Safe Pours for a Romantic Fondue Night
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Fondue / Upscale Casual · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Melting Pot Spokane reads like it was built to not scare anyone — and for a date-night fondue spot, that's not entirely wrong. You're not here to geek out on grower Champagne; you're here to dip bread in cheese and make eye contact. The list knows its audience and plays to it, for better and worse.
Thirty to fifty bottles across Washington State, California, New Zealand, and France covers the basics without breaking any new ground. You'll find solid regional representation in the Washington wines — Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest H3 are workhorses of the Columbia Valley and deserve their spots here. The California and New Zealand entries lean hard on grocery-store familiarity: Meiomi and Kim Crawford are crowd-safe choices that won't challenge anyone. There's no real depth in Burgundy, no Rhône, no exploration of what the Pacific Northwest can actually do at the upper end — just approachable names designed to move bottles on a busy Saturday night.
Ten to sixteen by-the-glass options is a respectable count for a restaurant of this size and format, and the multi-course fondue experience means you'll likely want to switch wines mid-meal anyway. The problem is the pours skew toward the predictable — expect the same labels you'd see on a Chili's menu at a Melting Pot price point. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here; the list feels set and stable rather than seasonally refreshed.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — null
Washington Riesling is genuinely one of the best food wines in the world, and Ste. Michelle does it right — bright acidity, stone fruit, a little sweetness. It's made for cheese fondue. If there's one bottle that earns its place on this list, it's this one.
Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people sleep on Columbia Crest because it's widely distributed and cheap at retail, but the H3 from Horse Heaven Hills is a genuinely serious Cab with dark fruit and structure that holds its own next to a beef fondue. It's underestimated every time.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a $12 bottle at Costco dressed up in a restaurant price tag. The sweetness and blended-coast softness that make it a crowd-pleaser also make it a snooze next to actual food. You can do better for the same money on this list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Cheddar Cheese Fondue
Off-dry Riesling and melted cheddar is not a coincidence — the wine's acidity cuts through the fat while the fruit echoes the richness. It's the most natural pairing on the menu and the one you'll be glad you ordered.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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 · 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
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Wine bar with Pacific Northwest-focused wines and light bites
Pacific to Palouse is doing something genuinely rare in eastern Washington: treating regional wine as a destination rather than an afterthought. If you want to understand what the Pacific Northwest is capable of in a glass, this is a better classroom than most.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.