nice to meet you
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nice to meet you *
Our name comes from an old ditty found in an English songbook about the benefits of getting ever-so-perfectly tipsy…
(as opposed to the less appetizing "overseas").
We're inspired by the eternal connection between wine and the ocean — whether that's from vineyards perched above the sea that soak up the sunshine to lovingly ripen the grapes, or from ships that sail across turbulent waters just to make sure we have something delicious to drink with dinner with people we adore.
So here's to everything wine brings. Togetherness, delight, and maybe getting just a little bit halfseas now and then.
About us
Halfseas is a neighborhood wine bar and bottle shop across the street from Brimmer & Heeltap in Ballard. It’s more than a bar, a club, or a shop. It’s a community where we get to learn a bit, laugh a lot, and drink (reasonable amounts) together.
You can explore so many incredible wines from so many passionate producers from all walks of life and corners of the world!
Come solo or with friends. Swing by or linger. Our very kind, whip-smart team is here to help. Our tiny & mighty shop is the perfect spot to drink a delightful glass (or bottle) of wine with some tasty bites. Snag a cool bottle to-go with your weeknight takeout on the way home from work. Or find the perfect celebratory bottle when you’re feeling a little splurgier.
Halfseas is casual, charming, and loads of fun. It’s bound to be your new favorite neighborhood wine hangout. We can’t wait to welcome you!
When you dine in with us to enjoy wine or a snack, we have added a 5% surcharge to each bill to help offset the rising cost of goods and non-labor related expenses. 100% of this surcharge is retained by the restaurant. (This does not apply to bottles taken to-go). Thank you for dining with us, we greatly appreciate it.
Let’s back up for a sec
It all started when everything was ending. It was the Spring of 2020, and we were deep in despair and the uncertainty of the pandemic. Restaurants everywhere were struggling and wondering how—and if—they would survive, and our place was no exception. Jen had poured her heart and soul into Brimmer & Heeltap, and went to bed every night wondering how it would survive the next day.
So, we decided to start a wine club. Yes, out of a need to generate more income and stay afloat during an unprecedented darkness. But also because of our immense love for all things wine and everything it brings – gratitude and glee, levity and love, community, and connection. In April 2020, Halfseas Wine was born.
Halfseas started as a monthly wine club, morphed into a pop-up shop, and then (finally!) got its very own permanent brick & mortar space. Initially, our goal was to showcase lovely little wines you wouldn’t find at your local grocery store or beverage behemoth. We wanted to bring you well-made, absurdly delicious wines from real farmers and small producers.
We’re damn proud to say that we’ve been delivering on that mission for more than four years now! Come join us Halfseas, a wine bar + bottle shop with a robust club of passionate wine drinkers who trust us on this journey. And to our members — thank you, thank you, thank you.
THE TEAM
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Maggie Snyder
At 19, I started my restaurant career at a Greek Restaurant that boasted a 1,000 bottle wine list. I wasn’t daunted, because I had no point of reference to know how elaborate this list was. What interested me the most was the history and the storytelling aspect of wine. Portraying someone else’s life story, vision and passion just felt—and still feels—right.
My philosophy in wine is overall mindfulness. Gathering, sharing, connecting, slowing down and being present. It’s not the wine exclusively, but the overall mindset that allows us to let our guard down, just a bit and absorb the details of our circumstance.
I love to highlight the flavors and textures of dishes with similarly unique wines. I choose wines that are thoughtfully made — wines that speak of place and reveal their secrets as you enjoy each lovely sip.
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Jen Doak
Spearheaded by Seattle local, Jen Doak, a self-professed drink-and-food-hound with over two decades of experience in the wine and hospitality industries. Cut her chops first with the Washington Wine Commission, followed by stints at Esquin Wine Merchants, Pike & Western Wine Shop, and various tasting rooms. A passion to share good food and wine eventually led to open Brimmer & Heeltap.
A menu collector, ordained minister, and collector of new experiences. Thrives on bringing people together. When not working, she dreams about journeys near and far, strolling farmers markets and sampling brews/libations at favorite eateries or home kitchens amongst friends. Guilty pleasures: reality-TV, red vines and glamping. Not necessarily all at once.
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Natalie Rohde
As our resident tech person, Natalie helps with behind-the-scenes strategy and operations.
Natalie believes that wine should never be stuffy, only delicious. She's obsessed with finding the delightfully human, colorful stories behind every bottle and really, really doesn't want you to feel intimidated by wine.
She works in software marketing during the day, spent a few years studying at the Northwest Wine Academy, and earned a French Wine Scholar certification with highest honors through the Wine Scholar Guild. On days off, you'll find her cooking, fantasizing about dinner party menus, reordering olive oil and kosher salt, and hanging outdoors with her husband and kids.