Wednesday Nights Just Got a Lot More Interesting
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Martin Cafe lands like the restaurant itself — unpretentious, approachable, and quietly competent. Seventy-five labels isn't a deep cellar, but it's more than most neighborhood spots bother with. The Pacific Northwest anchoring feels right for Spokane, with enough Italian to nod at the Mediterranean menu.
The list splits its attention across Washington and Oregon, California, and Tuscany — a sensible triangle that covers the room without trying to cover the world. Columbia Crest and Ferrari-Carano handle the workhorse slots, while the Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico gives the list some actual backbone and regional credibility. What's missing is any real depth in Rhône, Spanish, or Southern Italian, which would feel natural alongside duck confit and braised beef. It's a solid everyday list, not a destination list — and it seems to know that about itself.
Ten options by the glass is a respectable spread for a casual cafe, and the $9–$14 price window keeps things accessible. We'd like to see more rotation and a bolder regional pick or two in the glass lineup, but there are no obvious duds. Hit the half-price bottle night on Wednesday instead of defaulting to glass pours — the math gets a lot better.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020 — $52
At 63% over retail, this is the best-marked bottle on the list and the most interesting wine they carry. Sangiovese with this much structure belongs on a table with beef bourguignon, not buried in a list of safe crowd-pleasers. On a Wednesday, you're getting it for $26 — that's genuinely hard to beat.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020
Most tables here are reaching for the Columbia Crest or the Chardonnay out of habit. Don't. The Peppoli is the only bottle on this list with real Old World character — tart cherry, dried herbs, a little dusty grip — and it punches well above its price point on this menu.
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot 2020
A 100% markup on a $18 retail bottle is the steepest markup on the list, and Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a fine grocery store wine — emphasis on grocery store. You're paying $36 for the convenience of not stopping at Total Wine on the way over. Skip it.
Antinori Peppoli Chianti Classico 2020 + Duck Confit
Chianti Classico and duck is a classic match for a reason — the Sangiovese's acidity cuts through the richness of the confit fat while the earthy, cherry-driven fruit mirrors the savory depth of the dish. The Peppoli is structured enough to hold up without overwhelming a well-prepared duck leg.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles from select list after 5pm
✔️ The Bottom Line
Martin Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than most cafes bother to do — fair markups, a Wednesday half-price program, and the Antinori Peppoli holding things down for anyone paying attention. Send a friend here on a Wednesday with instructions to order the duck and the Chianti, and they'll think you're a genius.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.