Sunset Views, Solid Pours, No Surprises
Fairhaven · Bellingham · Northwest / Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Keenan's at the Pier’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're sitting waterfront in Bellingham watching the sun drop over the bay, and the wine list arrives feeling about as polished as the view — decent, comfortable, doing its job. It's not going to challenge you, but it's not going to embarrass you either. This is hotel-restaurant wine: curated to please, not to excite.
The list shows some genuine thought, particularly in the Pacific Northwest anchoring — Red Mountain Merlot and Cab from Hightower and Murray respectively, plus a local Chenin Blanc from Orr that signals someone at least glanced beyond the obvious. France gets a nod with a solid Bourgueil Cab Franc from Domaine Les Pins and a Mâcon-Uchizy Chardonnay from Gérald Talmard that punches above its category. New World basics like Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc and Chalk Hill Chardonnay fill the crowd-pleaser lanes without embarrassing themselves. The list doesn't dig deep — no real by-the-glass discovery program, no vintage depth — but the regional breadth is respectable for a pier-side hotel dining room.
Specific by-the-glass counts and pricing weren't available, which is itself a small warning sign — lists that don't publish glass pours often keep them generic and forgettable. Based on the wines we can see, the Mark Ryan 'Flowerhead' Rosé and the Foris Riesling are the most likely glass pour bright spots. A well-run glass program would rotate these seasonally; whether that's happening here is unclear.
Gérald Talmard Mâcon-Uchizy Chardonnay 2024 — null
Mâcon-Uchizy is one of Burgundy's most reliable overdeliverers — clean, mineral, unoaked Chardonnay at a fraction of what Meursault costs. If this is priced anywhere near reasonably, it's the smartest white on the list and the move for anyone ordering seafood.
Orr Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024 Columbia Valley Washington
Most people at a waterfront restaurant are reaching for Sauv Blanc or Chardonnay without a second thought. Old vine Chenin Blanc from Columbia Valley is genuinely interesting — textural, a little wild, food-flexible — and Orr is doing something worth paying attention to. It's the kind of pick that makes the table curious.
Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc 2025 Marlborough New Zealand
Perfectly fine wine. Also available at every grocery store in Washington for under $15. Unless the glass pour price is aggressive, you're paying restaurant markup on a bottle you could grab at Haggen on the way home. There are better whites on this list.
Foris Riesling 2023 Rogue Valley Oregon + Salmon preparation
Oregon Riesling with Pacific salmon is a natural — the wine's brightness and restrained sweetness cut through the richness of the fish without overwhelming it, while the Rogue Valley fruit character echoes the broader Pacific Northwest table you're already sitting at. It's the most 'of this place' pairing on the menu.
The Bottom Line
Keenan's is a reliable wine stop for what it is — a waterfront hotel restaurant where the list supports the meal without demanding your full attention. We'd send a friend here for the view and the salmon, and tell them to order the Talmard Chardonnay or the Orr Chenin while they're at it.
· Bellingham · Wine Bar / American
Fireside punches above its weight for a short list — thoughtful producers, real variety, and a vibe that matches the wine. We'd send a friend here without hesitation for a low-key wine night in Bellingham.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellingham · Wine Bar
Bin 13 is punching above its weight for Bellingham — a thoughtful short list with fair pricing on the everyday tier and a couple of trophy bottles for the occasion drinker. The gap in the mid-range is the one thing holding it back from being truly great.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellingham · Italian Wine Bar
Bar Cicotti proves you don't need a 200-bottle list to have a great wine program — you just need to care about what you're pouring. For Bellingham, this is the kind of place worth going out of your way for.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Bellingham · Nautical-themed American contemporary / comfort food
The Admiralty Lounge isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more with a short list than most bars in its class — half-price bottles at happy hour and actual Sherry on the menu are the kind of moves that earn goodwill. Come for the cocktails, stay for the Fino.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Bellingham · Seafood / Oyster Bar
Roe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — the list is fair, the pricing is reasonable, and if you know to order the Riesling, you're eating and drinking well on the water. Send a friend here for oysters; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lummi Island (regional destination) · Bellingham · Fine Dining / Farm-to-Table
The Willows Inn is as serious about wine as it is about the 14 ingredients it sourced from within a mile of your table. You're paying destination prices across the board, but the list delivers at that level — this is a once-in-a-while splurge that earns it.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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