Northwest Wines, Italian Soul, One Great Room
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Anchovies & Olives’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list at Anchovies & Olives is shorter than you might expect for a room this confident, but it earns its keep fast. There's a clear point of view here: Pacific Northwest producers rubbing shoulders with Italian whites, built specifically to drink well with raw fish and briny pastas. That focus is either exactly what you want or a gentle nudge to order accordingly.
The list leans hard into Washington State's Syncline Wine Cellars — a Columbia Gorge producer that doesn't get nearly enough credit — alongside a solid Italian contingent that skews toward lighter, high-acid whites suited to the seafood-heavy menu. This is not a list that goes deep on Napa Cab or chases trophy bottles; it's curated with a purpose. The Northwest section is the star, showcasing everything from sparkling to Roussanne to Grenache-based reds, which tells you the wine buyer actually thought about what goes on the plate. Gaps exist — don't come here expecting a robust Burgundy or broad Champagne selection.
Somewhere in the 10-16 glass range, which is respectable for a room this size. The by-the-glass program appears to mirror the bottle list's philosophy — expect Northwest whites to anchor the lineup. Rotation doesn't seem to be a priority, so what you see is likely what you get for the season.
Syncline Grenache/Carignan 2010 — null
A Southern Rhône-style blend from Washington's Columbia Gorge that most people walk right past assuming it won't work with seafood. It absolutely does — especially with anything in a tomato-based broth. Syncline consistently overdelivers for the price, and this is the bottle that proves the wine buyer knows what they're doing.
Syncline Roussanne 2010
Roussanne is a grape most diners couldn't pick out of a lineup, which is exactly why this flies under the radar. It's rich but not flabby, with enough texture to stand up to a creamy pasta and enough acid to not overwhelm a delicate crudo. Order it before someone else at your table discovers it.
Syncline Blanc de Blanc 2009
A sparkling wine that's been sitting on this list since 2009 — which, depending on when you're reading this, may mean it's past its window or simply forgotten. Unless the restaurant can confirm proper aging conditions and a compelling reason to revisit this vintage, the fresher options on the list will serve you better.
Syncline Sparkling Rosé 2010 + Shigoku oysters
Sparkling wine and oysters is a cliché for a reason — it works every single time. The Syncline Sparkling Rosé brings enough fruit to complement the brine and enough bubble to cut through the creaminess of a Shigoku. It's the most fun you can have at this restaurant for the price of a single bottle.
The Bottom Line
Anchovies & Olives is doing something genuinely interesting — building a wine list around a specific regional producer and a clear culinary identity — and that kind of intentionality is rarer than it should be. Send a friend here who thinks Washington State wine starts and ends with Chateau Ste. Michelle; the Syncline lineup alone is worth the trip.
Downtown · Seattle · Brazilian Churrascaria
The real headline here is the half-price South American bottles — available Monday through Thursday, all day, on bottles under $150 — which turns a polished steakhouse into a legitimately reasonable wine night. The list won't excite anyone who came for the wine, but if you came for the meat and want a solid regional bottle at a fair price, this deal is worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Ballard · Seattle · Italian
A short, Italian-leaning list with most of its bottles in the Old World red section. Order the $11 Montepulciano by the glass, or the $69 Travaglini Gattinara if you want to splurge a little, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menus, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American
A hotel wine list with a Pacific Northwest page up front, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian sections behind it, and a separate glass list on the drink menu. Start with the $12 Treveri Blanc de Blancs at happy hour or the Mark Ryan 'Goldfinch Tavern Red Blend', and check the current list before you go, since the restaurant says menus are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list and drink menu, not service, storage or markups.
Lake Union · Seattle · Steakhouse
A long, Northwest-first steakhouse list with plenty of bottles under $100 as well as a $300-to-$550 tier of Leonetti and Quilceda Creek Cabernets. Start with the $20 Five Star Cellars “Prime” Cabernet by the glass, or the same wine at $55 on the bottle pages, and confirm prices because the list says vintages and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Italian
An all-Italian list that is easy to navigate: 11 wines by the glass from $13 to $30, a bottle list sorted by region, and $8 house wine during Apericena. Order the Soave at $13 or the $17 Kerner by the glass, or the Villa Venti Sangiovese with the tagliatelle al ragu, and confirm prices because the page says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central District · Seattle · Seafood
A mostly natural, mostly French bottle list that stretches from $60 Muscadet to a $455 Champagne, with a deep run of Jura, Savoie and Loire bottles. Start with the $60 Hautplanty Muscadet or the $72 Laurent Herlin Cabernet Franc, and ask about the list’s ◆ and ◉ key if you want help choosing between classic and wild. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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