Wine Bar
Unclaimed profileSwing Wine Bar
Olympia, WA · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Swing Wine Bar holds the South Sound's largest wine list: over 30 by-the-glass pours and more than 200 bottles, organized into flights and spanning local Washington and Willamette Valley labels alongside Champagne up to $425. The bar also lists 17 original cocktails built with house-infused spirits, four zero-proof drinks using branded non-alcoholic spirits, and a small regional beer and cider section. Ports from three Douro producers are served by the 2-ounce glass.
- What should I order?
- Start with a glass of Ca'Bolani Brut Prosecco at $10, then try a Swing Original Cocktail like the Empress Gin drink with Sheringham Lemon-Gin Liqueur and Lillet Blanc. For a zero-proof option, the Seedlip 'Grove' and Pathfinder Hemp & Root cocktail with Giffard Sirop Apertif is a solid choice. Finish with the Ramos Pinto Tawny 10 year Port, served by the 2-ounce glass.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Wine drinkers who want to compare Washington and Willamette Valley labels against European bottles by the glass, cocktail fans interested in house-infused spirits and original recipes, and anyone seeking a well-made zero-proof drink will find plenty here.
- When should I go?
- The venue pours over 30 wines by the glass and offers grouped flights, making it suitable for a focused tasting session. The downstairs Wine Cellar is available for special events.
- What should I expect to spend?
- By-the-glass wines range from $10 to $16, with bottles from $38 to $425. Champagne and sparkling bottles range from $75 to $425. Dessert ports are $12–$16 per 2-ounce glass.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The wine list is described as the largest in the South Sound, with over 200 bottles and many grouped flights. The cocktail program includes 17 original drinks and house-infused spirits like local Lake Vodka infused with blueberries and lemons or with beets and lemons.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
Seventeen named Swing Original Cocktails feature house-infused spirits, including local Lake Vodka infused with blueberries and lemons and with beets and lemons. The list shows extensive branded spirit calls across gin, whiskey, tequila, and Scotch, with drinks served up or on the rocks.
Menu strengths
- — Large named cocktail list with 17 original drinks and extensive branded spirit calls.
- — House-infused spirits used in multiple cocktails, including local Lake Vodka infused with blueberries and lemons and with beets and lemons.
Standout selections
- — Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, Poli Gran Bassano Bianco Vermouth, Poli Gran Bassano Rosso Vermouth, Angostura Bitters, up, lemon twist.
- — Steel cut oats infused with Blended Scotch, strained, then mixed with cream and honey — Listed under Swing Original Cocktails; 2 oz. Serving.
Wine
The venue pours over 30 wines by the glass and offers over 200 bottle selections, described as the largest in the South Sound. The list spans Bubbles, Whites & Rosés, Red Wines, Dessert Wines, Champagne & Sparkling Wines, and Rosé, with many grouped flights and a focus on Washington State and Willamette Valley labels.
Menu strengths
- — Over 30 wines by the glass and over 200 bottle selections, described as the largest in the South Sound.
- — Menu organizes wine into Bubbles, Whites & Rosés, Red Wines, Dessert Wines, Champagne & Sparkling Wines, and Rosé sections, with many grouped flights.
- — Especially promotes local wines from Washington State and the Willamette Valley.
Standout selections
- — Ca'Bolani Brut Prosecco — $10 glass | $50 bottle.
- — JB Neufeld Red Wine — $14 glass | $54 bottle.
- — Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon — $375 bottle.; Louis Roederer 'Cristal' Brut — $425 bottle.
Pricing: By-the-glass wines range from $10 to $16, with bottles from $38 to $425. Champagne and sparkling bottles range from $75 to $425.
Beer
A 'Beer & Cider' section lists five beers and one cider with origin and ABV. All selections come from Washington and Oregon producers, covering lager, pilsner, IPA, dark beer, and a flagship apple cider.
Menu strengths
- — Small but regionally focused beer and cider list with ABV detail.
- — Beer and cider selections are from Washington and Oregon producers.
Standout selections
- — Unfiltered American Lager — Seattle, WA; 4.8% ABV.
- — Flagship apple cider — Tacoma, WA; locally grown Fuji apples and Citra hops from the Yakima Valley; 8.4% ABV.
Nonalcoholic
A 'Spirit Free & Alcohol Alternatives' section lists four zero-proof cocktails using Seedlip 'Grove' Zero-Proof Spirit, The Pathfinder Hemp & Root, Giffard Sirop Apertif, and Thomson & Scott 'Noughty' Alcohol-Free Sparkling Rose. A separate Non-Alcoholic section lists Cola, Diet Cola, Lemon-Lime, and Root Beer.
Menu strengths
- — Dedicated zero-proof cocktail section with branded non-alcoholic spirits and an alcohol-free sparkling wine.
- — Menu also lists a Non-Alcoholic section with Cola, Diet Cola, Lemon-Lime, and Root Beer.
Standout selections
- — A 'zero proof' Negroni alternative.; Seedlip 'Grove' Zero-Proof Spirit, The Pathfinder Hemp & Root Fermented & Distilled Hemp-Based Zero-Proof Spirit, Giffard Sirop Apertif, rocks, orange twist.
- — A 'zero proof' Negroni alternative — Listed under Spirit Free & Alcohol Alternatives.
Spirits
The spirits selection is anchored by three classic ports from Douro, Portugal, served by the 2-ounce glass. A guest review on the homepage describes an after-dinner port and a bourbon tasting flight.
Menu strengths
- — Port selection with three Douro producers served by the glass.
- — Dessert ports are priced at $12–$16 per 2-ounce glass.
Standout selections
- — Ramos Pinto Tawny 10 year Port — $12 glass (2 ounces).
- — Pocas Junior 2016 Vintage Porto — $16 glass (2 ounces).
Pricing: Dessert ports are priced at $12–$16 per 2-ounce glass.
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