Washington Wine Done Right, Hotel Bar Edition
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Hotel cocktail bar and lounge with small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into 1919, the century-old chandeliers and marble floors do most of the heavy lifting before you even crack the wine list. The list itself is tidy — 30 to 50 bottles, leaning hard into Washington State with a California backup plan. It's a hotel bar that actually wants to talk about wine, which already puts it ahead of most of its competition.
The list is a love letter to Washington State, anchored by familiar Columbia Valley and Walla Walla names that any Pacific Northwest wine drinker will recognize. Chateau Ste. Michelle and L'Ecole No. 41 do a lot of the work here, which is solid — these are legitimate producers, not filler. Beresan Winery earns a spot and is the most interesting name on the roster, a smaller Walla Walla producer that signals someone paid at least a little attention. The California section exists mostly as a safety net for guests who haven't crossed over to Washington wine yet, and it shows.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 20 options, which is generous for a hotel lounge and means you can build a real tasting experience without committing to a bottle. The Washington State focus carries through here, so glass pours aren't just the afterthought Chardonnay and Cab you'd find at a Marriott lobby bar. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a static list than one that changes with the seasons.
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot — $14
L'Ecole is one of Walla Walla's most consistent producers and their Merlot punches well above its price point. Ordering it by the glass in a hotel bar is the rare move that actually makes financial sense.
Beresan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon
Beresan is a small, under-the-radar Walla Walla producer that most people walk right past on the menu. That's a mistake. They make focused, serious Cabernet and seeing them here is the clearest sign that someone building this list had taste.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Ste. Michelle is a fine producer and a perfectly drinkable wine — but it's also available at every grocery store in Washington for around $12. Hotel markup will likely push this to $15-plus by the glass, and you can do better on this very same list.
L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot + Flatbread
The Merlot's soft tannins and dark fruit work well against the char and richness of a flatbread without overwhelming bar-bite-sized food. It's a low-effort, high-reward combination for a happy hour stop.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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