Pacific Northwest Stalwart With White-Tablecloth Intentions
Downtown · Olympia · Upscale Northwest and European-influenced fine dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gardner's Restaurant’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 Gardner's arrives looking the part — a tight, curated card that matches the white-tablecloth room perfectly. Twenty-seven labels isn't a lot, but in a space this intimate, it doesn't need to be a tome. The focus is squarely on the Pacific Northwest, with enough California and French cameos to keep things familiar.
Washington State is clearly the heart of this list, and Gardner's leans into the Walla Walla canon with confidence — Leonetti, Woodward Canyon, Abeja, and Longshadows Pedestal Merlot represent the region's heavyweights. Oregon checks in via Chehalem Pinot Noir, California contributes the Cakebread Chardonnay and Roederer Estate Brut, and there's a nod to France with Louis Roederer Brut Premier. The gaps are real, though: no Riesling, no Italian reds beyond a Moscato, no skin-contact or natural wine presence, and nothing adventurous below the $50 mark on bottles. This is a list built for guests who want to feel safe, not surprised.
Fifteen pours is a genuinely generous glass program for a 27-bottle list — most bottles seem to have a glass option attached, which we appreciate. The range runs $10 to $20, anchored by the Abeja Cabernet at the top end. There's no obvious rotation or seasonal by-the-glass program at play here; what you see is what you get, night after night.
Roederer Estate Brut CA — N/A — bottle price not listed
If you're opening with bubbles, Roederer Estate is one of California's most consistent sparkling producers and almost always punches above its price point. With Louis Roederer Brut Premier on the same list at $90, the Estate version — if priced below that — is where you start.
Ex Umbris Owen Roe Syrah WA
Most tables at Gardner's will gravitate toward the Leonetti or the Woodward Canyon, and that's exactly why you should order this instead. Owen Roe's Ex Umbris is a Washington Syrah that delivers serious smoke, dark fruit, and structure at a fraction of the prestige-label markup. It's the kind of bottle that makes the table lean in.
Leonetti Cabernet Sauvignon WA
Leonetti is one of Washington's most celebrated names and it absolutely earns that reputation — but at $220 on a restaurant list, you're paying a steep premium for the prestige. Retail runs well below that, and with Woodward Canyon Artist Series and Abeja both on the same list at significantly lower prices, the Leonetti becomes a vanity order more than a value one.
Abeja Cabernet Sauvignon WA + Filet Mignon
Abeja's Cabernet is a polished, structured Walla Walla red with enough dark fruit and grip to hold up to a center-cut filet without overwhelming it. At $20 a glass, it's the right call for anyone who wants a serious Washington red without committing to a $200+ bottle for the table.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Gardner's is the kind of restaurant where the wine list won't disappoint you, but it probably won't surprise you either. If you're in Olympia for a special occasion and want a dependable tour through Washington's greatest hits, this is your room — just know you're paying restaurant prices for regional classics that are easy to find at retail.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Surprising Depth
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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