Neighborhood Comfort With a Passport in Its Pocket
Westside / Harrison · Olympia · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Iron Rabbit Restaurant & Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Eight wines is not a lot, but Iron Rabbit doesn't pretend it is something it's not. The list reads like someone actually thought about it — you've got a Provence-style rosé, a Willamette Valley Pinot, and a southern Rhône red sitting next to each other, and that's a better starting lineup than most casual bars twice its size. This is a neighborhood spot that happens to have decent taste.
The regional spread here punches above its weight for a short list. Pacific Northwest gets proper representation with Luke Chardonnay out of Columbia Valley and Coelho Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley — both credible producers that locals will recognize and trust. France shows up in two distinct styles with the Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône and the Les Quatre Tours Classique Rosé, which is a smart Provence-adjacent pick for a Pacific Northwest crowd that drinks rosé year-round. The Scarpetta Pinot Grigio brings a Friuli sensibility rather than the generic northern Italian style, and the Killka Malbec rounds out the Southern Hemisphere. The only real gap is a total absence of anything sparkling beyond a Prosecco and no red Burgundy, but at eight pours, you can't have everything.
Everything on the list is by the glass — there's no separate bottle program visible, so this is a pure by-the-glass operation. Eight options sounds thin, but the spread covers sparkling, white, rosé, and red across five countries, which is actually respectable range for a casual Harrison Avenue bar. We'd love to see some rotation to keep things fresh, but what's here is a thoughtful snapshot rather than a lazy afterthought.
Grand Veneur Côtes du Rhône — Unknown
Grand Veneur is a serious southern Rhône producer — this isn't the kind of Côtes du Rhône that belongs on a house-wine chalkboard. If it's priced like a casual pour, you're getting a lot more wine than you're paying for. It's the pick for anyone who wants something with actual character.
Les Quatre Tours Classique Rosé
Most people at a casual American bar skip the rosé unless it's summer and they're already committed. Don't. A Provence-style Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence rosé on a short neighborhood list is an unexpectedly sophisticated call, and it will run circles around whatever pink wine you'd expect to find in its place.
Lapis Luna Sauvignon Blanc
Lapis Luna is reliable grocery-store California — nothing wrong with it, but it doesn't belong in the same sentence as the Coelho Pinot or the Grand Veneur. If you want a white, the Scarpetta Pinot Grigio is the more interesting call at essentially the same price tier.
Coelho Pinot Noir + Burger
A Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has enough fruit and earthy lift to stand up to a beef patty without the tannins of a Cab steamrolling everything. It's a slightly unexpected but genuinely smart move at a casual American spot, and Coelho makes a clean, food-friendly version that won't fight your fries.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Iron Rabbit isn't a wine destination, but it's a neighborhood bar that actually tried — and in Olympia's Westside, that matters. If you're already here for dinner, you'll drink well without a second thought.
Downtown · Olympia · Pacific Northwest brasserie / American
Cascadia Grill isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair and functional list that won't leave you feeling ripped off or bored — and in downtown Olympia, that's more than enough to earn a return visit. Take a Washington bottle, order the salmon, and enjoy the Bigfoot decor.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Capitol Mall · Olympia · Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi
Fujiyama is a fun night out — but the wine list is an obligation, not an attraction. Stick to sake or cocktails and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Percival Landing / Waterfront · Olympia · Seafood-focused American
Budd Bay Café is not a wine destination, but it's a perfectly functional place to drink a decent glass of Washington white while watching boats drift across Budd Inlet. Send your friends here for the view and the chowder — just steer them toward the Barnard Griffin and away from the Sutter Home.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eastside · Olympia · Grocery café with mixed American and Asian options, plus full wine and beer retail
Ralph's Thriftway shouldn't be this good at wine, and that's exactly why it earns the Wild Card. If you're in Olympia and need a bottle — or ten — skip the chain stores and come here first.
Surprising Depth
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Capitol Lake / Westside · Olympia · Wine Bar / Cocktail Lounge
Swing's upstairs lounge is the kind of place that surprises you — a Cayuse Cailloux and a Clos de Lambrays Grand Cru don't belong on a list this size in a city this small, and yet there they are. Markups push steep on the top shelf, but there's enough here to make it worth the trip if you know where to look.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Olympia · Upscale Northwest and European-influenced fine dining
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.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chena River / University West · Fairbanks · American
The Edgewater isn't a destination for wine lovers, but it's a fair, no-nonsense list that doesn't punish you for being stuck at a resort. In Fairbanks, that's genuinely worth acknowledging.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pioneer Park / Downtown · Fairbanks · American
Come for the salmon — it's the real reason anyone's here — and don't overthink the wine list. Grab the J Lohr or the Angeline, enjoy the Alaskan summer light, and save your serious wine energy for a different restaurant.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Mamaroneck Avenue · White Plains · American
The Brazen Fox is a great place to watch a game and eat a burger — just don't come here for the wine list. Order a craft beer, save the wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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