A brewery that actually cares about wine
Downtown · Bellingham · Brewpub / American pub fare · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Aslan Brewing Company Depot’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into a beer hall and expect to order a pint — and then you spot Fossil & Fawn Oregon Orange and Wonderwerk Marinara! on the wine list. This is not a list that was phoned in. Someone here actually gave a damn.
Six wines, zero filler. Aslan's Depot has quietly assembled one of the more interesting short lists in Bellingham: a pét-nat from the Veneto, a Roussanne from Columbia Valley, a Bordeaux blend for the traditionalists, and a Languedoc oddity in Maison Ventenac L'Idiot. The natural wine thread running through the list — Gregoletto's Sui Lieviti, the Fossil & Fawn orange, the Wonderwerk — signals a deliberate curatorial hand, not a default distributor order. The biggest gap is depth: once you've seen all six, you've seen everything, and there's no rabbit hole to fall down.
All six bottles pour by the glass, which means the whole list is accessible on any given night — no bottle commitment required. Prices run $12 to $16 a glass, which is reasonable for what you're getting, especially the natural and orange selections. No rotating weekly pours, so don't expect surprises from visit to visit.
Maison Ventenac L'Idiot, Languedoc-Roussillon — $12/glass
A characterful southern French red at the floor price of the list — L'Idiot punches well above its pour price and is exactly the kind of wine that makes a brewery list worth a second look.
Sonder Wine Roussanne, Columbia Valley
Most people at a brewpub are not ordering Roussanne, which means more for you. Columbia Valley Roussanne done right is a rich, textural white that holds its own against anything on a pub menu — and at $12 a glass, it's practically a gift.
Fossil & Fawn Oregon Orange, Willamette
At $16/glass and $48/bottle it's the priciest pour on the list, and while it's a solid orange wine, you can find comparable bottles at retail for far less. Not a rip-off, just the moment where the value equation softens.
Christophe Avi Rosé, Agenais + Pub-style burger
A dry, structured rosé from southwest France cuts through the fat without asking you to think too hard about it — exactly what you want when you're at a picnic table in a beer hall with a burger in front of you.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Aslan Depot shouldn't have a wine list this good, and yet here we are. If you're in Bellingham and want natural wines in a no-fuss setting, this is the move.
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The Admiralty Lounge isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more with a short list than most bars in its class — half-price bottles at happy hour and actual Sherry on the menu are the kind of moves that earn goodwill. Come for the cocktails, stay for the Fino.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Bellingham · Seafood / Oyster Bar
Roe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is fair, the pricing is reasonable, and if you know to order the Riesling, you're eating and drinking well on the water. Send a friend here for oysters; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lummi Island (regional destination) · Bellingham · Fine Dining / Farm-to-Table
The Willows Inn is as serious about wine as it is about the 14 ingredients it sourced from within a mile of your table. You're paying destination prices across the board, but the list delivers at that level — this is a once-in-a-while splurge that earns it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Bellingham · New American / Wood-Fired Seasonal
Carnal is doing something genuinely rare in Bellingham: a tight, adventurous wine list that matches the ambition of the kitchen. It's not deep, but it's honest — and for a 17-bottle list, that's more than enough reason to trust it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bellingham · Pizza
Come to La Fiamma for the wood-fired pizza and the vibe — both are worth it. Come for the wine and you'll be disappointed. Order a cocktail or a beer and revisit when they decide the list deserves the same care as the kitchen.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fairhaven · Bellingham · Italian
Mambo Italiano isn't a destination wine list, but it's an honest one — fair prices, genuine Italian representation, and a few bottles worth seeking out. Send your friends here for a casual Tuesday pasta night and tell them to order the Cannonau.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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