Chances are you know David LeClaire from his lively question & answer column, “Ask The Sommelier,” regularly published in Washington Tasting Room® magazine. If so, you probably also know he’s a certified sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, founder of the two largest wine clubs in the Northwest (Seattle Uncorked & Portland Uncorked) and a member of The International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association.
Photo by Mojdeh Khatam-Moore: Wine World Warehouse founder/General Manager David LeClaire
LeClaire’s nose for great wines, passion for wine education, and solid business background makes him uniquely qualified to take another giant leap—as founder and General Manager of Seattle’s newest retail wine store, Wine World Warehouse, which is on track to officially open its doors the first week of December 2010.
Wine World bills itself as a wine superstore with upscale amenities. LeClaire told Tasting Room Magazine that Wine World will carry the largest selection of wines in the Northwest and promises an unforgettable wine experience. In the center of the giant 23,000-square-foot store are two 30-foot wine bars with flat screen monitors displaying images of featured wineries and notices of upcoming local wine events. And with free parking, LeClaire says it will be a fun, cool place to hang out and taste different wines.
“Wine World will feature free wine tastings every night of the week,” says LeClaire. “The entire front half of the store will carry the largest selection of Northwest wine on the planet,” says LeClaire. “The other half of the store will stock wines from around the world. Our motto is, if we don’t have it, we’ll get it for you.”
For folks on their way to a party, Wine World will stock everything from flowers, artisan cheeses, charcuteries and chocolates. Wine World’s gift shop will carry an array of glasses, corkscrews, books and other wine-related items to go with that bottle of wine, or to build a gift basket. If you’re the one hosting the party, you’ll find flat bed carts and 7-foot-wide aisles, along with a friendly staff ready to help. With free parking, customers can even drive right up to the door under the covered entrance to have purchases loaded into their car.
The walk-in Reserve Cellar will feature cult wines and will soon sport a humidor, too. The fact that Wine World also has a window-lined 5,000-square-foot event space with a view of downtown Seattle and Mt. Rainier, plays fun upbeat music, offers a large selection of microbrews and artisan beers, and has a wall devoted to eco-friendly wines, makes it the only wine store of its kind in the Northwest. Take 1-5 freeway Exit 169 at NE 45th St. in Seattle and go half a block west.
Watch their website for the official Grand Opening: www.wineworldwarehouse.com