Local Wines, Local Fish, No Complaints
Downtown Woodinville · Woodinville · Seafood, American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Big Fish Grill Woodinville’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You're in Woodinville — wine country, basically — and Big Fish Grill leans into that without overdoing it. The list is short and comfortable, built around Washington State producers that any regular visitor to the area would recognize immediately. It's not trying to impress anyone, which is either reassuring or a little disappointing depending on what you came for.
The list runs 20-35 bottles deep with a clear Pacific Northwest spine — Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest anchor things on both ends of the price spectrum, and there's a reasonable showing of Pacific Northwest Pinot Gris for the table drinking white wine with their halibut. California fills in the gaps but doesn't dominate. What you won't find here: grower Champagne, anything from the Walla Walla valley's smaller cult producers, or any real reason to linger over the wine list. It's a greatest hits collection from the region, competently assembled.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a decent spread for a casual seafood grill, and the Washington-heavy lineup means you're likely to find something that makes sense with what's on your plate. The happy hour window — 3 to 6 PM and 9 PM to close — is worth knowing about, though details on glass pour discounts are murky. Don't expect a rotating program or anything seasonal; what's on the list is what's on the list.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — $
Columbia Crest Grand Estates consistently punches above its price point — it's a reliable, well-structured Washington Cab that doesn't ask much of you and delivers more than it should at this price tier. If you're splitting a bottle at a seafood grill and someone at the table insists on red, this is the move.
Pacific Northwest Pinot Gris
Most people ordering white wine here will default to the Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay without thinking twice. The Pinot Gris is the smarter play — it has enough weight for grilled fish and enough acidity to cut through a cream sauce, and it tends to fly under the radar because people associate Pinot Gris with Alsace or grocery store Oregon bottles.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay
It's fine. That's the problem. Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay is everywhere in Washington — it's on every casual list, in every grocery store, at every wedding. You can get it anywhere. With Pinot Gris on the same list at a seafood restaurant, there's just no reason to default here.
Pacific Northwest Pinot Gris + Fresh Grilled Fish
Pinot Gris has the texture to stand up to fish that's actually been cooked over heat rather than poached or steamed — the slight body and stone fruit notes complement the char without fighting it. It's a natural fit that the list, perhaps accidentally, gets exactly right.
Daily — Happy hour runs daily from 3:00–6:00 PM and 9:00 PM to close. Wine-specific discounts not confirmed, but general happy hour pricing applies.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Big Fish Grill isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a solid neighborhood seafood grill in the middle of wine country that gives you enough local options to drink well without overthinking it. Send a friend here if they want good fish and an easy bottle; don't send them if they want to explore what Woodinville's wine scene is actually capable of.
Downtown Woodinville · Woodinville · Seafood-focused American
Big Fish Grill is exactly what it needs to be: a reliable neighborhood seafood spot in wine country that keeps things local and doesn't embarrass itself on the list. If you're after a deep wine experience, hit one of the actual Woodinville tasting rooms — but for a casual dinner with solid Washington pours, this works.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Hollywood District · Woodinville · American Tavern
Hollywood Tavern isn't a destination wine stop, but it's a damn solid place to drink well between winery visits. The Washington-focused list is honest, the value is real, and the Gorman and Latta pours alone justify the stop.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood District · Woodinville · Spanish tapas, cocktail and wine bar
Pintxo is a one-family wine show, and that's both its charm and its ceiling — but within those limits, it executes the Spain-meets-Washington angle better than it has any right to. If you're already doing Woodinville tasting rooms, this is the stop that actually makes you think.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Hollywood District · Woodinville · Upscale American Bistro and Wine Bar
Purple Café Woodinville is doing the work — deep list, fair prices, staff who can back it up, and a Monday half-price bottle program that should be illegal for how good a deal it is. If you're anywhere near wine country and serious about drinking well, this is the stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Woodinville · Woodinville · American, Pacific Northwestern
Heritage is the rare spot where the casual vibe and the serious wine list genuinely coexist — sommelier Erik Agnew has built something that rewards locals and out-of-towners equally. If you're doing a Woodinville wine country weekend and want a proper dinner pour without the tasting room formality, this is your room.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Woodinville · Woodinville · American
The Restaurant at DeLille Cellars is a genuine wild card in the best sense — a winery restaurant that earns its Wine Spectator nod with a focused, smart list anchored by some of Washington's most celebrated producers. If you're anywhere near Woodinville, this is worth the reservation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Harbor · Santa Barbara · Seafood, American
Brophy Bros. isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely good wine experience for a casual harbor dinner — local producers, fair prices, and a list that doesn't embarrass itself. Send your friends here with confidence, just steer them toward the Gainey Riesling and away from the house Chard.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hendry's Beach / Arroyo Burro · Santa Barbara · Seafood, American
Come for the Cioppino and the Pacific views, not the wine list — this is a beach spot that coasts on scenery while charging grocery-store-brand prices like they're cellar selections. If you're a wine-first diner, grab a bottle from a Santa Barbara producer before you arrive and ask about corkage.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Port · Portland · Seafood, American
Scales is playing a different game than the tourist-trap seafood spots on either side of it — the wine list is genuinely Old World-focused and well-matched to the food, which is rare and worth noting. If you're eating clams and mussels on the Portland waterfront, this is where you want to be doing it with a glass in hand.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.