Fine Wines and Other Finds :: Roslyn, Washington

Roslyn, Washington, where \"Northern Exposure\" was filmedGet your Claret and carnival glass all in the same place: Vintage Vine LLC in tiny Roslyn, Washington.

The combination wine and antique shop opened in March in the little town west of Seattle that portrayed remote Cicely, Alaska, in the television show “Northern Exposure.” The town of Roslyn and the Vintage Vine shop are every bit as quirky as anything on the show.

The shop isn’t a store so much as an overstuffed little Victorian house, painted three shades of purple and sprouting flowers out of every imaginable spot. A creaky white-washed screen door opens into a room jumbled with the aforementioned carnival glass, vintage linens, old school desks, paintings and stained glass. The antiques continue toward the kitchen and upstairs.

But the real fun is to the left in what must have been the home’s parlor. The far wall holds row after row of small-batch or big-value wines from Washington State and around the world. A Chateauneuf du Pape shares shelf space with more local reds.

Kristi Payne, the owner and amusing mind behind combining both meanings of the word vintage in one shop, knows what she’s selling, whether it’s a mint-condition 1930s Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt or a 2005 Cab Franc. She’ll drop whatever she’s doing to talk about the wines and give visitors a taste. She’ll open any bottle for a taste, hunt down special orders as small as a single bottle, and offer her opinion about Vigoniers or velveteen rabbits, Mourvedres or mining tools.

The shop opened earliy this year and began selling wine in March. Vintage Vine is one of a handful of new enterprises — a quilt shop, natural grocery, bars and restaurants — slowly opening in the quiet, former coal mining town of Roslyn. More may be coming as the huge Suncadia resort development continues just outside of town with million-dollar second homes, two golf courses, restaurants and a spa.

Vintage Vine doesn’t yet have a web site, but can be contacted via email: [email protected].

3 Responses to Fine Wines and Other Finds :: Roslyn, Washington

  1. Jet Set Life says:

    Combining an antique shop and a great wine is a winning combination. Thanks for the information on this secret treasure. I’ll pass it on to my readers.

  2. Bonnie Naas says:

    The way to go daughter!!!!!!!Good one..

  3. Carol says:

    I had the opportunity to stay with Kristy when I went over to do an event at Suncadia Resort. Wonderful, charming woman who knows her wines. Be sure to stop in for a visit and to browse her shelves of wine!! She also sells beautiful hanging baskets and has a quaint sitting area by the side of the shop. A must visit place

Leave a Reply