Emile Ninaud

We have lost a beautiful soul with the passing of Emile Ninaud on July 21, 2025 at the age of 87. He was known for his thoughtful ways and gentlemanly manners. Born in April of 1938 in Shanghai, China, to Georges and Eugenie Ninaud, Emile was naturally a Man of the World.

The family lived in the French Concession area of Shanghai along with extended family residing there as refugees from the Bolshevik Revolution. As a boy, Emile lived in China during the Japanese Occupation and World War II. His early education was in French schools in Shanghai. In 1946, the French government sent the family to Viet Nam, Hue being the principal city where his father was posted as an Inspector in the French Police.

Emile’s family was finally patriated to France in 1949 where Emile continued his schooling in Paris. Later the family moved to Nice in the south of France where Emile attended hotel/restaurant school, graduating in the Business Section. Residing later in Vence, arrangements were made for him to study as an exchange student at the University of San Francisco.

In December 1957, Emile arrived in San Francisco, joining his aunt, uncle and grandmother. After visiting Seattle in 1959, he decided to transfer to the University of Washington. He was called to military duty by the French Government from 1960 to 1963 when he was released from the French Army. At this point he had a wife and twin sons and began working at the famed La Colombe d’Or Hotel in St-Paul-de-Vence. Returning to Seattle, he resumed his studies at the University of Washington, graduating from the Slavic Department in 1967 with a degree in Russian Language and Literature. While studying, he was also employed by the Clark Restaurant group in their flagship locations. He was especially well known as maître d’hôtel at the Dublin House where some of the clientele became long-term friends.

After a divorce in 1968, Emile remained close to his 3 children. He vacationed with them on car trips to national parks, to visit family in California, and in 1979 to Europe. They landed in Frankfurt, Germany, where they picked up a Volkswagen Westphalia camper model Emile had ordered through a Seattle dealership. Emile drove his family around France and Switzerland for over a month before returning the van to be shipped home to Seattle. This van is so appreciated that it remains in the family in Austin, Texas!

Emile’s experience with fine dining in Seattle highlighted the lack of available wine choices. (Emile later commented that soldiers in the French Army received better wine.) At that time, the State was controlling all liquor through its own stores. In April 1969, the Legislature passed the “California Wine Bill,” prompting a business group’s interest in opening a privately owned retail wine store. Looking for a manager with appropriate experience and skills, Emile was approached for the job. Champion Wine Cellars opened in October of that year at a downtown Seattle location.

At this juncture Emile was launched into a new career as a distinguished pioneer and wine educator in the fledgling Washington wine industry. Taking advantage of various avenues to promote wine knowledge, he began offering wine appreciation classes through the ASUW Experimental College. Emile also contacted a nationwide organization called Les Amis du Vin and established a local chapter. Emile had already begun his travels to foreign and domestic wine regions and enjoyed a trip to Spain with Les Amis. His growing reputation as a wine expert led the Seattle Sons of Italy to engage him as judge of their home winemaking competition, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also judged for the Boeing Wine Club and later for the Enological Society of the Pacific Northwest (established in 1975) wine festivals. Emile and his wife, Stephanie, became active members of the Seattle Chapter of the Enological Society and Emile was called on as a monthly meeting program host featuring French wines and food.

In 1976, Emile and a partner opened Le Tastevin, a French wine-themed restaurant, which held Les Amis du Vin dinners and wine tasting events. The dapper welcoming host treated his restaurant as if receiving guests into his own home. As its cellar grew, so did the restaurant’s reputation for fine wine offerings. A national wine publication, The Wine Spectator, began accepting applications for wine lists, menus and programs to be evaluated for their award presentations. Over the years Le Tastevin Restaurant received a dozen Grand Awards, placing it among the top restaurants nationwide. The restaurant ceased operation in 1993, allowing Emile to concentrate once again serving his retail wine shop clientele. Over time Emile bought out his original partners, and wife Stephanie became co-manager and co-owner.

Emile so enjoyed his career in wine appreciation that it was not until he reached his 80th year that Champion Wine Cellars was sold to a new generation wine educator who reestablished the shop in the Greenwood neighborhood of North Seattle.

Aside from his long profession combining wine, food and friends Emile had many other interests. He loved sports and took time to play tennis, ski, bicycle and even learned the fundamentals of baseball from wife Stephanie. Emile followed the Tour de France bicycle race every year, beginning as a boy in the Paris suburb which the Tour passed through!

One could say “the world was his oyster.” Emile traveled to far-flung areas of the world at every opportunity. Not always for wine research, but for restful enjoyment of the Pacific islands, Caribbean, Mexico, and the Russian Far East where his French ancestors had established themselves in the mid-1800’s.

Emile was widely well-read and books on many topics were always at hand, bookshelves overflowing. He loved working in the gardens around the home he had custom built in 1970. Music of all genres was always an important component in Emile’s life. As a long-time supporter of local arts, he attended the Seattle Symphony, ballet, theater productions and many other concerts with Stephanie right up to the week he passed away. He regretted never having the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument, although he had an excellent ear for tunes.

Emile is survived by his wife, Stephanie, sister Liliane (Jerry Tergis), brother Andre (Cathy), sons Patrice (Sarah) and Christian (Luzdary), daughter Jenny (Richard Martinez), three grandsons, one granddaughter and a large extended family across the United States. His final arrangements will be a private family affair.

Donations may be made in Emile’s name to Aerial Recovery, the global humanitarian rescue organization, at aerialrecovery.org.