Piccola Cellars Puts Its Wine On Tap

Diana Kaspic had been pondering an idea for a new kind of wine delivery system for about a year. During a conversation over drinks with a friend in February 2010, she realized the idea was in danger of simply being relegated to what she calls “beer talk.”

The antidote to this unrealized state? “Just shut up and do it,” Kaspic said.

So she did. A year and a half later, Piccola Cellars has moved into the Woodinville wine district, bringing Kaspic’s unique approach with it. Piccola deals exclusively in wine on tap, with seven varietals available in kegs of varying sizes that can serve a private dinner party or a large catered event.

The inspiration came from looking at the amount of glass bottle waste that accumulated at events where wine was served, Kaspic said.

“(I thought), there’s got to be a better way,” she said.”

Piccola’s stainless steel kegs eliminate the need for bottles, are reusable and use an argon gas delivery system that maintains freshness.

Piccola moved into its Woodinville location in the Warehouse District about a month ago, and Kaspic said she’s been surprised by the sense of camaraderie among wineries she’s already felt. In an industry with plenty of tradition, there have been some taken aback by the newfangled method, but Kaspic says that’s not quite an accurate description.

“This seems like a new idea, but it’s a really, really old idea,” she said, referring to the way wine has been served directly from the barrel in many European countries for years.

Piccola’s wines on tap are available in around 30 Seattle and Eastside restaurants, and can be seen at a number of events, including KEXP and Seattle Center’s free Concerts at the Mural on Fridays throughout August.

Selling directly to the retail customer is territory that Piccola isn’t totally acclimated to yet, Kaspic said, but they’re figuring it out, and the introduction of a five-liter mini-keg for home use is part of that strategy.

“It just sits right in the top shelf of the fridge,” she said. “They’re completely self-contained. We call them plug-and-plays.”

The kegs are available for purchase at the Woodinville location, which will become more of a winery destination in the fall, when renovations are finished in time for football season, Kaspic said. Plans include a repurposed piano with wine taps installed in it.

For now, customers can taste and purchase the last remaining selections of bottled wine from Edmonds Winery, which Piccola purchased earlier this year, Kaspic said.

Here in Woodinville, wine on tap might seem ahead of the curve, but Kaspic doesn’t see it staying there for long.

“Talk to us in five years, and everyone in town is going to have a couple taps for wine,” she said.

Piccola Cellars is located at 19501 144th Ave. NE Suite D-700, and is open 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.