Local Love, But Markups Kill the Vibe
North Spokane · Spokane · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed 1898 Public House’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at 1898 Public House leans hard into its Pacific Northwest identity, which we respect — but a short list of regional picks only works if the pricing is honest. One glance at the numbers and the warm neighborhood-pub feeling cools off fast.
The focus is squarely Washington State, with names like Barrister and Maryhill representing the local scene. That's the right instinct for a Spokane pub — these are legit producers worth knowing. The problem is range: the list is thin, and there's no real depth beyond approachable crowd-pleasers. You're not going to find anything that surprises you, and the gaps in coverage outside the Pacific Northwest are noticeable.
The by-the-glass program runs somewhere in the 6-10 range, which is serviceable for a casual pub. Don't expect much rotation or seasonal swaps — this list reads like it gets revisited once a year at best. It's fine for a weeknight glass of something local, but it won't excite anyone who's paying attention.
Maryhill Winery Syrah — $55
Maryhill is a solid Columbia Gorge producer and the Syrah is genuinely good — but at $55 on a $25 retail bottle, 'best value' is relative. It's still the most defensible spend on a list where the markups are uniformly aggressive.
Barrister Cabernet Franc
Barrister is one of Spokane's better urban wineries and the Cab Franc is their standout — peppery, structured, and more interesting than anything from a big commercial brand. Most pub-goers skip Cab Franc without thinking. Don't.
Maryhill Winery Syrah
A 120% markup on a $25 retail bottle is hard to justify anywhere, let alone at a casual neighborhood pub. If you know what Maryhill retails for, this one stings. Order a local beer and save your money.
Barrister Cabernet Franc + Burger
Barrister's Cab Franc has enough structure and dark fruit to hold up against a juicy pub burger without steamrolling it — it's the kind of casual-but-confident pairing a place like this should be built around.
The Bottom Line
1898 Public House has the right regional instincts but the wrong pricing philosophy — supporting local producers is great, doubling their retail price at a pub is not. Order the Barrister Cab Franc if you must, but cocktails might be the smarter call tonight.
Kendall Yards · Spokane · Winery and craft distillery tasting room with small bites
Browne Family's Spokane room is a confident single-producer tasting experience done right — fair prices, knowledgeable pours, and a genuine case for why Washington State deserves your attention. Send a friend here if they think Washington wine is just an also-ran.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Downtown / Riverside · Spokane · Barbecue / American Tavern
The Blackbird is a genuinely good barbecue tavern that simply doesn't care about wine, and the steep markups on uninspired bottles make that indifference expensive. Come for the smoked meats and a cold beer — if you insist on wine, grab the Milbrandt and move on.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Fondue / Upscale Casual
The Melting Pot Spokane isn't a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — but the Washington State anchors on this list are genuinely good, and if you stick to those, you'll drink well enough for the occasion. Come for the fondue experience, order the Ste. Michelle, and save the serious wine night for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel cocktail bar and lounge with small plates
1919 won't blow any minds, but for a hotel bar in downtown Spokane it earns genuine respect for keeping Washington State producers front and center. Come for the room, stay for the Beresan — just don't expect any surprises in the pricing.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel Rooftop/Terrace Bar
The Grand Terrace Bar is a great place to drink wine in Spokane — just not necessarily great wine. Come for the skyline, order the Riesling, and save the serious bottle hunting for elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine Bar
Barrister is a genuine Wild Card: a serious urban winery tucked into Spokane's rail district that most wine travelers blow past on their way to Walla Walla. If you're in eastern Washington and you haven't stopped here, you owe yourself a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Yountville · American
RH Yountville is a genuinely beautiful place to drink wine — the room earns that much on atmosphere alone, and the California-forward list will keep most guests happy without any friction. But in Yountville, where the competition includes some of the most serious wine programs in the country, 'happy without friction' isn't the same as memorable. Go for the experience, order confidently by region, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bakersfield · American
Yard House Bakersfield is a beer hall that happens to sell wine, and the list makes no effort to hide that. Markups are aggressive, selections are safe to the point of being anonymous, and the only reason to open a bottle here is if your table voted against another round of IPAs. If you're wine-focused, redirect your budget to the Jean-Luc Colombo Rosé by the glass and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Yountville · American
The Kitchen at Priest Ranch is a one-winery show, and that's exactly the point. If you want to spend an evening exploring what a single Napa estate produces across whites, rosé, Zinfandel, Merlot, and multiple Cabernet expressions — including older large-format bottles — this is a genuinely interesting way to do it. Just don't come expecting breadth or outside discovery. Send a friend here if they love Priest Ranch or want to.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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