Best Wine Bars – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Is it wine o’clock yet? If you’re into wine and are planning to spend some time in Coeur d’Alene, you’re in luck. Coeur d’Alene has some great wine bars. I love tasting through wines and “traveling across the globe” as I go. If we can’t travel right now due to COVID, we can at least pretend to travel by drinking wine from different countries, right?
Here is some information about Coeur d’Alene’s wine bars and what to expect when you visit. I’ve ranked them by my own personal preference and recommendation, starting with my #1 favorite. Cheers!
#1 LiveForBlu
Best Local PNW Wines, Best Flight, Best Event Space
LiveForBlu has been open for about a year now on Sherman Ave., and I’d have to say it is my #1 favorite wine bar in Coeur d’Alene. When I walked in, I was very impressed with their decor and atmosphere. It was so modern, trendy, and inviting. LiveForBlu rents out their place for events, so if you’re needing a great spot for your next bridal shower or birthday party, this is a great option. It’s gorgeous on the inside. The owner, Camron, features his photography and art throughout the space, which are sourced from his travels. There is an ocean/surfing theme sprinkled throughout that makes it the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine. LiveForBlu’s theme is “When Water Meets Wine Country.”
LiveForBlue offers a few small food items like cheese and meat and smoked salmon. They invite their guests to bring their own food in to enjoy while they visit. If there was one downside to LiveForBlu, it would be that I wish they offered a larger food menu. There is live music every Friday night from 6-9 PM. Virginia, one of the employees, was so friendly and kind, and she made it an afternoon well spent.
The Wine
Out of all the wine bars in town, LiveForBlu has the best local PNW wine selection. They have a bordeaux blend from Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla that is extremely hard to get ahold of, among other noteworthy local wines. But you won’t just find local wines here. They also feature global wines, so there is something for everyone. I’d say they offer the best flights, in either reds or whites. I really enjoyed the Triennes rosé from France as well as the Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. In the red flight, I loved the Elephant Seven Red Blend Syrah from Walla Walla.
505 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene
#2 Studio 107
Best International Selection, Best Wine by the Glass
Studio 107 has been in business for 20 years on Sherman Ave. It’s ran by a really sweet lady named Trish. She started off by making and selling jewelry, then little by little added local art to showcase, and now has added wine and turned her business into a very successful wine bar. She said it makes sense to her because jewelry, art and wine, are all a celebration of “the finer things in life.”
Studio 107 has partnered with Collective Kitchen, a great restaurant next door, which provides more dining options than your basic wine bar. They offer sandwiches, pizza, tacos, and a variety of appetizers that go well with wine like cheese boards, bacon wrapped figs, and a hummus platter. Their blueberry cobbler is also to die for. So if you want dinner and wine at the same time, this is the place! On Friday nights, you can enjoy live music from 6-8 PM.
The Wine
Trish and her friend, Tom, work together to source the wine at Studio 107. Tom calls himself a wine geek, and has a fantastic palette. He has visited wineries from all around the world. Studio 107 has an expansive international wine list, and I’d say it’s the best that Coeur d’Alene has to offer. While they do sell half bottles and wine by the glass, they don’t do half glasses or flights at this time. (There are times during the year where they do offer flights.) Their wine menu is always changing as they taste through new wines, with an exception for Bel Gloss Pinot Noir, a favorite among the regulars. A notable producer that they offer is Casanova di Neri out of Tuscany. They also have a Poet’s Leap Riesling, in a half bottle for only $12. Such a good price for a quality wine.
503 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene
#3 Vine and Olive
Best Ambiance, Most Kid Friendly
Vine and Olive is a great choice for a night out. I would describe it as more of a bistro with a great wine program than a wine bar. Since Vine and Olive is a restaurant, it is the only place on this list that is kid friendly, which I can appreciate as a mom. I love the feel of this place and the space that they’ve created. Vine and Olive wins best ambiance. It’s located in the Village at Riverstone, just off of Northwest Blvd. and I-15.
The food at Vine and Olive is good overall and elevated for Coeur d’Alene. The portions, however, are small. They offer many different gluten-free options on their menu. Their fried acorn squash starter with the spicy mayo dipping sauce is one of my favorite appetizers. And you’ll get great service here—we are always well cared for when we visit.
The Wine
Vine and Olive’s wine selection is exceptional. They know how to source wine that showcases each wines’ characteristics and terroir. They have an impressive wine list showcasing both local wines and those from across the globe. You can rest assured that you will pick something by the glass or bottle that you’re going to love. I was impressed that they were selling a Cayuse Syrah by the bottle, one of the biggest cult wines in Washington that is nearly impossible to get. I love how they offer half glasses, allowing their guests to try different wines, and they also allow you to build your own flight which I really loved. It’s a great place to try a variety of high quality unique wines.
2037 N. Main St., Coeur d’Alene
#4 Wine House
Best Patio Area and Outdoor Space
Wine House just opened in July on the East end of Sherman Ave. The owners of Wine House took an old pawn shop and created a fun space where people could come and hang out while drinking wine. The standout to me for Wine House is their outdoor space. It is so inviting, with the warm fires and cute umbrella tables. They did a great job creating a space where people want to go and enjoy their weekend. I especially appreciate a great outdoor space while the country battles COVID. The inside is also cute with a modern, trendy, decor.
The Wine
Wine House offers a variety of global wines. They sell wine by the glass and offer three different flights- white, red, rosé. We ordered their red flight and their white flight. While I was impressed with the generosity of the pour, I felt that the wines fell a bit flat. I plan to return and try their rosé flight. It features SMAK rosé, a woman-owned and operated winery in Walla Walla that makes rosé year round. The best wine on their menu was the Pine Ridge Viognier from Napa, California. But while the atmosphere shines at Wine House, I felt they could use some help sourcing their wines and bringing in some more noteworthy selections. I also think it would be helpful to hire employees that are a bit more knowledgeable about wine and what their menu offers.
1621 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene
One More Thing…
Beverly’s
If you’re in Coeur d’Alene and you're looking for great wine, make sure to visit Beverly’s for dinner, inside of The Coeur d’Alene Resort. They have one of the most extensive wine collections in the Northwest. Most people are surprised to find such a well curated wine selection in a small town in Idaho. The sommelier at Beverly’s, Paige, is lovely and is happy to talk wine with you. More information about Beverly’s is found in this blog post, as well as other great dining options in Coeur d’Alene.
Special thanks to my friend Taylor for helping me with this blog post. Make sure to follow her wine account on Instagram, @thiswaywithtay.
Have you checked out any of these wine bars in Coeur d’Alene? I’d love to hear about your experiences and which place is your favorite! Leave me a comment below. Hungry? Check out my blog post about the best Mexican food in Coeur d’Alene.
