Rumors Has It

By Melinda Minton

Rumors, a local wine bar, has expanded and moved from Fourth Avenue into an airy space on Washington Street in the heart of downtown Olympia.

Rumors offers curated selections for every type of palate—old world, domestics and imports from the finest variety of wineries around. Rumors is all about wine and the folks savoring it. A huge selection of delicious and complex wines is carefully curated from vineyards all over the world. Specials are offered daily as well as wine tastings throughout the year.

When owner Stephanie Perry was asked about staring the wine bar, she said, “Rumors was created because really good wine and great company go hand in hand. The idea for the bar was to simply create a warm, swanky, chic and cozy atmosphere to meet a friend, co-worker, spouse or date for a delicious glass of wine.”

“Because we offer a variety of wines for different tastes, each person can enjoy their own glass of wine or beer from our selection,” said Perry, who was bouncing from one part of the room to another, filling glasses poured from sundry bottles. “We started about seven years ago on Fourth Avenue as an incubator. We tested different wines, different pairings and really listened to customers comments about what they were looking for. We were ready to graduate into a larger space and recently moved to our current location.”

Perry adds, “the new location is spacious, open and generally simply feels good. I like the vibe here. We can seat 28 comfortably. The raised ceilings, lighting and windows really make for a comfortable venue.”

With wines from every part of the world—including Spain, Portugal, Argentina, France, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia—there is a vast selection to sample from. Also included in the array of wines are selections from the Pacific Northwest with the humble but surprisingly good Terrapin, from Willamette Valley, Oregon. Rumors also has their own brand of wines to try as well as take home.

For pairings, Rumors offers a selection of charcuterie such as cheese boards, olives, meat samples, breads, spreads and fruit selected to enhance the type of wine enjoyed at the moment. Steamers, finger food, and even pizza go nicely with choices like the most-loved Varvaglione Primitivo del Salento, a Zinfandel from Puglia, Italy. “Many of our wines are very versatile and paired easily with a variety of foods,” says Perry. Rumors includes a generous variety if snacks from the Pacific Northwest as well.

Monthly Wine Club

A monthly Rumors Wine Club membership gets members two bottles of wine for pickup (one white and one red) and 15% off any Rumors merchandise (shirts, jewelry, private label wines, etc.). More benefits are included with three other levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Designed to keep participants in the annual wine loop of best food pairings and seasonal offerings, the wine club is a popular choice for newbies and veterans of the wine scene.

Membership

Perry says the “On the Vine” membership is the ultimate in Rumors’ wine heaven. Members can snag a personalized glass with their name and enjoy a larger two additional ounces per pour. “On the Vine” members receive, in addition to these benefits, exclusive access to a quarterly three-hour event. (One non-member guest can tag along at each party.)

Wine 101

“Wine 101” offers a chosen type of wine at $15 for members and $18 for non-members to learn more about Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir or various other wines. Wine 101 is offered monthly and features a specific type of wine per class.

Stock Your Cellar: Passport Tour

“Stock Your Cellar” offers a unique evening of tasting 15 different wines along with various pairings like Spanish/Portuguese nibbles. From $37, and reserved for only 20 people, these events routinely sell out. There’s a minimum three bottle purchase per person. The wines featured will retail between $12-28 per bottle. From $37, and reserved for only 20 people, these events routinely sell out.

Of all the ways to enjoy Rumors, the finish is bound to be rich, full-bodied and pleasantly addictive.

WHAT

Rumors Wine Bar

WHEN

5-9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday;

4-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday

WINE 101

6:30-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 18, Sauv Blanc and Pinot Gris;

Tuesday, July 16, Yes Way Rose;

Tuesday, August 20, Great wines for the BBQ

WHERE

430 Washington St SE, Olympia, WA 98501

HOW MUCH

$8-15 per glass

LEARN MORE

360-480-5030

rumorswinebar@gmail.com

rumorswinebar.com

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