Wine Touring in Eastern Washington State NW USA
Visit Spokane, Washington's Unique Wineries, Hotels and Restaurants
Oct 23, 2009
Building a trip around wine touring should include a stop in Washington State, North America’s second-largest wine region where world-class wines are produced. Spokane, Washington, the largest city in eastern Washington State, boasts 14 wineries known for their small production facilities with winemakers personally overseeing the crafting of wines from vineyard to bottle.
Travel by car or walk to these boutique wineries, where each specializes in a different aspect of wine making. Seven wineries are centered in the downtown Spokane area, with seven wineries in and around nearby Spokane Valley. Lodging options in Spokane include an AAA four-diamond-rated hotel, unique boutique hotels and larger regional hotels. Dining varies from trendy to elegant.
Downtown Spokane Wineries
Drive or walk to Spokane’s downtown area wineries and visit their tasting rooms, many in historic buildings:
- Barili Cellars is a new winery that produces quality wines, such as viognier, chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.
- Barrister Winery, open since 2001, welcomes visitors to its tasting room to sample Bordeaux varietals and syrah.
- Caterina Winery has been creating handcrafted wines, such as four varieties of merlot, since 1993.
- Grande Ronde Cellars, begun in 1997, produces Bordeaux-blend red wines, highly rated by Wine Spectator magazine.
- Lone Canary Winery, open since 2003, crafts elegant wines, including sauvignon blanc and Italian and Bordeaux red varietals.
- Robert Karl Cellarsoffers premium, award-winning wines, such as cabernet sauvignon, claret, merlot and sauvignon blanc.
- Vintage Hill Cellars, a relatively new winery, focuses on merlot, syrah, sauvignon blanc, viognier and Riesling.
Hotels and Restaurants in Downtown Spokane
Choose from a variety of hotels in downtown Spokane, many within walking distance of the wineries:
- The Davenport Hotel and Tower is an AAA four-diamond facility in an historic renovated hotel in the heart of downtown Spokane. The Davenport has lobbies, ballrooms and restaurants evoking Marie Antoinette, the Elizabethan era, a Spanish courtyard and Italian architecture.
- The Montvale Hotel features simple elegance in an historic mansion setting. Its two-story lobby with a large fireplace is topped by a glass atrium.
- Hotel Lusso, a classy boutique hotel, offers European charm. Conde Nast Traveler magazine recently placed the Lusso on its gold list.
- The Doubletree Hotel, adjacent to the Spokane River, connects to the Convention Center via a sky bridge.
- Red Lion Hotel at the Park, on the other side of the river, is a gateway to the sprawling Riverfront Park.
Downtown Spokane abounds in high-quality restaurants:
- Wild Sage American Bistro features an avant garde dining experience and the freshest food.
- Mizuna Restaurant is known for innovative Northwest cuisine from local ingredients.
- Anthony’s at the Falls has outstanding views of the Spokane Falls and an abundance of seafood.
- Moxie Restaurant offers an eclectic, Asian-inspired menu in a hip setting.
- Clinkerdagger Restaurant affords fine dining, Old English ambiance and views of Spokane Falls.
Spokane Valley Wineries
Though more spread out, the unique wineries in the Spokane Valley area are worth visiting:
- Arbor Crest Wine Cellars is home to a Florentine-style mansion and National Historic Landmark with a panoramic view of the valley. Ultra-premium red and white wines are crafted by its female winemaker.
- Knipprath Cellars, in the historic Parkwater Schoolhouse (built in 1913), is known for its port wines as well as reds and whites.
- Latah Creek Winery, located near the freeway in a Spanish Mission-style building, is known as one of the top producers of merlot in Washington State.
- Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, located east of Spokane Valley, affords views of Liberty Lake and Mount Spokane. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah wines are handcrafted.
- Mountain Dome Winery, in the foothills of Mount Spokane, produces sparkling wines made in the French champenoise method and known as the best in the Northwest.
- Nodland Cellars, located off the freeway, considers winemaking an art, crafting small batches of Riesling and red blend wines.
- Townshend Cellar, in Green Bluff at the base of Mount Spokane, offers a variety of red and wine wines, including rose, gewürztraminer and huckleberry port.
Tour the Spokane wineries any time of year or visit them during Spring Barrel Tasting in early May or the Holiday Wine Festival in late November for samples of award-winning, handcrafted wines. A variety of lodging facilities are available in downtown Spokane as well as fine dining.
For more Northwest wine tours, visit Boise, Idaho's wineries in the Snake River alley and Oregon's north Willamette Valley's world-class wineries.
 |
 |
 |
