Spokane's Quiet Overachiever Deserves More Credit
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Innovative Northwest · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mizuna feels like the restaurant itself — thoughtful, rooted in the Pacific Northwest, and a little more serious than the price point suggests. At $10–$16 a glass, you're not being gouged, which in 2024 is practically a love language. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's clearly trying.
Washington State anchors this list properly, with producers from Patterson, Walla Walla, Columbia Valley, Yakima, and Richland all showing up. Isenhower's GSM, Tenet's 'The Pundit' Syrah, and Bookwalter's 'Readers' red blend give it real regional credibility — these aren't grocery store fillers. Italy and New Zealand add enough range to keep things interesting, and a 2017 Semillon from Locus in Yakima tells you someone on staff actually cares. The California contingent — Oberon Napa Cab and Rodney Strong Knights Valley — feels a little safe, but it's there to keep the Cab dads happy, and that's fine.
Nine-plus by-the-glass options is solid for a restaurant of this size, and the range spans rosé, white, and red without doubling down on obvious crowd-pleasers. The Grosgrain Grenache Blush from Yakima and the Locus Semillon are the most interesting pours on the BTG list — the rest skew more accessible. No rotating program that we could find, which is the one missed opportunity here.
GSM Isenhower, Walla Walla, WA, 2022 — $16
Isenhower is a serious Walla Walla producer making structured, food-friendly GSM blends. Getting this by the glass at $16 is genuinely good value — the kind of wine that costs $35–$45 at retail and drinks better than its price suggests.
Semillon Locus, Yakima, WA, 2017
Semillon is criminally underordered, and most people walk right past it. Yakima Valley makes some of the best Semillon outside of Bordeaux and Hunter Valley, and a 2017 with a little bottle age is exactly what you want. Most tables will order the Cloudy Bay and miss this entirely.
Pinot Noir Oyster Bay, New Zealand
Oyster Bay is a perfectly fine supermarket wine — you can grab it at Safeway on the way home for $12. Ordering it at a restaurant with actual Washington Pinot options on the list is a missed opportunity and not worth the markup.
Tenet Wines 'The Pundit', Patterson, WA, 2020 + Steamed Clams
The Pundit is a Rhône-style Syrah with enough savory, briny depth to hold its own against the clams without bulldozing the broth. It's an unconventional pairing that works precisely because both have that umami-forward, slightly funky quality going on.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Mizuna isn't a destination wine list, but it's doing the right things — fair prices, genuine Northwest representation, and a few bottles that reward the curious drinker. If you're in downtown Spokane and want a real glass of wine with your dinner, this is where you go.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.