Thursday wine tastings. Always different and a fun place to hang out. Erin and staff are great - friendly and knowledgeable. Good selections of wine and other alcoholic beverages.. read more

This should be your go-to wine shop! Tucked away in the Greenwood neighborhood, this shop has everything from affordable everyday bottles to bougie splurges. You'll always find something that fits the occasion. The shop owners are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. They're more than happy to guide you toward the perfect pick. One of the best parts? They host weekly wine tastings every Thursday evening for just $10. It's such a fun way to try new wines and discover bottles you might not have picked up otherwise. read more

Monthly and weekly wine tastings. Amazing pairing recommendations with expert knowledge from staff and owners. We love this neighborhood gem and always look forward to the next time we get to explore the wine world with Erin, Suthap, and all their friends, as they make the atmosphere special for every guest who arrives. read more

Best wine shop in the city. Always walk away with great recommendations and the wine club is excellent.

Erin is awesome! She picks great wines for your price range! Whether you like red, white or aperitifs! Thank you!

Wow, it's been a few since the last review. I blame the pandemic... and work schedule... and well life. Anyways, I'd like to catch up on a few reviews that I have been meaning to write about the wonderful local businesses that I have been able to experience since moving to the area! Some of you may know that I enjoy wine. Everything about it. Of course there's the tasting and drinking but there's history! and plants! and people! and culture! and competition! Plus wine seems to bring people together and people from all backgrounds can participate in conversations regarding their appreciation of this wonderful past time. Good wine brings good people together. I think that Champion Wine Cellars does that quite well. It's the pandemic so being able to walk through and explore the curated wine collection in person is challenging and I think that some places do better than others in making the most of the situation. Champion Wine Cellars located in the Ballard-y area is this seemingly tiny unassuming store sitting on the side of a busy road in between larger businesses. Blink and you might miss their store front. What they lack in space, they make up for in personality and, well, great wine. In Atlanta, I had grown accustomed to stopping by our little local wine store to look for something new to try. I've found and discovered great wines because the owners were great at bringing the best to their store so needless to say I was eager to fine something similar here. Champion Wine seems to be filling that void for me! I came by looking to find something new in the Australian and Italian regions. Yes, quite different but it was what I was in the mood for. Of course, they delivered. Perfectly set within my price range and excellently chosen. By 6 and you get a discount. Since you can't go into the store quite yet (I can't wait until I can), you wait at the window and wait for your wine to come to you. But you get to glimpse in to see the shelf upon shelf of wine from around the world. Whether you know what you're looking for or eager to trying something new, give them a price range and general likes and they'll find something interesting for you. Not always a hit because people's tastes are different but you're guaranteed to be left with an interesting conversation, new experiences and knowledge. Isn't that what it's all about? If you live (I think), in the Seattle area and buy $100 worth of wine (and as you know, that can easily be done), you can have your purchase delivered to your door. Dangerous! So if you're like me, passionate, obsessed and hungry for new flavors, I suggest you start here. Look no further. read more

I've shopped here several times over the last few years (well, since they re-opened post-Covid) and I have been very happy with their choices (palates?) for myself, family and friends. I recently called about a magnum champagne donation to an auction, and their suggestion was a French rose: perfect! Give them a try, I think you'll be glad that you did. read more

WOW. This was my first experience ordering from here, and the wine was delivered free of charge in less than 2 hours!! That is faster than a typical Doordash order! I was also really impressed with the extensive selection of wines from around the world, particularly hard to find natural wines! This is for sure my new go-to. I'm only sorry I didn't find out about it sooner! Highly recommended. read more

Champion should be used as the template for a local business that helps to build and foster community, while also having a fantastic product. During non-COVID times, we can go into the shop on any evening and see locals from the neighborhood. Erin and Suthap have created a space that's welcoming and approachable. This goes for both the community AND the wine! I've never thought I could learn about wine, but I have, thanks to this shop. Erin knows her wines and she won't be a jerk if you don't know yours. Instead she'll be a guide on your delicious wine journey. At the start of COVID, they were quick to pivot to a model that allowed for people to patronize their shop safely, and it's been awesome. Join the wine club. You won't regret it. read more

This is our favorite wine shop in Seattle. Erin is so helpful and knowledgeable. Can't wait for the store to reopen ! Check out their website and give them some business ! You won't regret it. read more

I love this wine shop. It's a true gem. The owners are always in shop, and are clearly passionate and knowledgeable about wine. They always seem excited to help me pick something I'll be excited about too. Rather than giving every member close to the same selections, their wine club is crafted to you as an individual, which is WONDERFUL! Shop here for great wine and feel good about supporting a local business! read more

