Pete's Wine Shop, 58 E. Lynn, Seattle; 134-10th NE, Bellevue

Owner: George Kingen, (206)322-2660

The Right Wine for the Time 

In 1973, George Kingen purchased Pete's Market from Pete Omalanz. Pete had a modest-sized, adequate wine selection. 25 years and a Northwest Palate Best Wine Shop Award later, the little market with wine has become a major wine shop with a deli, produce, and other groceries.

Bruce McLeod, a manager at Pete's in Eastlake, attributes their success to the employees' attitudes toward the shop. He calls the market "a fun place to shop," and is very passionate about good food and great wine. He says the only way to really learn about good wine is by trial and error. Pete's specializes in helping shoppers avoid errors when they try wine.

To test the famed Pete’s Wines staff, I asked Bruce to match the perfect wine to particular food choices. For instance, for roasted lamb, he recommends Chateau Neuf-de-Pape, to accent the strong flavor of the meat. I inquired about Honey Baked Ham, he replied "Ham is always a tricky one." Bruce suggests Gewurtztraminer with ham. My chef girlfriend agrees!  Ice cream was matched with Bonnydoon Framboise—a sweet dessert wine; and Allegrini Velpolicella was matched with Fettuccini Alfredo.

Kingen’s advice for every meal, however, is "always serve Champagne." He is readying customers for next New Year's already with signs marking the current deals for his personal favorite beverage, Champagne.

Another service Pete’s provides is their web site. Though one cannot order wine over the net right now; tastings, specials, and product descriptions are on the web at www.petesfinewines.com. Every Saturday, Pete’s sponsors a tasting in the Bellevue shop, and is constantly updating stock. The web site is a great promotional tool and is helpful for customers who want to stay informed.

Yes, if you are shopping for a box of Cheerios, you may have to climb over several displays of white, red and rose to get to it at Pete's; but if you are in the mood for a great Cabernet Sauvignon, the friendly staff and diverse selection makes Pete’s a truly great wine shop.

E. Eibel, summer 99