The Melting Pot

The wine list at The Melting Pot reads exactly like you'd expect from a national fondue chain — familiar labels, safe regions, nothing that's going to surprise you or embarrass you. It's designed to be approachable for the date-night crowd, and in that narrow lane, it mostly delivers. Don't come here expecting discovery; come here expecting a decent glass with your gruyère.

The list spans Washington State, California, Italy, and France, but the depth in each region is shallow. You'll find local pride picks like Chateau Ste. Michelle and Columbia Crest holding down the Washington section, which is genuinely nice to see in a Spokane restaurant. California dominates by volume with the usual suspects — Meiomi, Kim Crawford sneaking in from New Zealand on the white side — but there's no real Italian or French producer that stands out from the data. It's a list built for comfort, not curiosity.

Ten to fifteen by-the-glass options is respectable for a fondue concept where the food experience is already the centerpiece. The pours seem to rotate with the menu seasons, but don't count on much turnover — this feels like a list that gets revisited annually at best. The Washington State representation by the glass is the strongest reason to engage here rather than just ordering a bottle.