Solid pours in a seriously cool room
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Black Bird has the bones of a great wine program — a gorgeous historic room, serious food, the kind of place where you want to open a good bottle. The list, though, reads like someone made safe choices and called it a day. Recognizable names, comfortable regions, nothing that surprises you.
Washington State and California split the real estate here, which makes sense for a Spokane restaurant with local pride — but the execution leans heavily on brand recognition over discovery. Duckhorn, Chateau Ste. Michelle, La Crema: these are wines your aunt has heard of, and there's nothing wrong with that, but there's no depth beneath the surface. No small-production Walla Walla producers, no interesting Rhône-style bottles from Columbia Valley, nothing that signals a wine buyer with opinions. The list is comfortable and competent, but it's not trying very hard.
Eight by-the-glass options land between $10 and $16, which is reasonable for the market and the setting. The range covers the expected bases — white, red, probably a rosé — but with only the producers we know about, variety feels thin. If you're here for a quick glass before dinner, you'll find something drinkable; don't expect to be dazzled.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Chardonnay 2020 — $42
At 68% above retail it's not exactly a bargain, but it's the most approachable markup on the list and Canoe Ridge is genuinely good Washington Chardonnay — ripe but not overblown, with enough structure to hold up to richer dishes. For the table, this is where your money goes furthest.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Chardonnay 2020
Most people at a place like this reach for the Pinot or the Cab and ignore the Chardonnay entirely. That's a mistake here. Canoe Ridge is one of Ste. Michelle's better single-vineyard expressions and it gets overlooked every time.
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
At $85 on the menu against a $55 retail price, you're paying a meaningful premium for a bottle you could grab at Total Wine on your way home. Duckhorn Cab is a perfectly fine wine, but it's also one of the most widely distributed Cabs in America — there's no scarcity story here justifying that gap.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 + Duck Confit Poutine
Duck fat and Pinot Noir are basically a law of nature. La Crema's Sonoma Coast bottling brings enough red fruit and earthy lift to cut through the richness of the confit without bullying the dish. It's the most food-friendly bottle on the list and this is exactly the right moment for it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Black Bird is a genuinely great spot to eat in Spokane, and the wine list won't ruin your night — but it won't elevate it either. Order something approachable, focus on the food, and save the serious bottle for a restaurant that put in the work.
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
Broadway corridor · Fort Wayne · New American
Rune is doing something genuinely rare for its zip code: building a wine list with a real identity. Come on a Wednesday, order the Ovum, and feel good about finding a place like this.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Plano · Plano · New American
CraftWay Kitchen isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — but the markups are fair, the glass program is wide, and there's enough on the list to drink well with a solid meal. Send your friends here for dinner; just don't send them here for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clemmons · Winston Salem · New American
Sixty Vines is a solid, reliable wine stop in Winston-Salem — the by-the-glass breadth is real and the staff knows their stuff, but the list reads like a greatest hits album rather than anything adventurous. Come for the volume, stay for the pizza, but don't expect to have your mind changed about wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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