The Black Bird
Solid pours in a seriously cool room
Downtown Spokane · Spokane · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The Black Bird has the bones of a great wine program — a gorgeous historic room, serious food, the kind of place where you want to open a good bottle. The list, though, reads like someone made safe choices and called it a day. Recognizable names, comfortable regions, nothing that surprises you.
Selection Deep Dive
Washington State and California split the real estate here, which makes sense for a Spokane restaurant with local pride — but the execution leans heavily on brand recognition over discovery. Duckhorn, Chateau Ste. Michelle, La Crema: these are wines your aunt has heard of, and there's nothing wrong with that, but there's no depth beneath the surface. No small-production Walla Walla producers, no interesting Rhône-style bottles from Columbia Valley, nothing that signals a wine buyer with opinions. The list is comfortable and competent, but it's not trying very hard.
By the Glass
Eight by-the-glass options land between $10 and $16, which is reasonable for the market and the setting. The range covers the expected bases — white, red, probably a rosé — but with only the producers we know about, variety feels thin. If you're here for a quick glass before dinner, you'll find something drinkable; don't expect to be dazzled.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Chardonnay 2020 — $42
At 68% above retail it's not exactly a bargain, but it's the most approachable markup on the list and Canoe Ridge is genuinely good Washington Chardonnay — ripe but not overblown, with enough structure to hold up to richer dishes. For the table, this is where your money goes furthest.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Canoe Ridge Chardonnay 2020
Most people at a place like this reach for the Pinot or the Cab and ignore the Chardonnay entirely. That's a mistake here. Canoe Ridge is one of Ste. Michelle's better single-vineyard expressions and it gets overlooked every time.
Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
At $85 on the menu against a $55 retail price, you're paying a meaningful premium for a bottle you could grab at Total Wine on your way home. Duckhorn Cab is a perfectly fine wine, but it's also one of the most widely distributed Cabs in America — there's no scarcity story here justifying that gap.
La Crema Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 + Duck Confit Poutine
Duck fat and Pinot Noir are basically a law of nature. La Crema's Sonoma Coast bottling brings enough red fruit and earthy lift to cut through the richness of the confit without bullying the dish. It's the most food-friendly bottle on the list and this is exactly the right moment for it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Black Bird is a genuinely great spot to eat in Spokane, and the wine list won't ruin your night — but it won't elevate it either. Order something approachable, focus on the food, and save the serious bottle for a restaurant that put in the work.
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