Arbor Crest Wine Cellars’ hilltop Cliff House estate is located at 4705 N. Fruit Hill Road.

Cheers!
Award-winning wines, hand-crafted beer and locally-distilled spirits

Spokane is all about the great outdoors, but we have a solid – and growing indoor industry, too – wine and spirits!

More than twenty wineries and tasting rooms are scattered throughout the region. We can brag that we have Washington State’s first distillery since Prohibition and craft breweries have burst on the scene with the enthusiasm of a 21-year old headed to the bar for their first legal drink.

Our vintners craft their award-winning wines from grapes grown in the Walla Walla, Yakima and Columbia Valley appellations, putting a personal, hands-on touch that is only found in small, family run wineries. A short drive from downtown takes you to Arbor Crest Wine Cellars perched on a rocky bluff overlooking Spokane Valley. Taste, buy, uncork and enjoy an award-winning wine and breathtaking views on the beautifully landscaped, historic grounds.

Operating since 1982, Latah Creek Wine Cellars was named one of the top producers of Merlot in Washington by Wine Spectator Magazine. Slightly further afield but still less than half an hour from Spokane, Townshend Cellar produces wines, ports, dessert and huckleberry wines. Townsend is an ideal stop on your way to pick seasonal fruit and vegetables or join in a Thanksgiving or Christmas holiday celebration at the family farms on Green Bluff.

Looking for a little post-shopping or pre-dinner tasting? Let us suggest a few downtown tasting rooms to visit:

• Founded by two attorneys and housed in a 100-year-old converted warehouse in the Davenport Arts District, Barrister Winery produces limited quantities of premium wines and hosts weekend and special events.

• With a winery in Walla Walla and a tasting room in Woodinville, Patit Creek Cellars recently expanded to Spokane.

• Whitestone Winery creates artisan Bordeaux-style reds from grapes grown on their property overlooking Lake Roosevelt.

• Cougar Crest Estate Winery in Walla Walla recently opened a downtown tasting room, showcasing award-winning varietals.

• Winner of four prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competitions, Dry Fly Distillery practices farm-to-bottle distilling, crafting award-winning gin, vodka, wheat whiskey and bourbon from locally grown grains and botanicals.

• No-Li Brewhouse (formerly Northern Lights Brewing Company) has been around since 1993 and can claim its place as one of the region’s first craft breweries. Today they brew and serve from their restaurant and brewery on the banks of the Spokane River.

• Opening in 1999, the Steam Plant Grill crafts and serves a variety of styles in the historic downtown steam plant as well as distributing to area restaurants.

• East of downtown, Iron Goat Brewing creates seasonal beers and small test batches of what they call “wild ideas.” New in 2013, Hopped Up Brewing in Spokane Valley is run by a husband, wife and two daughters. And if you’d rather sit in one spot and sample several brews along with a good meal, Manito Tap House has 50 tap handles, with an emphasis on craft beers.

Cutting Edge Cuisine

Manito Tap House is known for more than just its 50 tap handles. The locally-owned gastropub is the only four-star certified green independent restaurant in the West. The designation as one of the most environmentally-responsible eateries in the country combined with its highly-regarded cuisine, led to the South Hill pub being named one of “America’s Greenest Restaurants of 2014.”

Several Spokane area chefs are serving up world-class cuisine. This year Chef Jeremy L. Hansen, owner and executive chef of Santé Restaurant & Charcuterie, was inducted into the Best Chefs America and Butcher’s Guild. He also took a top place honor at the Good Food Awards. Last year, he and his culinary team prepared the “Northwest Bounty Dinner” at the esteemed James Beard House in New York City.

Idaho native Chef Adam Hegsted was invited to serve as guest chef at the James Beard House in 2012. In 2014, he opened two restaurants in Spokane’s Kendall Yards. The Yards: A Bruncheon is a contemporary style diner that serves brunch seven days a week. The Wandering Table features Northwest-centric woodfired tapas and cocktails.

Many other award-winning chefs are dishing up creative cuisine in the Inland Northwest. Whether you’re hungry for hand-crafted charcuterie, perfectly prepared Northwest trout, or farm-to-table fare, the Spokane food scene will satisfy your craving.