Historic grandeur, hit-or-miss markups on the list
Downtown · Spokane · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into the Palm Court feels like stepping into a Spokane time capsule — ornate Edwardian ceilings, white tablecloths, and a wine list that leans hard into its Pacific Northwest identity. The list is substantial, clocking in somewhere between 100 and 150 bottles, and the Washington State focus is a genuine strength rather than a lazy hometown call. But flip past the local section and the markups start to sting.
The list is anchored by Columbia Valley heavyweights — L'Ecole No. 41, Arbor Crest, and Barrister Winery all make appearances, which is exactly what you want from a flagship Spokane dining room. California and France fill in the gaps without a lot of depth or surprise, and Oregon gets a token nod with the Erath Pinot. There are no real curveballs here — no natural wine, no interesting small-production stuff — but the Washington State coverage is genuinely solid and represents the region with some pride. The gaps show most clearly in the white wine section, where the list thins out fast beyond a few Riesling and Chardonnay options.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a respectable range for a hotel restaurant of this caliber, and the Washington State bottles reportedly rotate through the program. That said, there's no evidence of an active rotation or curated by-the-glass program — it reads more like a static selection that gets refreshed when something runs dry rather than a thoughtfully managed lineup.
L'Ecole No. 41 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley — $58
At only a 29% markup over retail, this is the most fairly priced bottle on the list — and L'Ecole is no afterthought producer. Serious Columbia Valley Cab from one of Washington's benchmark wineries, and the Palm Court is practically giving it away by hotel-restaurant standards.
Barrister Winery Rough Justice Red Blend Columbia Valley
Barrister is a Spokane institution and Rough Justice is one of their signature bottles — a bold, structured red blend that most out-of-town guests will walk right past. At $58 the markup is real, but this is a wine you can't easily find outside the region, and drinking it here, a few blocks from where it was made, is worth the premium.
Erath Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
A 135% markup on a $20 retail bottle is hard to stomach. Erath Pinot is perfectly fine supermarket wine, but at $47 a bottle you're paying a lot for something you could grab at any grocery store on the way home. Pass.
Château St. Michelle Syrah Columbia Valley + Prime Rib
Washington Syrah and prime rib is a classic Pacific Northwest move for a reason — the dark fruit and peppery backbone of the Ste. Michelle Syrah cuts right through the richness of a carved prime rib. It's a local-meets-local moment that plays to the Palm Court's strengths.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Palm Court is a beautiful room with a wine list that gets the Pacific Northwest right and then undercuts itself with some ugly markups on anything outside that lane. Stick to the Washington State bottles — especially the L'Ecole — and you'll drink well in one of Spokane's most storied dining rooms.
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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