It's been ten years since Erik and Jackie Vail opened the doors of Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen, revealing a cozy, multifaceted bar where community members can gather, enjoy great wine, and experience a "place that feels like home." With an extensive wine selection that includes over 1,000 labels, Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen allows guests to savor wines they already love, while simultaneously providing the opportunity to experiment with something new. Since opening, the wine bar has evolved and expanded into a full restaurant, offering a curated non-GMO, organic, and heavily locally-sourced menu, elevating the overall experience.
Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen showcases Washington state wineries, with an overwhelming majority of the wines originating in-state. Given the large selection to choose from, the couple welcomes questions and provides opportunities for guests to try different wines to see what they love most. “We're happy to talk with people and guide them based on what they are looking for and their taste, but our daily tastings are a great place for someone to start if they don’t know what they like or want,” explains Erik. “We offer daily tastings of six different wines, three whites and three reds. So you can try those, pick one of your favorites, and have a glass or two.”
Through the monthly wine club, members can explore new flavors through a carefully curated wine selection. “When we opened, we immediately started a wine club that features different wines,” shares Jackie. “Instead focusing on one specific winemaker’s wine, we have a selection of six wines from all over Washington showcasing different wineries and what they are doing really well.”
Occasionally, the couple encounters someone who asks to substitute a specific type of wine offered for tastings because the person thinks it is not a good fit for them - but Erik and Jackie enjoy changing their minds. “We have found that there is always a weirdness around Merlots, Chardonnays, and Rieslings, but we like to say that we’ve brought Chardonnays back,” says Jackie. “Not all Chardonnays are created equal, so we encourage people to give it a try. This one is a different style, and many people find they like it once they try it.”
“There is a very wide range of wine and of choices in how winemakers make wine,” adds Erik. “Where it was grown, when it was grown, and what year it was grown all factor into changing wine. So, if you decide not to try a particular grape anymore, you're really selling yourself short.”
Erik and Jackie have intentionally cultivated a space where people feel comfortable asking questions and exploring wines even without extensive knowledge. “We love and respect wine and I can talk to you about wine until you're blue in the face and don't want to hear anymore,” says Erik. “But we also love when people just want to come in and drink wine. There doesn't have to be a lot of pomp and circumstance or pretense to it. We don't need to make it super fancy or make you feel silly if you have questions or don't know how to pronounce something. It's a beverage that took a lot of work to get into your glass and if you want to hear what that, I can tell you, but if you just want to drink, that’s fine too.”
The thoughtful food menu boasts dishes made with as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, all organic, providing a perfect complement to any wine on the list. Many of the dishes reflect a Mediterranean theme and include tapas, cheeses, flatbreads, salads, and delicious bites. Always focused on creating a great experience, Erik and Jackie just recently introduced six signature cocktails for guests to enjoy as well.
Whether guests are savoring the cozy, indoor ambiance, or enjoying the dog-friendly patio where you live music is played during the summer months, Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen gives locals and visitors alike some place to sit back, relax, and fully enjoy time with family and friends. “We love wine, but our favorite thing is having the community here and seeing people laughing around our tables,” shares Jackie. “People tell us all the time that they feel like this is a second home for them. That has really been our goal; to create a space where we want to be, and where others feel comfortable.”
Erik, Jackie, and Vino, their cute Frenchie mascot, encourage you to stop in to Uptown Wine Bar & Kitchen, located at 122 Avenue A in downtown Snohomish, and explore all they have to offer, including a selection of private label Vail Family Wines. For more information and to stay updated on the menu and wine list, visit uptownwinebeer.bar and follow @Uptownwineandkitchen on Instagram.
“We love wine, but our favorite thing is having the community here and seeing people laughing around our tables....that has really been our goal; to create a space where we want to be, and where others feel comfortable.”