Water Views, Local Pours, Zero Pretension
Lake Coeur d'Alene · Coeur d'Alene · Lounge · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cedar's Floating Restaurant Bar Lounge’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
You're on a floating restaurant moored to a marina on one of Idaho's most beautiful lakes — and somehow the wine list keeps up with the scenery. At first glance, 120 labels feels ambitious for a lounge that could easily coast on the view alone. The Pacific Northwest focus is front and center, which is exactly the right call for this zip code.
The list leans hard into Washington, Oregon, and California, with some New Zealand and Argentine representation rounding things out. Coeur d'Alene Cellars showing up is a genuine local touch — it'd be a missed opportunity not to pour Idaho wine this close to home. Arbor Crest from Washington makes a bottle appearance, and while the list isn't going to blow a Napa collector's mind, it's coherent and honest about what it is. The gaps are predictable: no Willamette Valley depth beyond the Iris Pinot Noir, and nothing in the way of European old-world options.
Fourteen pours is a strong by-the-glass program for a floating lounge, and it covers real ground — from a White Zinfandel for the uninitiated to Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay for those who want something serious. The inclusion of both "The Lake" Coeur d'Alene Chardonnay and Coeur d'Alene Cellars Viognier as glass pours shows someone actually thought about this list. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority, but what's here delivers.
Coeur d'Alene Cellars Viognier — null
A local Idaho producer poured by the glass at a floating restaurant on the lake it's named for — the context alone earns it, and Viognier with lake views and fresh seafood is a combination that needs no convincing.
Mohua Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Most people reaching for Sauvignon Blanc at a casual lounge default to something forgettable, but Mohua is a legitimate Marlborough producer with real citrus punch and grassy edge — it's better than its glass-pour price suggests and cuts through seafood beautifully.
Roundhill White Zinfandel
We're not here to shame anyone's preferences, but Roundhill White Zin is grocery store juice at restaurant markup — if you're at a floating restaurant with 13 other glass options, there's no reason to settle for this.
Iris Pinot Noir, Oregon + Prime Rib
Oregon Pinot Noir alongside prime rib is a classic Pacific Northwest move — the wine's earthy red fruit and lighter tannin structure won't fight the beef, and the combination feels right at home in a Northwest dining room floating on a lake.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Cedar's earns its Wild Card badge not because the list is revolutionary, but because a 120-label program with local Idaho pours and a sommelier on staff is the last thing you expect from a tourist-magnet floating lounge. Send your friends here, point them toward the Coeur d'Alene Cellars glass pours, and let the lake do the rest of the work.
North Main · Coeur d'Alene · New American small plates and wine bar
Vine & Olive isn't trying to be a destination wine list, but it's the kind of place you'd confidently bring a wine-curious friend knowing they won't be let down. For the Inland Northwest, that's worth something.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Coeur d'Alene · Rooftop Bar
Come for the view, order a cocktail, and if you must have wine, grab the Latah Creek Riesling and call it a day. This list exists to serve the room, not to serve wine drinkers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Boulevard / Riverstone area · Coeur d'Alene · Mediterranean-inspired small plates and wine bar
Vine & Olive is doing something genuinely interesting for its market — a thoughtful, fairly priced list in a city that doesn't always demand one. If you're passing through Coeur d'Alene and care about what's in your glass, this is your stop.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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