Wednesday Nights Just Got a Lot More Interesting
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Martin Cafe lands like the restaurant itself — unpretentious, approachable, and quietly competent. Seventy-five labels isn't a deep cellar, but it's more than most neighborhood spots bother with. The Pacific Northwest anchoring feels right for Spokane, with enough Italian to nod at the Mediterranean menu.
The list splits its attention across Washington and Oregon, California, and Tuscany — a sensible triangle that covers the room without trying to cover the world. Columbia Crest and Ferrari-Carano handle the workhorse slots, while the Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico gives the list some actual backbone and regional credibility. What's missing is any real depth in Rhône, Spanish, or Southern Italian, which would feel natural alongside duck confit and braised beef. It's a solid everyday list, not a destination list — and it seems to know that about itself.
Ten options by the glass is a respectable spread for a casual cafe, and the $9–$14 price window keeps things accessible. We'd like to see more rotation and a bolder regional pick or two in the glass lineup, but there are no obvious duds. Hit the half-price bottle night on Wednesday instead of defaulting to glass pours — the math gets a lot better.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020 — $52
At 63% over retail, this is the best-marked bottle on the list and the most interesting wine they carry. Sangiovese with this much structure belongs on a table with beef bourguignon, not buried in a list of safe crowd-pleasers. On a Wednesday, you're getting it for $26 — that's genuinely hard to beat.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020
Most tables here are reaching for the Columbia Crest or the Chardonnay out of habit. Don't. The Peppoli is the only bottle on this list with real Old World character — tart cherry, dried herbs, a little dusty grip — and it punches well above its price point on this menu.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2020
A 100% markup on a $18 retail bottle is the steepest markup on the list, and Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a fine grocery store wine — emphasis on grocery store. You're paying $36 for the convenience of not stopping at Total Wine on the way over. Skip it.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020 + Duck Confit
Chianti Classico and duck is a classic match for a reason — the Sangiovese's acidity cuts through the richness of the confit fat while the earthy, cherry-driven fruit mirrors the savory depth of the dish. The Peppoli is structured enough to hold up without overwhelming a well-prepared duck leg.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles from select list after 5pm
✔️ The Bottom Line
Martin Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than most cafes bother to do — fair markups, a Wednesday half-price program, and the Antinori Peppoli holding things down for anyone paying attention. Send a friend here on a Wednesday with instructions to order the duck and the Chianti, and they'll think you're a genius.
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
Central McAllen · McAllen · Mediterranean
The kitchen is clearly doing its job — the wine list just isn't. Skip the bottle, order a cocktail, and hope the restaurant rethinks this list before your next visit.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Naperville · Naperville · Mediterranean
Vasili's isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the Greek-focused list has enough genuine producers and interesting grapes to reward curious drinkers — especially on Tuesdays when the bottles go half-price. Watch the markups on the Agiorgitiko, lean into the northern Greek reds and the Malagousia, and you'll eat and drink very well along that riverwalk.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South Tacoma · Tacoma · Mediterranean
The Adriatic Grill is the kind of neighborhood restaurant that earns a loyal following by doing the right things quietly — a thoughtful wine list, fair pricing, and a Wine Wednesday program that is frankly one of the better deals in Tacoma. If you can get there on a Wednesday with a group and a hunger for lamb, you're having a great night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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