Spokane's Neighborhood Pour Done Right
South Perry · Spokane · New American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Hive’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 is short and familiar — you've seen most of these bottles at your local grocery store — but the prices are so reasonable you almost do a double-take. This is a neighborhood spot that knows its crowd and isn't trying to impress anyone with obscure Jura pours. That's not a knock; it's an honest self-assessment that most restaurants never manage.
The 20-35 bottle list leans hard into Pacific Northwest anchors — Chateau Ste. Michelle and Washington State staples — with California filling the rest of the card. There's no real Old World presence to speak of, and nothing here is going to surprise a seasoned drinker. What it does well is stay in its lane: recognizable, approachable producers at prices that make the decision easy. The regional focus on Washington and Oregon is a nice touch for a South Perry neighborhood spot, even if the execution doesn't push into smaller or more interesting local producers.
Six to ten options by the glass, covering the basics — a Chardonnay, a Cab, a Pinot, a Sauvignon Blanc — without much adventure. The pours are priced so fairly that ordering a glass instead of a bottle almost feels like the smarter play. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here, so don't expect anything new next visit.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay 2022 — $14
At $14 a glass for a wine that retails around $20, this is the easiest call on the list. Indian Wells is a reliably ripe, food-friendly Washington Chardonnay that holds its own at twice the price. Ordering a bottle's worth by the glass here would still feel like a deal.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2022
Most people in a casual spot like this grab the cheapest Chardonnay on the menu and move on. La Crema's Sonoma Coast bottling is a real step up — brighter acidity, more coastal restraint — and at $16 a glass it's barely a dollar more than the baseline options. Most guests walk right past it.
Duckhorn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
At $28 a glass it's technically the best-marked-up deal on the list percentage-wise, but Duckhorn Napa Cab is a $55 retail bottle that's already priced for approachability. You're paying restaurant money for a wine that deserves proper glassware and a focused tasting environment — neither of which a casual New American spot in South Perry is really set up to deliver. Save Duckhorn for somewhere that treats it right.
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2022 + Burger or grilled chicken entrée
Meiomi's soft, fruit-forward Pinot Noir is built for exactly this context — casual food, relaxed setting, no fuss. The ripe strawberry and mocha notes hold up against a burger without overwhelming a lighter chicken dish. At $18 a glass, it's the crowd-pleasing move that actually works.
The Bottom Line
The Hive won't earn any wine geek credentials, but it's pricing its list with a generosity that most restaurants in this city can't match. If you're in South Perry and want a solid, affordable glass without negotiating with a wine list that takes itself too seriously, this is your spot.
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
7th Ave / Dolores · Carmel By The Sea · New American
Seventh & Dolores isn't a destination wine list, but it's a respectable one that at least knows where it is geographically. Come for the steak, order the Wrath, and don't expect to go down any rabbit holes.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail · Vail · New American
Vin48 is a genuinely surprising wine program hiding inside a Colorado ski resort, and if you're a wine-first diner passing through Vail, it absolutely warrants a stop. The markups reflect the zip code more than we'd like, but the depth and curation of the list are the real deal.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Solvang · Solvang · New American
Root 246 is the rare hotel restaurant that actually earns your wine attention — a focused Santa Barbara County list with real producers, a sommelier who knows the material, and pricing that doesn't punish you for being curious. If you're passing through Solvang wine country, this is where you eat.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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