Over the past few years, I have started to enjoy European wines more and more, in addition to some of my faves from WA and OR. And while most stores will have some European wines, it's Champion's area of focus. So it was a great find for me, especially as it's only a mile away. The owners are awesome - super nice people who will really work hard to find the right wine for your taste profile and budget. The store is small and packed with a great selection, and during COVID, they are taking appointment for in person shopping on Mondays, which is like having a personal session with a wine expert. Otherwise, they have a walk up window where you can chat away and discuss your wine needs. While they specialize in European wines, with a deeper selection of French and some Italians, I have also picked up some great PNW wines as well. Overall, it's my go to wine shop in Seattle now where I can pick up some unique wines that are fairly priced and with a personalized level of service of a great small business. read more

This is a really cool little wine shop that specializes in old world wines (though they do carry some great new world stuff too). Their selection is WAY more interesting than the sea of mediocrity at Total Wine or Bevmo. If you want to be the most interesting person at the next dinner party, roll up to the house with a bottle from this place tucked under your arm. Erin is always incredibly helpful and her recommendations are so consistently spot-on, it's almost spooky. A great place to get great wine and a little wine education too. read more

I love this business. Erin and Andrew have both given me top notch customer service when it comes to wine knowledge and accommodating delivery for me. They deliver for free! They have chosen the best wines for me and as gifts for others. I feel like I have my own personal sommelier! read more

I had a great experience with this fabulous shop. I ordered several bottles of wine as a gift. The selection was very good and I was able to easily have the wines delivered the same day. read more

The team at Champion Wine Cellars ALWAYS recommend great wine within my budget. I usually stop by the shop while on a walk or on my way to an event and we all end up thrilled with the selection. Thank you for being a part of the Greenwood community! read more

We stopped in because it was on the way to a dinner and we wanted to grab some wine to go with dinner. The employees were both extremely helpful and friendly--and addressed me right away despite there being other people in their small store. I am very pleased with the wine selection, the wine I ended up purchasing, and the assistance they gave me with selecting an appropriate wine. Parking can be difficult in this area in the evening, but that's almost everywhere in Seattle now-a-days. read more

Great selections! Learn about a new wine!

Stopped by to get a few bottles for my wife for her birthday. I told them what style she likes and they recommended 3 bottles and she loved them all, including one that is her new all time favorite. Give them a try, you won't be sorry. read more

Champion wine cellars is such a gem of a place! I appreciate their knowledgeable, but not in the slightest pretentious, attitude about wine. This is the type of place where I can both say I want a bottle of wine under $15 for a pizza night or I want something fancy around $40-50 for a date night with filet mignon and in both cases they will happily help me find what I need. During Covid they have even added wine delivery which is amazing and much appreciated. read more

Superb selection at super reasonable prices. I love a good glass of bubbly, and they have great champagne- real champagne!!- for $30, $50. So good. The owner is very knowledgeable: I described my taste and she pulled something off the shelf that was unexpected but very spot-on when I opened it up. Highly recommended. Small store, wide selection. read more

Take: 1. A huge selection of 1500 different labels from all over the world. 2. A business that has been a fixture since 1969 (40 years). 3. Excellent wines that are properly stored, fairly priced and thus "significantly" more affordable than any grocery store unless they are just plain sub-par and/or in a box. 4. A knowledgeable and in our experience, quite friendly owner/wine merchant that can answer your questions and help you find that special bottle of wine tailored to your taste and budget. 5. Comfortable lighting. Not these bright lights like at a supermarket. If there's one thing wine doesn't like, it is the heat thrown off from bright sodium lights. 6. Parking in the back. 7. Great location. 8. Mom & Pop owned, not a chain. 9. As Nicholas C . points out in his review, free wine tastings every Saturday at 11:00am So why am I doing another review on Champion Wine Cellars? (I gave up my First to review badge to re-review it) Because, like the other places I've reviewed that totally rock, Champion has consistently either met or exceeded my expectations, and I want all of the greater Seattle area to know the place, try the place, compare the place, and realize how much they are paying through the nose for wine at grocery stores and yes, even some other wine merchants. I'm telling you, you can get "the goods" without paying part of some grocery store's huge overhead. Oh yeah, don't let a grocery store tell you "all stores use the same wine distributors" because that's a bunch of bull honkey. I'll put this point on its own paragraph so no one misses it. If you order a case, you not only get a case discount but if you order it at Champion, chances are, you will get it a lot sooner than if you order it from grocery stores / supermarkets. I ordered a case of exquisite Bordeaux from the Cotes De Blaye region on a Tuesday and Champion's distributor had it there 3 days later. And during the holiday season no less. With the case discount, I got the 12 bottles at $10.75 per bottle. That's right, $10.75 a bottle. The Bottom line is this, if you haven't checked out Champion Wine Cellars, you have no idea what you're missing. read more

Any other rating below 5 stars is coming from either a person that doesn't know a lot about wine, or is talking about a different place that sells wine. Emile, the original owner since 1969, DOES know what he is talking about. Superb selections and anybody who sells Chappellet Signature Cab knows what the good stuff is. Did I mention free tastings every Saturday at 11:00am ? Very non-pretentious unlike most of the places downtown. read more

