Four Seasons Views, Four Seasons Prices
Downtown · Seattle · Pacific Northwest / New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list at Goldfinch Tavern and feel the weight of the Four Seasons logo immediately — this is a serious document, not an afterthought. The list runs 150 to 250 bottles deep with a clear Pacific Northwest backbone and some genuinely interesting Italian imports from Etna. It signals ambition, but your wallet is about to get a workout.
The list leans into Washington and Oregon wines as its identity, which makes sense for a waterfront restaurant in Seattle that's leaning hard into local pride. The Donum Estate section stands out — you'll find their Blanc de Blancs, Carneros Chardonnay, Rosé of Pinot Noir, and both the Russian River Valley and Carneros Pinot Noirs all in one place, which is a fun deep dive into a single producer. The Benanti selection from Etna is a welcome detour — Etna Bianco and Etna Rosso alongside their Noblesse Metodo Classico shows someone on staff actually cares about volcanic island wines. The gaps are in the mid-tier range where the markup math gets ugly fast.
With 15 to 25 options by the glass, this is not a one-Chardonnay-and-done situation — there's genuine range here for a hotel restaurant. The program appears to rotate with the seasons, which we appreciate, though it's not running any formal weekly specials or deal nights. Expect to pay hotel prices per pour, so pick wisely and lean toward whatever's most interesting rather than most familiar.
Benanti Etna Bianco 2021 — $95
Sicilian volcanic whites are undervalued globally and this one from Benanti — the benchmark producer on Etna — offers genuine minerality and tension that you simply won't get from any domestic white at this price point on this list. It's the bottle that justifies the trip.
Benanti Noblesse Metodo Classico 2019
Most people at Goldfinch are ordering Champagne or California sparkling wine without a second glance, which means this Sicilian Metodo Classico from Benanti gets overlooked. It's a genuinely unusual and exciting pour — volcanic terroir in a traditional sparkling format — and it will make you look like you know exactly what you're doing.
2019 Château Laribotte
A $25 retail bottle sitting at $95 on the list is a 280% markup and there's no story here that justifies it. This is filler masquerading as a value option on an expensive list. Pass.
Donum Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2022 + Smoked Wild King Salmon
Smoked salmon wants a red with enough brightness to cut through the fat and enough restraint to not bulldoze the fish — Russian River Pinot Noir is the answer every time. Donum's version has the structure and cool-climate elegance to make this feel intentional rather than accidental.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Goldfinch Tavern is doing a lot right on the wine side — a knowledgeable team, proper storage, serious glassware, and a list with some genuinely exciting bottles — but you're paying Four Seasons rent on every pour, and the markup inconsistencies are hard to ignore. Go for the Etna wines and the Donum deep dive, order carefully, and enjoy the Puget Sound view while you do it.
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
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