to go with your dinner. You can tell him what you’re planning to cook, and he will tell you what will go with it. You can tell him that you really like the Chabiran bordeaux, and he will tell you where it is, and also tell you about a couple other bottles of bordeaux you might also enjoy based on that. One time I went in and was like, «You know what I like. Can you please pick me out 12 bottles in the $ 10 – 20 range?» And he did. And I loved every one of them.
They do thematic wine tastings on Wednesdays for some really low price ($ 5 or less, I can’t remember). Great way to learn about wine if you want, or to try a grape or region that you haven’t yet, and they are holiday-​meal-​centric near the holidays.

My wife and I are young and the owner is cool to us. @meagan, I think you’re maybe used to having your hand held a little too much? =)
Yeah, so the guy doesn’t really get customer service. Big freaking deal. He gets wine! I asked him about his place and how he buys the wine etc. and he was nice. He even turned me on to some REAL inexpensive wine — so I know he’s not ALL about selling to niche stuff.
Anyway, don’t go in here expecting him to be jumping up and down, smiling, asking you how he can help you.
Expect him to be your neighborhood wine guy.

Grumpy in a good way. 5 stars.

I’m not a wine expert, but I do love wine. Lately, my local grocery store hasn’t shown me anything new or exciting. This shop had a lovely selection AND the prices were not outrageous. Of course, there were some expensive ones, but for the most part there was a nice selection in the $ 8-​$ 14 range.
The salesperson/​owner (?) did not have a bubbly personality, but once asked «what kind of wine would go with goat cheese» he was very helpful and pointed out several options. I would definitely recommend this place to someone who wants more variety. Unfortunately for me it’s not very close to home.

I agree completely with Luke.
Patrick knows his wine and is quite engaging when you are interested in the wine. It is best to go when the shop is quiet. I even brought my 5 year old son who always feels welcome and usually gets a tootsie roll. You can learn a lot and walk out with some great wines at reasonable prices. When busy it is hard to get around.

I’m convinced that this is the best place to buy wine in North Seattle. The prices are generally a step (works out to be a buck or two for moderately priced bottles) lower than the grocery stores, and the selection is outstanding. It’s not the biggest store around, but the quality of what is carried more than makes up for it.
I have always found the owner (Patrick) to be very helpful, if a bit rough around the edges socially. To answer Megan’s review below, I have witnessed people being slightly turned off by his demeanor while I’ve been in the shop. My girlfriend was a little put off by this initially. until she gave him a chance and got to know him. When it comes down to it, he is a super friendly guy who REALLY knows his wine. Go in and take some time to talk to him, ask some questions about what he’s got on the shelves and you will be impressed with how much he knows and is keen to share about wine.
I’m normally very stingy with my stars, this is only one of two 5 star reviews I’ve written. I considered dropping a star due to the issues I’ve witnessed with other people not «getting» the owner as much. I have to say though, for me personally a wine shop just does not get any better than this.

This is an excellent neighborhood wine shop. It has a good selection of wines at all price points from cheap to extravagant, with cheaper wines offering good value. There is a nice selection of bubblies and after-​dinner intoxicants. Prices are competitive. One thing that sets this store apart is the quality of advice; the owner has consistently provided good recommendations over the years.
We live nearby so we drop in when walking around Greenwood on weekends and there is often something being poured in back. We’ve discovered several nice wines this way. The Weds night tastings are way more informative than most tastings. The owner knows his stuff and shares his knowledge well.
I don’t normally get into personalities, but since the first review was so negative I feel it is appropriate. I’ve not formed a close personal relationship with the owner either, but so what? He has always been helpful and I’ve never felt that he was snobbish or condescending.
Positives: good selection, competitive prices, good advice.
Negatives: the store is cramped, and when it’s busy it is hard to get around and hard to get attention.

The owner is very helpful and definitely knows his wines. All of his recommendations (based on my examples of likes and dislikes) were right on the money. He also has great suggestions for varying price ranges. And $ 2 Wednesday night tastings are as good of a deal as it gets. I’m in my twenties and have always found the owner to be very courteous to all ages.

Wow — this place sucks. The guy who runs the Vineyard Wine Shop never fails to be a jerk when we go in there. My husband and I have gone in several times and we’re not going back for the sole reason that the owner is always rude. Maybe he’s prejudiced against younger folks (I’m 31 and my husband is 38). I seldom see young people in there. It really sucks because this place is only a couple blocks from our house and if things were different, we’d be going in there all the time to pick up a bottle to go with dinner.
One time I was trying to find a bottle that I’d had at a restaurant and I told the owner dude that I could only remember part of the name, and that it was in a red-​labelled bottle. But he didn’t help me at all. He sort of just gets this whole snobbery thing going and looks at you like you’re some kind of moron because you don’t know as much about wine as he does. Jerk.