Solid PNW pours, but watch the markup
Downtown · Spokane · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Spencer's for Steak and Chops’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Spencer's looks the part — dark wood, leather booths, the whole classic steakhouse costume. The wine list matches the room: approachable, Pacific Northwest-leaning, and built to sell bottles to expense-account diners without too many questions. It's not trying to surprise you, and it mostly doesn't.
The list leans hard into Washington and Oregon, which is the right call for a Spokane steakhouse. Browne Family Vineyards and Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon anchor the local representation, and there's enough variety across Cabernet, Merlot, and red blends to keep a table happy. That said, don't come looking for depth beyond the Pacific Northwest comfort zone — this is a Cab-and-steak list, full stop. Burgundy hunters and Barolo fans will find slim pickings.
Twelve options by the glass is a respectable count for a hotel steakhouse, and the $10–$18 range keeps things accessible. The selections skew predictable — expect Washington reds to dominate — but there's enough there to find something decent without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears minimal; this list feels like it hasn't changed much since the menu did.
Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon — $45
At the lower end of the bottle range, this local Washington Cab delivers what you want with a Spencer's steak without burning a hole in your pocket. It's the honest, no-nonsense choice on a list that can get expensive fast.
Browne Family Vineyards
Most tables will reach for the bigger names, but Browne Family is a Walla Walla producer that punches above its price point. It's a local gem that gets overlooked when Duckhorn is sitting right next to it on the list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot 2020
At $52 a bottle, you're paying more than 2.5x retail for a wine that's widely available at every grocery store in Washington state. This is a $20 bottle — a fine one — but not at this price. Order it by the glass if you must, or spring for something you can't grab at Costco.
Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon + Filet Mignon
A Washington Cab with the filet is the platonic ideal of this restaurant. The wine's dark fruit and structure cut through the richness of the beef without overpowering the tenderness of the cut. It's not a revelation — it's just right.
The Bottom Line
Spencer's is a dependable hotel steakhouse with a wine list that does its job and not much more — local producers, fair glass count, and markups that range from tolerable to eyebrow-raising. Order the Heritage Cab, skip the Chateau Ste. Michelle at bottle price, and enjoy your steak.
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
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · Steakhouse
Bourbon Steak Irvine is running one of the most ambitious wine programs in Orange County — 225 labels, 31 by the glass, and a list with genuine personality beyond the expected steakhouse anchors. Markups get steep at the top end, but the by-the-glass range at the $15–$32 tier offers real drinking at fair prices. If you care about what's in your glass, this list rewards the attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Irvine · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Costa Mesa is exactly what it is: a well-run corporate steakhouse with a Champagne list that punches above the room's ambition and a Chardonnay section that covers the safe California bases reliably. Markups are steep throughout and the list doesn't take any risks, but if you know what you want — a glass of Hartford Court or a bottle of Schramsberg before your steak — you'll be fine. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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