Italian-focused, honest prices, no drama
South Hill · Spokane · Italian
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Monarch Trattoria reads like someone actually thought about it — Italian regions front and center, a nod to the Pacific Northwest, and by-the-glass prices that don't make you do a double-take. For a South Hill trattoria, that's more than you might expect. The markup structure here is quietly one of the best in Spokane.
The list runs 40 to 70 bottles and stays honest to the cuisine: Chianti Classico, Valpolicella, Ripasso, and Sicilian whites anchor the Italian side, while Washington State and California fill out the new world. Antinori, Allegrini, Masi, and Planeta are recognizable names that actually belong on an Italian restaurant list — not just easy imports grabbed from a distributor catalog. The regional depth doesn't go deep on single-village Burgundy or obscure Italian DOCs, but that's not the point here. It's a focused, purposeful list that earns its range.
With 10 to 16 pours available, the glass program covers enough ground to give you real options across a full meal. The pricing by the glass mirrors the bottle markups — unusually fair for a sit-down restaurant. We'd like to see more rotation and a few more adventurous picks in the glass lineup, but what's here gets the job done.
Masi Campofiorin Ripasso 2020 — $22
Retails around $30 and this is a proper wine — richer and more structured than a standard Valpolicella, with dried fruit and grip that holds up to the braised and roasted dishes on the menu. At $22 a glass, it's a genuine steal.
Planeta La Segreta Bianco 2023
Most people at an Italian trattoria default to Pinot Grigio or jump straight to red. This Sicilian white — a Grecanico, Viognier, and Fiano blend — is more interesting than anything else in that price range on the list, and at $14 it's practically free.
Banfi Centine Toscana 2022
At $17 it's not a rip-off, but Banfi Centine is a workhorse supermarket Tuscan blend that punches well below the other Italian options on this list. With the Allegrini or the Antinori sitting right next to it at comparable prices, there's no reason to settle here.
Allegrini Valpolicella 2022 + Osso buco
Allegrini's Valpolicella is light enough not to bulldoze the delicate braised veal, but it carries enough cherry fruit and earthy backbone to stand up to a rich gremolata and bone marrow. Classic Veneto with a classic Milanese dish — this one writes itself.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Monarch Trattoria won't blow your mind with a rare cellar find, but the markups are genuinely fair, the Italian selections are well-chosen, and you're unlikely to drink badly here. Send a friend? Absolutely — especially if they're ordering the osso buco.
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
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.