Estate wines with a view worth the drive
South Hill Β· Spokane Β· Mediterranean Β· Visit Website β
Reviewed April 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You don't come to Arbor Crest for a deep cellar β you come because you're sitting 450 feet above the Spokane River on a historic estate and someone hands you a glass of Washington wine. The list is short and entirely in-house, which tells you exactly what this place is: a winery first, restaurant second.
The list tops out around 40-60 bottles and stays squarely within Arbor Crest's own Columbia Valley portfolio β don't expect a Willamette Pinot or a RhΓ΄ne import to wander in. What you get is a focused, estate-driven selection that leans on red blends and a handful of white options. The Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot round out the whites and straightforward reds, while the Dionysus Red Blend and Connoisseur's Red anchor the list for anyone wanting something with a bit more ambition. It's not adventurous, but it's honest.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-16 options, which is generous for a single-producer list β they're clearly rotating through their lineup rather than just pouring two options and calling it a day. Expect a mix of current releases across reds, whites, and blends, all sourced from the estate's Columbia Valley fruit.
Arbor Crest Sauvignon Blanc β $10
Estate-grown Columbia Valley Sauv Blanc at winery-direct pricing is about as straightforward a value play as you'll find β no retail markup padding, just the wine at a fair pour.
Arbor Crest Connoisseur's Red
Most people grab the Dionysus because the name is flashier, but the Connoisseur's Red is where the winery tends to put its more structured fruit β worth the ask.
Arbor Crest Cliff House Red
Retails around $10 and is effectively the house pour β fine for a casual glass on the patio, but if you're sitting down for a full dinner, spend a few dollars more and work up the list.
Arbor Crest Dionysus Red Blend + Mediterranean mezze board
A Columbia Valley red blend built on ripe dark fruit holds its own against olive oil, cured meats, and roasted peppers without getting lost β the estate's terrain and the food's origin story actually rhyme here.
π² The Bottom Line
Arbor Crest isn't trying to be a wine destination in the conventional sense β it IS the winery, and the restaurant is the excuse to stay longer. If you're into Washington wine and want to drink it somewhere genuinely stunning, this earns its trip.
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