Spokane's Italian anchor actually knows wine
South Perry · Spokane · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Sorella’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list reads like someone actually cared — Italian-forward, regionally coherent, and priced in a range that doesn't make you wince. For Spokane, this is a small win worth celebrating. The format is tidy and navigable, which matters more than people admit.
Sorella leans hard into the Italian classics and earns it: Barolo from Piedmont, Brunello di Montalcino, and Chianti Classico Riserva anchor the reds, giving you a proper tour of the peninsula without needing to squint for relevance. The whites show some genuine thought — Vermentino from Sardinia and Arneis from Roero are the kind of picks that signal someone went beyond Pinot Grigio, and we respect that. A Washington State Sangiovese from Columbia Valley rounds things out as a local nod, and it's a smart one — Columbia Valley Sangiovese is genuinely undersung. The list tops out around $75, so this isn't a deep cellar, but at 40-70 bottles it covers the bases without padding.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a healthy range, landing between $9 and $14 — honest pricing for what's on offer. The glass program appears to mirror the bottle list's Italian focus, which means you're likely getting Chianti Classico or Vermentino rather than generic house wine. No active rotation program is visible, but the core selection is strong enough that it doesn't need gimmicks.
Vermentino Sardinia — $12
Sardinian Vermentino at this price point is the kind of move that makes a wine list trustworthy. It's fresh, saline, and cuts right through olive oil and seafood without pretending to be Burgundy. Order it by the glass and feel smug about it.
Arneis Roero Piedmont
Most people at an Italian restaurant default to red, which means the Arneis sits there unordered and underappreciated. Roero Arneis is nutty, floral, and dry — nothing else on a typical Italian list drinks quite like it. If you're splitting a pasta course, this is the move.
Brunello di Montalcino DOCG Tuscany
Brunello at a mid-range neighborhood Italian spot rarely makes sense. The bottle cap here likely hits near $75, which is a stretch for a wine that needs age and context to really deliver. Unless you know the specific producer, you're probably paying a premium for a name. Save Brunello for when you can actually vet the vintage.
Washington State Sangiovese Columbia Valley + Classic Italian pasta with red sauce
Columbia Valley Sangiovese has the acid structure and red-fruit profile to go toe-to-toe with tomato-based pasta without either overwhelming or disappearing. It's also the kind of local-meets-Italian story that makes the meal feel intentional rather than accidental.
The Bottom Line
Sorella is the Italian wine list Spokane needed — focused, fairly priced, and Italian enough to feel honest. It's not going to blow minds, but it'll absolutely do right by your dinner.
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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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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
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
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.
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