a time for firsts

Our cellar list is jammed packed with innovation from the past and present. In the spirit of the New Year - a time for firsts - we'd like to highlight a few firsts from one pioneer that helped shape the most popular celebratory varietal in your glass this season, Champagne. 

In the early 1800s, after the development of the great Champagne Houses in France, Perrier - Jouët was the first House to add a vintage on its bottle, thus echoing this trend throughout all of Europe and beyond.  

Photo Courtesy: www.perrier-jouet.com

Art Nouveau was the first style of art of its kind, and one of the artists fashioning its style was Perrier-Jouët glassmaker, Emile Gallè, who designed the iconic anemone wreathed in gold that would later be placed on the Belle Epoque vintage in 1964. Originally individually painted on each bottle, the design contributed to the beginning of visual art playing a supporting role in the art of wine making.  

To celebrate the first month of the New Year, do something for the first time today! Think we'll start by having a glass of our signature Confucius Says! paired with our Young Mountain Lamb and Bangkock Boar Satays. 

a gift from our cellar

This holiday season, complement your seasonal feast with a holiday wine 4-pack from the cellar at Wild Ginger.

On the menu...

French Sparking ~ Reception

Domaine J. Laurens. Brut NV

60% Chardonnay, 30% Chenin Blanc, 5% Mauzac, 5% Pinot Noir

Produced by Limoux (Southwest France) near Carcassonne, it is the oldest sparking wine appellation of Franc. Winemaker Michel Dervin blends the four authorized grapes in the appellation to create a sparkler that could easily sell for twice the price. Michel also has an estate in Champagne, and he believes in the celebration of life and creating sparking wines that can accompany the big, small, and everyday occasions.

Crisp White ~ 1st Course

Va Piano 'Bruno's' Sauvignon Blanc 2012

2012 is a vintage to remember with the high temperatures in late spring through summer. Along with three months without rain, it created a nearly perfect growing condition for producing grapes in the Columbida and Walla Walla Valleys. The combination of conditions not only produced exceptional grape quality, but quantities were up as well over 2011's smaller crops. There will be great things to come from this vintage. 

Light Red ~ 2nd Course

Stoneburn Pinot Noir 2011

Stoneburn vineyard was planted in the central Wairau Valley in Marlborough, 1989. The soil is old riverbed, very stoney with underlying loamy soil producing relatively light crops by very flavorsome fruit for fresh, lively, and well-balanced wines. Stoneburn was named to reflect the North Otago and Scottish heritage, in the stoney site.

Bold Red ~ 3rd Course

Confucius Says... Red Blend by Fall Line Winery

41% Cabernet Franc, 37% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot

"They who know the truth wine are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it." - Confucius 

Made by Tim Sorenson of Fall Line Winery, commissioned by the Wild Ginger and designed by Mike Klay of Powerslide Design Co., this classic Bordeaux blend is exceptionally elegant, balanced, and approachable.

Fall Line Winery, named after the natural line of descent on a slope, focuses on instilling grace and depth to their wines. It's a sincere delight to know this philosophy is blended into our signature wine. Available only at Wild Ginger Seattle, Wild Ginger at the Braven and The Triple Door. 

Purchase your holiday wine gift pack at Wild Ginger in Seattle $60 

1401 3rd Avenue, Seattle Wa 98101

Available November 23rd until the end of December, while supplies last.  

confucius says

We've teamed up with Fall Line Winery to create our second release of the Bordeaux-inspired Confucius Says. Fall Line Winery (named after the natural line of descent of a slope) focuses on instilling balance, grace and depth into their wines. It's a sincere delight to know this philosophy is blended into our signature wine. Available only at Wild Ginger and The Triple Door.

41 % cabernet franc : 37% merlot : 15% cabernet sauvignon : %7 petit verdot 

"Ripe cherries, cassis, fresh picked raspberries and a hint of menthol. The Cab Franc really comes forward with dried violets, worn leather and a touch of bramble. Lovely balance of fruit, with juicy acidity, ripe tannin and a long, clean finish." - Cortney Lease, Company Wine Director, and Mark Thostensen, Sommelier 

Confucius Says Winemaker Dinner Menu

Confucius Says & àMaurice Cellars

Winemaker Dinner
Wild Ginger at The Bravern 6:30 pm Thursday, July 14th

àMaurice Cellars Viognier 2009
Imperial Tuna
Sesame Beef Rolls

àMaurice Cellars Chardonnay 2008
Vietnamese Style Soft-shell crab
Chang Mai Fish cake

Confucius Says (Cabernet/Merlot/Cabernet Franc) 2009
àMaurice Cellars Syrah/Grenache 2008
Solo Ltik (Thai style twice cooked duck)
Szechuan Green Beans
Pickled Ginger and Scallion Beef

àMaurice Cellars Malbec 2008
àMaurice Cellars Tobey 2008
Nam’s Lamb Chops
Black Bean Asparagus
5-spice Hoisin Grilled Chicken

$69 person ($90 including tax & gratuity)

àMaurice Cellars & Confucius Says Winemaker Dinner

Join the inimitable Anna Schafer, àMaurice Cellars winemaker, as she shares all of her current releases, including Confucius Says, a red Bordeaux style blend from Washington that she created especially for Wild Ginger and The Triple Door. Of course, the wines and good conversation will be accompanied by selection of Wild Ginger delicacies, specially prepared by our chefs with the wines, and your dining pleasure in mind.

All of the guests who attend will receive a complimentary bottle of Confucius says, signed by Anna to take home with them. Confucius says is only offered at Wild Ginger and The Triple Door, but we will offer a limited amount for retail sale for guests who attend this dinner. This will be the only opportunity to purchase this special wine for consumption outside of our restaurants.


The dinner takes place at Wild Ginger at The Bravern, in Bellevue, at 6:30 pm, on Thursday, July 14th. The cost is $69 per person, not including tax and gratuity ($90 inclusive). For reservations, please call the restaurant at (425) 495 8889.

Announcing 2009 “Confucius Says” Red Table Wine

We’ve just bottled our new Confucius Says red wine that was created for us by àMaurice Cellars in Walla Walla. We’re really excited to be partnered with àMaurice Cellars on this project because they are one of our favorite wineries, and Anna Schafer (owner/winemaker) along with Kathleen and Tom Schafer (owners) are some of our favorite people in the world. 2009 Confucius Says is the second wine made especially for Wild Ginger and The Triple Door. The first is 2008 Dr. Loosen Graacher Himmelreich Stablay (Wild Ginger Cuvée) made by Ernie Loosen, utilizing all of the Riesling from the best section of the famous Graacher Himmelreich vineyard in the Mosel Valley in Germany.

2009 Confucius Says is a blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc and 28% Merlot. The grapes come from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, and the Wahluke Slope AVA. After it has some time to settle, we will be selling it by the glass and bottle in all three of our restaurants. You should expect to see Confucius Says on our lists by mid to late June, until then, here’s a sneak peak at the label . . . I bet you didn’t know how Confucius felt about wine!