Washington Wine Done Right, Lake Views Included
Lake Union · Seattle · Seafood
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chandler's Crabhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Chandler's leans hard into Washington state, which is exactly what you want at a crabhouse sitting on Lake Union. It reads like a confident regional statement rather than a safe corporate hedge — there's real intention here. The presence of an actual sommelier in a restaurant that could easily coast on the view is a good early sign.
The list is a focused tour of Washington's best — Avennia, Woodward Canyon, SIXTO, Abeja, Sparkman Cellars, Baer, Tamarack — producers that serious Washington wine fans will recognize and casual drinkers will discover. The Chardonnay section alone gives you five distinct expressions, from the leaner, mineral-driven Baer 'Shard' to the richer Abeja. Two Vintners Zinfandel adds a bit of left-field personality that keeps things interesting. The gap is that we'd love to see more red depth and any serious representation from outside Washington — Burgundy or northern Rhône would fill out the seafood pairing options nicely.
By-the-glass specifics weren't available during our visit, which is a mild frustration given the sommelier on staff — there's real potential here for a tight, rotating glass program. What we can say is that with bottles starting around $35 (the Tamarack Chardonnay), the floor is accessible. We'd push staff for any pours they're pulling from open bottles.
2013 Baer 'Shard' Chardonnay — $40
The lowest-priced bottle on the Chardonnay roster still brings serious Washington Chardonnay credentials. At $40 on-list, it's the entry point that actually makes sense — you're not sacrificing quality to save money here.
Two Vintners Zinfandel
Most people don't come to a Seattle crabhouse thinking Zinfandel, and that's exactly why you should order it. Two Vintners is a boutique Columbia Valley producer doing things their own way, and this bottle will surprise anyone who thinks Zin begins and ends in Sonoma.
2014 Abeja Chardonnay
Abeja makes a genuinely good Chardonnay, but at $80 on-list against a $40 retail price, you're paying a clean 2x markup on a bottle that's widely available. Save the $80 for a second round of crab and order the Baer instead.
2014 Sparkman Cellars 'Birdie' Riesling + Dungeness Crab
Sparkman's 'Birdie' brings bright acidity and a touch of stone fruit that cuts right through the sweetness of Dungeness crab. At $38 it's the most food-friendly bottle on the list, and it's the kind of pairing the sommelier would steer you toward if you asked.
The Bottom Line
Chandler's is a corporate seafood restaurant that takes its wine program more seriously than it has to — and that earns real respect. The all-Washington focus is a genuine strength, but the across-the-board 100% markups mean you're paying for the zip code as much as the wine.
Eastlake · Seattle · Italian
Serafina is a reliable Italian neighborhood spot with a wine list that matches its ambitions — cozy, competent, and a little expensive for what it is. Send a friend here for the pasta and Nebbiolo, but warn them to steer clear of the Prosecco markups.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Capitol Hill · Seattle · French / Northwest Seafood and Wine Bar
Bar Melusine is what Capitol Hill needed more of: a focused, France-forward wine program that actually earns its place next to the food. If you're eating oysters in Seattle, this should be in your regular rotation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnolia · Seattle · Italian
Picolinos is the kind of neighborhood Italian where the wine list genuinely backs up the food, and that's rarer than it should be. Send your friends here if they want a proper Barolo with their osso buco without flying to Turin.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pike Place Market · Seattle · Italian-American with Northwest influence
The Pink Door is a reliable wine list in a genuinely great room — the atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, and the wine program is good enough not to get in the way of a memorable evening. Just watch the markups, stick to the Italian bottles, and let the trapeze act do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Modern steakhouse with French-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine
Bateau is the rare steakhouse where the wine list earns as much attention as what's on the butcher board. Markups keep it from being a total steal, but the depth, the staff, and the Pacific Northwest-first perspective make this one worth the splurge.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Belltown · Seattle · Italian
Tavolàta's wine list is exactly what a good Italian pasta spot should have — focused, fairly priced, and honest about what it is. If you're looking for a list to geek out over, keep walking; if you're looking for something that drinks well with great pasta, pull up a chair.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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