Do you avoid wine bars because you expect to be met with pretentious patrons who look down on you if you don’t know the difference between a chardonnay and a riesling? Maybe you just aren’t sure what to even do at a wine tasting. If that’s you, head to the new wine bar in Yelm. The Gracious Grape, as the name implies, wants everyone to feel welcome at their tasting room.
From California Wine Country to Yelm Wine Tasting
Originally from Central California wine country, Michael Melone has spent most of his adult life wine-industry adjacent. He owned and managed restaurants in Southern California while working his way through undergraduate and graduate school. He then took a break to be a caddie at Bandon Dunes. When he met Teri – a Thurston County native – he knew it was time for a move to the Pacific Northwest.
“I grew up in Lacey,” shares Teri. “When I returned to the Thurston County area, I moved my family to Yelm in 2002. I wanted to raise my children in a community that offered a rare balance of affordability, open space, and genuine small-town warmth, qualities that naturally attract people who value connection.”
It was this same feeling that made the couple believe they could do something unique with a wine bar in Yelm. “Once I spent more time in the area, I realized that the type of wine experience we enjoy was quite a drive away,” says Michael. “It was serendipitous that I happened to be walking my dog by the old 507 Taproom location and realized it was vacant. I talked to Teri and we decided we were up for a new adventure.”
Yelm Wine Bar is Perfect for Wine Lovers and the Curious Alike
The two blended their very different wine experiences to create a bar that would accept everyone: both the oenophile and the newbies.
Michael says his “wine epiphany” happened at a restaurant he owned. “One of my restaurant customers gifted me a bottle of Chateau Beaucastel Chateaunuef du pape and I was hooked. I went from simply taking wine orders to crafting dining experiences that became much more than the sum of their parts. Pairing the right wine with their dinner selection can change a nice experience to one they’ll tell all their friends about.”
Part of his education includes being an accredited sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. He completed his training at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California. Sommeliers are trained to help you select the best wine for the food you are eating. They also can answer questions about all things wine – from grape to glass!
Teri, on the other hand, is more of a newbie, having only been drinking wine for three years. “My palate is still young, but that’s actually part of the fun. I’m really enjoying the process of discovering different varietals, learning what I love, and seeing how wine can elevate food in surprising ways. For me, the joy is in the exploration, tasting, asking questions, comparing notes, and finding those combinations that make a meal or moment feel special. I think being newer to wine keeps me curious, open-minded, and excited to keep learning.”
Having owners on different ends of the wine-knowledge spectrum helped them create a special wine tasting bar in Yelm that caters to all: whether you’ve tried every vintage of your favorite label or are just trying wine for the first time.
“We wanted to create a space where wine lovers and newcomers alike could gather to enjoy quality wines in a relaxed environment,” shares Micheal. “Our goal is to make wine approachable and provide education and experiences that bring people together.”
And they believe Yelm is the perfect place for such a wine bar. “It felt like the perfect place to create a wine bar rooted in hospitality and community,” shares Teri. “As Yelm continues to develop while holding onto its charm, we saw an opportunity to contribute something special: a welcoming space where people can slow down, gather, and enjoy good wine together.”
“We are endeavoring to take pretension out of the wine experience and create a warm, inviting environment to share a glass of wine where wine enthusiasts and dabblers will both feel welcome,” adds Michael. “One example is the wine categories in our bottle shop that seek to categorize wine by the way people actually purchase wine, whether it be for tonight’s barbecue or tomorrow’s birthday party.”
The Gracious Grape opened on October 15, 2025. The couple says they were “pleasantly surprised” at how easy and smooth the process went for starting the business. The biggest challenge? Letting people know they are open!
The Yelm wine bar has a variety of Pacific Northwest wines, if you are looking for local flavor, as well as select wines for regions all over the world to provide for a diverse selection. The Gracious Grape will also have events including wine tastings, educational workshops, themed nights and more, as well as a Wine Club. Learn more on The Gracious Grape website.
The Gracious Grape
106 Prairie Park #122, Yelm
208.660.6796
