After years of traveling and cultivating a deep appreciation for food and wine, Bryan Holmes returned to Anacortes seeking to translate his experiences into something he could share with the community. And so, he opened Blackbird Wine & Charcuterie in November 2020.
“I want to provide a space where people can build relationships, nurture friendships, and have a shared memory,” he explains. “I’ve always found that gathering, talking, and enjoying nice wine has generated important conversations.”
Photo by Sadie Youngquist
The relaxed atmosphere at Blackbird engenders casual gatherings without the commitment of a sit-down meal. Holmes’ diverse wine menu features regional and international selections, and his meticulously curated boards highlight the art of wine pairing, with the belief that “every wine has its place.”
Though the former teacher never envisioned himself as a business owner, in college Holmes worked at Calico Cupboard Cafe, where Founder Linda Freed was known for sourcing products from local farmers.
“Linda was very big on coaching and teaching me the importance of detail, good taste, and finding value in food. She was really the start of my love for the culinary world,” he says.
After getting his associate’s degree from Skagit Valley College, Holmes attended the University of Cambridge in London. Initially not a consumer of alcohol, he began dating a Parisian and visiting France; an interest in French wines, and especially pairings, ensued.
“There was a restaurant in Bordeaux called The Three Little Pigs; this was my first wine and food pairing moment where I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is what it’s about,’” he recalls.
Photo by Sadie Youngquist
The experience ignited an obsession with French culture. Over the next eight years, Holmes visited every French restaurant he could. Excited by everything he saw and ate, he eagerly set out to learn how to cook and absorb as much knowledge as possible.
After college, Holmes’s career took him around the world. He spent 10 years teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at high schools in Taiwan and Hong Kong; that time further refined his palate and earned him citizenship but also left him yearning for a change.
“I wanted to do something different that included the accumulation of being exposed to all these different cultures and everything that I’ve eaten, seen, and felt,” he says.
With the support of longtime friends in the Anacortes community, Holmes opened Blackbird Wine Bar in the small Northwest town that had helped to shape his identity and had provided an anchor for him over years of travel.
“I felt obligated, in a sense,” he says. “[If] I was going to do this, it had to be here. I had to contribute to the town that had contributed to my growth.”
From the wine glasses to the light fixtures, everything in Blackbird is marked by Holmes’s travel experiences. The restaurant layout mirrors his home, with two chairs and a couch surrounding each table. The barnyard lights reflect his Midwestern roots, while the gold accents on the walls showcase Chinese and French influences. The blue and orange colors draw inspiration from London, while an owl and globe on the shelf symbolize his teaching background, and the name “Blackbird” pays tribute to his favorite restaurant in Hong Kong.
“It’s everything in my experience from working, education, exposure, growth and learning,” Holmes says. “And that’s really how Blackbird came to be.”
