Arbor Crest Wine Cellars

Arbor Crest Winery is a labor of love from a family with a shared vision of producing high-quality wines at affordable prices. With a spectacular view overlooking the Spokane Valley, Arbor Crest Winery is a must-see. But equally gratifying at this stop are some serious wines certain to brighten anyone’s day. It’s no wonder Wine Spectator named Arbor Crest one of the “50 Great Producers Every Wine Lover Should Know” for quality and price. For example, Arbor Crest’s high-end syrah sells for $20 a bottle.

Keeping things in the family, Kristina Mielke van Loben Sels is the daughter of one of the winery’s founders as well as its winemaker, and her husband, Jim von Loben Sels, is the viticulturist and chief operations manager. Nice marriage. Together they produce about 20,000 cases of wine annually.

Back in 1985, the Mielke brothers purchased the Cliff House, a designated national historic landmark that sits 450 feet above the Spokane River. The mansion, which was built in 1924 by inventor Royal Riblet (honest, that was his name), houses Arbor Crest’s tasting room. (The actual wine-production facility is located about a mile down the road.) The tasting room staff is well-versed in the nuances of the wines and equally adept at making WineTrails adventurers feel at ease. There is a small 5-acre vineyard at the site, and its fruit is used to produce an estate-bottled sparkling wine. All other Arbor Crest wines are made from grapes grown in the Columbia Valley AVA .

The grounds feature gardens, picnic areas, scenic views, and a man-made waterfall. But one of the unique little pleasures of this winery is the presence of a manx cat, who can often be found lounging around the tasting room and gardens. As you may have guessed, this is a dog-free zone.

WineTrail Note: Check out Arbor Crest’s website for details on its summer concert series and other events, such as the Art & Glass Fest in August.

Directions: Take I-90 (east from Spokane, west from Coeur d'Alene) to the Argonne exit 287. Travel north on Argonne and cross the Spokane River. Turn right on Upriver Drive; proceed 1 mile and as the road forks bear left onto Fruithill Rd. Make a sharp right turn at the top of the hill. You are now on Arbor Crest's private drive.

Events: Summer concert series from June through September w/ free admission every Sunday evening. Glass on the Grass art show at the end of August. Participates in Spokane Winery Association events.

Addresses

• Spokane Valley-Kettle Falls WineTrail

  Winery

  4705 North Fruithill Road, Spokane, WA 99217
  Hours: Daily 12–5
  47.700734-117.250571
• Spokane Valley-Kettle Falls WineTrail

  Satellite tasting room

  808 W. Main Street, 3rd Floor, Spokane, WA 99201
  Hours: Daily 12–5
  47.659169-117.423786