I don't shop here much. I tend to forget about this shop, largely because I live so damn close to Esquin. I need to remember to come here more often; I always seem to find something unusual when I do visit. Last time it was an excellent Champagne from Drappier that apparently can't be found anywhere else in the States. Prior visits have yielded 30 year old Rieslings and a Huet Vouvray with a bit of age on it. Though I have never purchased one, I am impressed by how many mature Loire stickies always seem to be in stock. Not something you normally see at most shops around town. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Emile is great. He introduced himself to me, then, upon my asking, spent about 15 minutes pulling out books to show me maps of Cotes Du Rhone explaining subtle differences between the geography. I've been drinking a lot of Italian so I'm happy to have found a store with a focus on French producers and an owner who takes pride in the wine he sells. read more

My favorite wine shop in Seattle (and maybe the world??). Great, helpful people and an excellent selection!

Highly recommend stoping in here! The owner Erin is so sweet and helpful! I rarely drink and know nothing about wine. The whole purchase process usually feels overwhelming and like a bit of a gamble. Erin is great at explaining flavors and helping pick exactly what I need within my budget. Will be back again! read more

What a gem on so many levels. We recently moved back here from San Francisco which has a wine shop on every corner and have been desperate to find a wine shop we can find home. One night, when our toddler was at home with our sister-in-law and brother and we had a night out on the town we went to the cocktail bar next door and the bartender was aloof and rude. We left disappointed that we spend some of our evening with a rude owner when we were trying to be a part of our new community. My husband pointed out the wine bar and I was not on board at first. I was tired, disappointed, and wanted to just get in the Lyft and go home. He pulled me away from the car and I took the $5 cancellation fee. Man am I glad that he did! Suthap and Erin are hospitable, not pretentious, and just down right knowledgable. We go here for all our special occasions and any time we have a night to ourselves. It is a can't be missed in Seattle in my books. read more

Emilie (sorry if I spelled this wrong!) is amazing!!!! Where do I start, the free wine tastings three times a week, the amazing recipes she's emails out or the discount when you buy six bottles?!?! This place is has such a wonderful wine selection and everything is priced perfectly. If you're in the service industry, I highly recommend coming in to try wines, you learn so much with every visit! read more

This is just a great store. It is exceptionally well-curated; if you were to walk in to buy a gift, you would not go wrong with any purchase. Of course these guys know their wine - I believe them when they say they have tasted everything in the store. So if you have a special dinner or taste to buy for, you will be talking to someone who actually knows what the wine tastes like, rather than what you find in other stores, which is someone who has learned what other people say about the wine. Saturday is free tasting day, and it's actually a good day to bring in the wine carry bag and walk out with four or six excellent bottles, reasonably priced. read more

Fantastic selection and the gent who owns the establishment is very versed in his wines. He makes great recommendations and I suggest you check him out. His shop is not exactly obvious and I only found it because of Yelp. It's not much to look at on the outside, but the inside is a beautiful selection and well organized. Ask him questions, especially if you're looking for something new. Enjoy! I sure did. read more

It is really great to have this shop in the neighborhood! The staff is knowledgeable and extremely friendly with great suggestions for all palates, budgets and occasions! We stopped by on a whim and were given a few nice tastes leftover from a previous tasting to try. We ended up coming back for Thanksgiving wine suggestions and will be back again! read more

I love this family owned wine shop! They often have amazing wine tastings with wines you wouldn't normally taste. It is always a treat to go in and you always leave with a tad more wine knowledge! read more

Champion is a recent addition to our neighborhood, having moved from another location. We love this place! Very affordable wines, super knowledgeable, and the frequent wine tastings are fun and informative. They know their stuff. read more

Had a really nice experience here buying wine. They seem to always be tasting something, so we had a yummy sparkling from Italy while we made our selections. The staff took the time to understand what we were looking for, then made some good recommendations based on our feedback. They have a good selection, and also a fair amount of their inventory is a bit older, if you want to drink some wine that has some age. Would definitely visit again, when the need arises...which will be soon. read more

Great shop, especially if you are looking for something specific! Incredibly knowledgeable and helpful staff--we always leave with something we LOVE! read more

My favorite wine shop ever. The owner is a charming old guy who knows his wine. There are plenty of aged bottles hiding in there and the prices are very reasonable. I will visit here every time I'm in Seattle. read more

I feel that Phil S.'s review captures the important details about Champion. All I can really add is reinforcement. Champion has been around 40 years for a good reason. Emile is incredibly helpful and friendly. The selection is unrivaled by anything I have experienced in Seattle. read more

What they do is provide their customers of any budget level great knowledge of their product. Great variety overall.

5 stars for the guy who ran the wine tastings today. He was knowledgeable, friendly, & poured 2 of 4 excellent wines. The other 2 were ok, but to each his own. Prices were extremely reasonable. Store selection was good-- it's a small place, cozy... felt a little like an upgraded cellar. We spent under a hundie for 4 wines for the cruise, & we're Very happy with our selectuons. Would definitely come back if in the area. read more