Capri Cellars, a new wine store and tasting room in Issaquah, officially opened its doors for business on July 24 on Front Street near the .
Owner Michele Steele is planning a grand opening event on Sept. 15., and the event is open to the public.
In addition to a large selection of wines for sale from Washington and around the world, the store features a walk-up tasting bar. The wine tasting is free and is offered everyday during business hours. “It’s a big part of what we do,” said Steele.
The majority of the wine Capri Cellars carries is homegrown Washington wine, but the store also sells wines from around the world, including but not limited to French, Italian, Australian and Argentinian wine. Capri Cellars carries over 500 different wines to please different palates.
The wine ranges in price, but the store also sells “value wines” that are $15 or less.
Wine flights are also available for sale at the bar. Tasters can try three different wines, and decide which one they like best. Steele likes to encourage fun during the tastings. Before opening the store, Steele said she would host wine tastings and blind tastings for her girlfriends at her home.
Those fun activities, and the wineries of Walla Walla, Napa Valley and Sonoma inspired the Capri Cellars tasting room.
“We’re a lot like a tasting room in a winery, but we have over 500 different wines,” said Steele.
In addition to the wine tasting and flights, the store sells “bites” of salmon, cheese, chocolate truffles and other food to help patrons decide what kind of wine would go best with their meal.
“Wine tasting is kind of like an activity that you can do with friends … we’re kind of putting wine tasting out there” she said.
Steele grew up in Issaquah, and went to Issaquah Valley Elementary School, where her own kids now attend school. She has spent most of her career working in marketing and advertising to help small businesses grow. Capri Cellars is her first business venture in the wine industry.
“I love wine and I love wine tasting,” she said. “I’m excited to give people the opportunity to interact with the wine in a different way.”
Capri Cellars is located on 88 Front Street South, and has about 2,000 square feet of floor space.
Business hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information, visit the Capri Cellars website or Facebook page.
