Piedmont's Greatest Hits, One Glass at a Time
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Spinasse Bar doesn't try to be everything to everyone — it commits hard to Piedmont and dares you to have a problem with that. It's a tight, focused list that reads like it was written by someone who actually spent time in the Langhe. Walk in expecting Bordeaux and Napa and you'll be lost; walk in curious about northern Italy and you'll be very, very happy.
Eighty to 120 labels sounds modest until you realize nearly every bottle earns its spot. Barolo and Barbaresco anchor the reds with serious Langhe representation, while Dolcetto d'Alba gives you an affordable entry point into the Piedmontese red universe. On the white side, Arneis shows up as a crisp, food-friendly option that most Seattle wine lists completely ignore. The one honest gap: if you want anything outside of Italy, you're at the wrong bar — and honestly, that's kind of the point.
Twelve pours by the glass is a generous number for a list this focused, running $12 to $20 a pour. The range covers the key Piedmontese styles — you can bounce from a light Dolcetto to a structured Nebbiolo without leaving your barstool. Moscato d'Asti makes a smart appearance for people who want something low-alcohol and sweet without it feeling like a consolation prize.
Dolcetto d'Alba — $12
At the low end of their glass pour pricing, Dolcetto d'Alba gives you a genuinely expressive, food-friendly Piedmontese red without asking you to commit to a full bottle of Barolo. It punches above its price point here and works with basically everything on the menu.
Arneis
Most people walk past it looking for a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, which is a shame. Arneis is a native Piedmontese white — nutty, floral, and dry — that handles the vitello tonnato and cured meats better than either of those crowd-pleasers would. It's the sleeper pick on this list.
Moscato d'Asti
It's well-made and correctly placed on the list, but at a wine bar anchored by serious Nebbiolo-based wines, ordering Moscato d'Asti feels like going to a steakhouse and ordering a salad. Save it for dessert at best — there are better ways to spend your glass pour budget here.
Barbaresco + tajarin al ragù
Tajarin is Piedmont's answer to tagliolini — thin, eggy, rich with slow-cooked meat ragù. Barbaresco, with its high-toned cherry fruit and firm tannin, cuts right through the richness and mirrors the regional logic of the dish. This is the combination that makes the whole concept of this place click.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Spinasse Bar is not trying to be a global wine destination — it's trying to be the best Piedmont-focused wine bar in Seattle, and it largely succeeds. If you're even slightly curious about northern Italian wine, this is exactly where you should be spending your Tuesday night.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.