Fremont Wine Warehouse takes the guesswork out of choosing a great bottle at a great price

How many times have you shut your eyes, stuck out your finger, murmured "eenie-meenie" and bought the $10 weeknight bottle of wine that your finger landed on? Sometimes you might end up with a winner, but who needs that uncertainty?

Now, there's no need to play Russian roulette with your vino, thanks to Michael Cawdrey and his newly opened Fremont Wine Warehouse. Located next to the Asteroid Café on Fremont Avenue North, in what used to be the Red Apple Grocery and Wine Bar that he owned five years ago, Cawdrey has returned with a no-frills wine store where no bottle costs more than $25.

Opened in mid-October, the Fremont Wine Warehouse is a gem of a store if you're looking for maximum quality for minimum money. Cawdrey's passion for wine comes through (he's the only staff member, so chances are if the shop is open, you're talking to him) as he directs you through his carefully orchestrated store.

Cawdrey's knowledge of wine is encyclopedic, and he can describe a wine so that you truly understand what you're about to taste. When I interviewed him, I learned that a Cremant is a French sparkling wine not made in the Champagne region; and that of the 600 or so Washington wineries, almost 400 of them produce less than 5,000 cases each year.

When asked for recommendations for a holiday dinner, Cawdrey suggested starting with a sparkling wine as an aperitif, like a Spanish Cava from Marquise de Gelida made with Pinot Noir grapes ($15.97), or a Rosé from Langlois made from 100 percent Cabernet Franc ($23.83).

If you're looking for a white, something like the crisp, slightly sweet and fruity Jezebel Pinot Blanc ($13.96) goes well with turkey. For a red that pairs with salmon and holds up to roast pork, choose an Oregon Pinot Noir, such as the 2006 Tori Mor ($22.40).

Then come back to stock up on stellar bubblies for your New Year's Eve celebration. I'm opting for a Cremant de Bordeaux from Jaillance ($12.81). Cheers!

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