Vino! looks to add wine service later this month; state approves a second license
For most of its nearly 20 years in business, Spokane’s Vino! Retail wine shop has served one- or two-ounce wine tastes to customers.
Sometime this month the shop, at 222 S. Washington, plans to open part of its store as a serving bar, allowing customers to order a full glass of wine.
Co-owner John Allen said the state has approved Vino!’s application for a new serving license. Up to now, its retail tasting room license allowed small tastes up to a total of eight ounces per customer.
The switch is part of the shop’s goal of allowing people to hang out and socialize.
Vino decided to divide the store into two sections. The front half is still the retail side where small tastes are allowed. The back half will be the fuller-service wine bar. It will operate on Friday and Saturday afternoons only, to avoid being considered a tavern, Allen said.
Customers can either order a glass of wine from the wines the store is sampling that day. Or they can buy a bottle and pay a corkage fee and drink it there.