A growing number of high end eateries in the Puget Sound are going “green” when it comes to restaurant wines served by the glass. Kingfish Café owners Laurie and Leslie Coaston looked for a way to bring quality Washington-grown wines to their patrons at reasonable prices, as well as eliminate the waste associated with bottled product. They found what they were looking for at Proletariat Wine Company—a small lot co-op which installs keg wine systems for restaurants. 
Photo: Keg wine taps at the Kingfish Café in Seattle
The keg pours wine through a tap, same as beer. Since the keg is nitrogen charged, oxygen never touches the wine so there is less spoilage. Without glass to recycle, cork to harvest, paper used for labels, and with less weight to transport creating fuel emission, there is very little waste produced. The sisters work with ed their system, and joined a growing group of high end area restaurants who are also clients.
“Our guests really seem to enjoy these wines. After we changed to all keg wines, at first there may have been a little reluctance, but everyone seems to have quickly accepted these pours and the feedback has all been very positive. Our sales have not been affected and have even increased,” says Leslie. “When we were carrying bottled wines, it was much more challenging to keep a consistent list.”
The Kingfish serves a 2010 “Oyster Killer” Sauvignon Blanc made grapes grown in the Yakima Valley; a 2008 Chardonnay sourced from Walla Walla and Wahluke Slope AVAs; a 2008 Wahluke Slope AVA Riesling; and a 2010 Viogner/Roussane with one grape varietal sourced from Yakima Valley and the other from Walla Walla AVAs. Their red wines include a 2008 Walla Walla Cabernet; a 2009 classic Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley; and a 2009 BDX blend of Cabernet and Merlot from Walla Walla, aged in 100 percent French oak barrels.
The Kingfish Café is located at 602 19th Avenue East in Seattle and is open seven days a week. Happy Hour, which features a choice of two select red or white wines for $5 by the glass, is from Monday through Friday from 4-6pm.
You can learn more about Proletariat Wine Company at their website.
Editor’s Note: You can read more about keg wine and the latest 2012 consumer wine trends in the Winter 2011-2012 issue of Tasting Room Magazine.