Washington Wine Done Right, Hotel Bar Edition
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel cocktail bar and lounge with small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into 1919, the century-old chandeliers and marble floors do most of the heavy lifting before you even crack the wine list. The list itself is tidy — 30 to 50 bottles, leaning hard into Washington State with a California backup plan. It's a hotel bar that actually wants to talk about wine, which already puts it ahead of most of its competition.
The list is a love letter to Washington State, anchored by familiar Columbia Valley and Walla Walla names that any Pacific Northwest wine drinker will recognize. Chateau Ste. Michelle and L'Ecole No. 41 do a lot of the work here, which is solid — these are legitimate producers, not filler. Beresan Winery earns a spot and is the most interesting name on the roster, a smaller Walla Walla producer that signals someone paid at least a little attention. The California section exists mostly as a safety net for guests who haven't crossed over to Washington wine yet, and it shows.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which is generous for a hotel lounge and means you can build a real tasting experience without committing to a bottle. The Washington State focus carries through here, so glass pours aren't just the afterthought Chardonnay and Cab you'd find at a Marriott lobby bar. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a static list than one that changes with the seasons.
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot — $14
L'Ecole is one of Walla Walla's most consistent producers and their Merlot punches well above its price point. Ordering it by the glass in a hotel bar is the rare move that actually makes financial sense.
Beresan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Beresan is a small, under-the-radar Walla Walla producer that most people walk right past on the menu. That's a mistake. They make focused, serious Cabernet and seeing them here is the clearest sign that someone building this list had taste.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Ste. Michelle is a fine producer and a perfectly drinkable wine — but it's also available at every grocery store in Washington for around $12. Hotel markup will likely push this to $15-plus by the glass, and you can do better on this very same list.
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot + Flatbread
The Merlot's soft tannins and dark fruit work well against the char and richness of a flatbread without overwhelming bar-bite-sized food. It's a low-effort, high-reward combination for a happy hour stop.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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 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
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine bar with Pacific Northwest-focused wines and light bites
Pacific to Palouse is doing something genuinely rare in eastern Washington: treating regional wine as a destination rather than an afterthought. If you want to understand what the Pacific Northwest is capable of in a glass, this is a better classroom than most.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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