River Views, Steakhouse Classics, Wine Done Right
Downtown · Spokane · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk in, catch the Spokane River through the windows, and the wine list feels exactly like the room — classic, comfortable, and not trying to surprise you. It's a proper steakhouse list: West Coast-heavy, recognizable names, built to move bottles with a ribeye. No pretension, but no real adventure either.
The backbone here is Pacific Northwest and California, which makes sense for a Spokane steakhouse that knows its audience. Washington shows up via Columbia Valley with the Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon brings Willamette Valley representation through Gran Moraine, La Crema, and Siduri Pinot Noirs, and California flexes through the Orin Swift lineup and Napa Cabs. There's a French cameo from Gérard Bertrand in the Languedoc and Penfolds flying the Australian flag, so the list isn't purely domestic. Gaps exist — no real Italian depth, thin on Rhône or Burgundy — but for a steak-and-salmon crowd, the bases are covered without embarrassing anyone.
We don't have a confirmed glass count, but the presence of options like the Willamette Valley Vineyards White Pinot Noir and Oregon Blossom Sparkling Rosé suggests they're making an effort beyond the standard Cab-Chard-Pinot trio. The wine dinner program — featuring Orin Swift, Barrister, Rodney Strong, and Willamette Valley Vineyards — signals that the glass program probably rotates with some intention. Still, without a confirmed pour list, we're cautiously optimistic.
Ethos Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2022 — null
A Washington Cab at a Spokane steakhouse is the home team playing on home turf. The Columbia Valley grows serious Cabernet and Ethos delivers structure and fruit that holds its own against the filet. Regional pick that makes sense on every level.
Willamette Valley Vineyards White Pinot Noir
Most people at a steakhouse will scroll straight past a White Pinot Noir without a second glance — and that's exactly why you should order it. It's a rare, elegant pour that works surprisingly well with the salmon and cuts through the richness of butter-forward dishes. It's the most interesting thing on this list.
Orin Swift Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Orin Swift makes flashy, highly-marketed wine that restaurants love to put on lists at a serious premium. The Palermo is a perfectly decent Napa Cab, but in a steakhouse setting you're almost certainly paying a steep markup on top of an already inflated retail price. The Ethos Cab does the same job for less damage.
Gran Moraine Pinot Noir + British Columbia Salmon
Gran Moraine is Willamette Valley Pinot at its most polished — bright acidity, red fruit, earthy depth. It's textbook with salmon: enough body to stand up to the fish, enough finesse not to steamroll it. This is the pairing that makes the wine list worth opening.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Clinkerdagger is a reliable wine play for a classic Spokane steakhouse night — solid regional selection, an active wine dinner program that shows genuine enthusiasm, and a few genuinely interesting pours hiding in the lineup. Just watch the markups on the prestige California bottles and you'll leave happy.
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.