Local Pride, But The Prices Tell A Different Story
South Hill · Spokane · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 7, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Europa Restaurant & Bakery’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Europa reads like a love letter to Washington State — and honestly, we're here for that instinct. But flip past the local pride and the pricing starts to sting in ways that feel less like hospitality and more like a toll booth. Sixty-plus bottles sounds generous until you realize most of them are carrying markups that would make a Vegas steakhouse blush.
The Washington State focus is genuinely commendable — you've got Leonetti, L'Ecole 41, Amavi, and Dusted Valley all sharing real estate, which is a respectable lineup for a neighborhood Mediterranean spot. Italy gets a nod with the Damilano 'Lecinquevigne' Barolo and Palama Primitivo, adding just enough old-world credibility to keep things interesting. California fills in the gaps without doing anything particularly noteworthy. The problem isn't the selection — it's that bottles like the Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling (retail $12, listed at $45) and the Altos del Plata Malbec (retail $13, listed at $46) make it feel like the list was priced by someone who never heard of good will.
The by-the-glass program clocks in at 12-18 options, which is a decent spread for a restaurant this size. We don't have confirmed glass pricing, but given the bottle markup pattern here, expect to pay accordingly. There's no evidence of a rotating program or any effort to keep things fresh — what's on the list appears to be what's always on the list.
Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon — $105
At roughly a 50% markup over retail, the Pepper Bridge Cab is the one bottle on this list where Europa isn't gouging you. Pepper Bridge is a Walla Walla institution making serious, age-worthy Cabernet — this is the play if you're going to spend money here.
Damilano 'Lecinquevigne' Barolo
Most people ordering at a Spokane Mediterranean spot are reaching for a local Washington red, which means this Barolo gets overlooked. Damilano is a solid, traditional Barolo producer and 'Lecinquevigne' is a well-regarded bottling — it's the most interesting wine on the list and most tables will walk right past it.
Chateau Ste. Michelle 'Cold Creek' Riesling
A $12 retail bottle listed at $45 is a 275% markup — that's not a restaurant charging for service and experience, that's a restaurant betting you don't know any better. Cold Creek Riesling is a good wine, but not at nearly four times its shelf price.
Palama Primitivo + Rack of Lamb
Primitivo's dark fruit, rustic earthiness, and firm structure go toe-to-toe with lamb without bullying it — it's a southern Italian grape that was practically built for roasted meat, and it's one of the more distinctive bottles on the list.
The Bottom Line
Europa has genuine ambition in its Washington State selections and the bones of a list worth respecting — but the markup strategy on everything below the $100 mark is hard to forgive. Go for the Pepper Bridge, skip the grocery-store bottles at restaurant-robbery prices.
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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
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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
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
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Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine Bar
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· West Palm Beach · Mediterranean
Florie's is a hotel wine program that tries harder than it has to, and that counts for something. The all-by-the-glass format is genuinely practical, the French selections show real taste, and a few pours — the Schloss Lieser, the Armand Heitz — would be highlights at any standalone wine bar. The markups are what they are: you're inside a Four Seasons. Go in with eyes open, order the Riesling, and let someone else order the Opus One.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Del Mar is a Reliable pour in a city that doesn't always try that hard at wine — the Coravin program and the 34-glass lineup show real effort, and the Assyrtiko alone is worth the visit if you're ordering seafood. Markups on the California icons are steep, so steer toward the European picks and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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