Columbia Valley Comfort, Done Dependably Well
Columbia Park / Columbia River Waterfront · Kennewick · American Steak and Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cedars Restaurant & Lounge’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cedars feels exactly like the restaurant itself — comfortable, unfussy, and built for people who know what they like. There's no drama here, no deep-cut producers or natural wine experiments. What you get is a tightly curated selection of Pacific Northwest and California names that regulars already trust.
The list leans hard into Columbia Valley and Washington State, which makes sense given that Cedars sits smack in the middle of wine country. Columbia Crest, Chateau Ste. Michelle, and Hogue Cellars anchor the Washington side — all solid, widely available producers that won't surprise anyone but also won't embarrass anyone. California fills in the gaps, rounding out the 30-50 bottle list with the usual suspects. There's no real deep dive into Walla Walla single-vineyard stuff or the smaller boutique operations that make this region genuinely exciting, which is a missed opportunity given the location.
The by-the-glass program runs 8-14 options, which is a reasonable spread for a neighborhood steak house. Expect the same familiar Washington names to dominate the pour list — safe, predictable, and fine for most tables. There's no visible rotation or seasonal refresh happening here, so don't count on anything exciting showing up week to week.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Columbia Crest Grand Estates is reliably well-made for the price tier and one of the most honest Cabernets coming out of the Columbia Valley. It's the right call with a grilled steak and won't light your wallet on fire the way some of the California bottles might.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most people skip right past the Riesling at a steak house, and that's a mistake. Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Riesling has genuine off-dry structure and bright acidity — it's underrated with salmon and holds its own as a stand-alone glass. In a room full of Cab drinkers, it's the quiet overachiever.
Hogue Cellars Merlot
Hogue is fine. It's also the kind of wine you can find at a grocery store for under $12. At restaurant markup, you're paying a significant premium for something that doesn't justify the extra spend — especially when the Cab from Columbia Crest is sitting right next to it and delivers more for the money.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Grilled Salmon
The Riesling's off-dry stone fruit and zippy acidity cut right through the richness of grilled salmon without overpowering it. It's the pairing the kitchen probably isn't suggesting but absolutely should be.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Cedars is a solid neighborhood anchor that leans on its Columbia Valley backyard without really exploring it — the wine list is dependable but leaves you wishing they'd push even 10% harder into the region's real depth. Send a friend here for a good steak and a glass of local Cab, not for a wine-first experience.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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