Corporate Done Right, Twice a Week
Lincoln Square · Bellevue · American, Global/International, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Earls Kitchen + Bar – Bellevue’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Earls Bellevue is exactly what you'd expect from a polished chain restaurant — familiar names, approachable prices, nothing that'll make your jaw drop. But there's a quiet competence here: the list was curated by a corporate sommelier who actually did his homework, and the Pacific Northwest representation gives it more local credibility than most places in its category.
Forty-seven labels isn't a deep cellar, but Earls leans into its geography — Red Mountain Cabernet from Col Solare and Willamette Valley Pinot from Lingua Franca are genuinely good producers that belong on any serious list. The California heavy-hitters like Joseph Phelps and Louis M. Martini's 'The Gryphon' fill out the big-name Napa corner, which is clearly where most tables will gravitate. What's missing is international depth — the list doesn't wander far from the West Coast comfort zone, and anything from Europe or South America appears to be an afterthought. If you're hoping for a Burgundy or a Rioja, you're in the wrong room.
The by-the-glass program is surprisingly active, with prices running $11–$17 that feel reasonable for Bellevue. You're not going to find anything revelatory in the pour lineup — Meiomi, Kim Crawford, Josh Cellars — but the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling at $11 is a legitimate bargain. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the half-price bottle program transforms this from a casual pour situation into a genuinely good deal worth planning around.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley — $11/glass
At $11 a glass for one of Washington's most reliable Rieslings, this is a no-brainer. It retails for $9 a bottle, so yes, the math is a little funny — but in a restaurant context, this is the kind of pour that makes you feel like you're getting away with something.
Lingua Franca Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Most tables at Earls are going straight for the Napa Cabs, which means the Lingua Franca often gets overlooked. This is a serious Oregon Pinot from a winery backed by Larry Stone — thoughtful, terroir-driven, and genuinely exciting compared to everything else on this list. Order it before someone else at your table realizes it's there.
Meiomi Pinot Noir California
At $14 a glass for a wine that retails around $18 a bottle, you're paying restaurant markup for something that's essentially a grocery store Pinot engineered for mass appeal. The Lingua Franca is right there. Make better choices.
Col Solare Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon + Sirloin Steak
Col Solare is one of the Red Mountain AVA's standout producers — structured tannins, dark fruit, real backbone. Put that up against Earls' sirloin and the fat in the beef softens the wine's edges while the Cab cuts right through. It's a classic match, and here it's grounded in actual Washington terroir rather than generic Napa gloss.
Tuesday and Wednesday — Earls runs half-price bottles on select wines every Tuesday ('Double Up') and Wednesday ('Wine Wednesday') during happy hour and late night. The specific bottles rotate by location, so ask your server what's on the deal list that night.
The Bottom Line
Earls Bellevue isn't going to wow any wine nerds, but it's a genuinely solid operation for what it is — fair prices, a few legitimately good bottles, and one of the best mid-week deals in Bellevue if you time your visit right. Come on a Tuesday or Wednesday and grab the Lingua Franca at half price; you'll leave happy.
Old Bellevue · Bellevue · Wine Bar
Valentina's is a genuinely pleasant neighborhood wine bar that earns its place in Old Bellevue — it's not breaking ground, but it's doing the basics with intention. Send a friend here for a date night glass; just don't expect a rabbit hole of discovery.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · American
13 Coins Bellevue earns its Wild Card badge by being a late-night diner that actually cares enough about wine to stock a geographically diverse list — not groundbreaking, but genuinely unexpected for the format. If Sunday happy hour is your move, this place becomes a legitimately fun spot to drink Washington wine over a Caesar salad at 11pm, which is a sentence we didn't think we'd be writing.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Bellevue · Bellevue · Hotel Lounge
BBellevue is the rare hotel bar that makes a real effort with wine, and it shows in the curation — Pacific Northwest producers, an orange pét-nat, and a Nebbiolo that shouldn't be this affordable. Markups are steep in places and the list won't change your life, but for a lobby bar in Bellevue, this is genuinely worth a stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Steakhouse
STK Bellevue is a reliable place to drink wine you already know at prices you'd rather not think about. If you're entertaining clients or celebrating something and need a list that won't confuse anyone, it gets the job done — just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Italian / Pizza
Mercato Stellina is a pizza spot that accidentally built a wine list worth talking about — the Italian backbone is legit, the Washington State picks are well-chosen, and the pricing is honest. If you're expecting a deep white or sparkling program you'll be disappointed, but for a Nebbiolo or a Syrah with your Neapolitan, this place delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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