Spokane's Steakhouse With a Serious Wine Backbone
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Churchill's, the wine list hits like the room itself — dark wood, white tablecloths, and a list that means business. Two to three hundred bottles covering California, Washington, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, and beyond is a serious statement for downtown Spokane. This isn't a list assembled on autopilot.
The geography here is genuinely ambitious: Pacific Northwest producers anchor the list with Washington and Oregon representation, while European pillars — Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, and Italy — give it real depth for a steakhouse in the Inland Northwest. Local heroes like Barrister show up alongside more commercial pours, which tells you they're at least paying attention to the regional scene. The list skews classic rather than adventurous, and that's fine — this is a prime steakhouse crowd, not a natural wine bar. What's missing is any standout depth in lesser-known regions that would push it from reliable to exceptional.
Fifteen to twenty-five glass pours is a genuinely strong by-the-glass program for this format — most steakhouses phone it in at eight and call it done. The Washington-heavy lineup means you're likely sipping something local and interesting without having to commit to a bottle. Rotation appears limited, so don't count on surprises visit to visit.
Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon — $16
Seven Hills is a respected Walla Walla producer whose Cab retails around $25 — getting it by the glass at $16 is genuinely fair in a fine-dining room. Solid structure, dark fruit, and it holds its own next to a prime ribeye.
Barrister Rough Justice Blend
Most tables at Churchill's are reaching for California Cabs, which means this Spokane-produced blend gets overlooked. Barrister is the real deal — one of Washington's best urban producers — and Rough Justice is a complex, Rhône-leaning red that most guests walk right past.
Drumheller Cabernet Sauvignon
At $13 a glass it looks like a deal, but Drumheller is a high-volume Columbia Valley brand built for accessibility, not complexity. In a room where you could be drinking Seven Hills or Barrister for a few dollars more, this one undershoots the occasion.
Boomtown Syrah + USDA Prime Ribeye
Boomtown's Syrah is peppery and dark-fruited with enough grip to stand up to the fat and char on a prime ribeye. It's a Washington-grown pairing that makes geographic sense and delivers on the plate.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Churchill's has earned its reputation — a 200-plus bottle list with fair markups and genuine regional range makes it the best wine bet in downtown Spokane. It's not a destination wine experience, but it's exactly the kind of reliable, well-stocked room you want behind a great steak.
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
I-35 / North Creek · Laredo · Steakhouse
Outback Laredo's wine program is a national chain doing national chain things — predictable, overpriced relative to quality, and staffed by people who aren't expected to know anything about what they're pouring. Come for the Bloomin' Onion, stick to a cocktail, and save the wine order for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Creek / I-35 · Laredo · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is not a wine destination — it's a steakhouse chain where wine clearly wasn't part of the concept. Order a beer, order a cocktail, and save the bottle for a restaurant that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mall del Norte Area · Laredo · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Laredo is a great spot for a $17 steak and a bucket of rolls — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a margarita, or grab the Ste. Michelle Riesling and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.