Spokane's Legal District Has a Wine Problem
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Winery Tasting Room · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Barrister Winery Downtown Tasting Room’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into a historic downtown building to taste wines poured by the people who actually made them hits different than any restaurant wine list. The vibe is part urban loft, part working winery — exposed brick, live music on weekends, and no pretense about what this place is: a room built around Washington wine. You're not here for the menu; you're here because someone told you Barrister is worth the detour.
The list is tight — maybe 15 to 20 wines deep — and every single bottle has a Barrister label on it, which is either a limitation or the whole point depending on your mood. What Barrister does well is Bordeaux-style reds from Washington's Columbia Valley, and the Grand Jury Red is the anchor: a blend that punches above its price point in a region that's still criminally underrated on the national stage. The Syrah shows up as the wildcard in the lineup, leaning into the Rhône-ish side of Washington that most people haven't found yet. Whites are represented but clearly not the main event — the Chardonnay is there if you need it.
With 8 to 15 pours available depending on the day, the by-the-glass program is essentially the full cellar on offer, which is the right call for a tasting room format. Prices run $10 to $20 a glass, which is honest money for wines of this caliber made right here in the state. Flights are almost certainly your best move on a first visit — get the full picture before committing to a bottle.
Barrister Grand Jury Red — $15
A Columbia Valley Bordeaux blend at tasting room prices is exactly the kind of deal that makes you feel smart. This is the wine that justifies the visit.
Barrister Syrah
Most people beeline for the Cab, but the Syrah is where Barrister shows range. Washington Syrah is a sleeper category nationally, and this one makes the case quietly and effectively.
Barrister Chardonnay
Nothing wrong with it, but if you're in a tasting room built around big Washington reds, ordering the Chardonnay is like going to a steakhouse for the salad. Save the glass for something the region actually brags about.
Barrister Cabernet Sauvignon + Charcuterie board
Tasting rooms live and die by the charcuterie board, and a structured Washington Cab with cured meats and hard cheese is a textbook move that works every single time.
The Bottom Line
Barrister is a one-winery show, and if you're okay with that deal, the wine quality and fair pricing make it one of the better ways to spend an evening in downtown Spokane. Send your friends here — but tell them to skip the Chardonnay.
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