Liberty Lake Wine Cellars Celebrates 20 Years of Bold Red Mountain Wines

A Leap of Faith

Nestled between Spokane Valley and Coeur d’Alene, Liberty Lake might seem an unlikely home for a boutique winery specializing in big, bold reds. But for Mark and Sarah Lathrop, owners of Liberty Lake Wine Cellars, it’s the perfect backdrop for a story that blends risk, resilience, and love.

In late 2015 the Lathrops, who had no experience in winemaking, learned that the winery was closing its doors. “In September we sent an email to the original owners and asked what they were doing,” Sarah says. “They were just going to sell everything. We said, ‘If you stay on for a year, we’ll purchase the winery.’ By December, we owned it.”

That leap of faith came with challenges. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” Mark admits. “We had never made wine. Not even at home. They showed us the equipment once and said, ‘Go for it.’” Their first batch of Syrah landed them in Wine Spectator, a sign they were on the right track.

The early days were humble. “Our old space was a small townhouse overlooking the lake,” Sarah says. “It was beautiful, but we had to carry barrels upstairs and down. We couldn’t even open in winter because cars couldn’t get up the hill.”

A focus on quality ingredients and unique experiences

Today the winery operates from a custom-built facility with 240 barrels, up from just 40 in the old space. Their approach to winemaking is as hands-on as their business story. “We do everything ourselves—from harvest to bottling,” Mark explains. “We truck the fruit in, and because we’re so close, we can pick at just the right time. That means less manipulation and a fresher product.”

The Lathrops have maintained the winery’s focus on small-lot wines, while cultivating new experiences for visitors “We introduced our Thursday wine club night, which has been the most popular thing for all of our members,” Sarah explains. “It’s a more relaxed atmosphere. We try not to be snobby about it. We try to make it really fun, not too stuffy.”

Liberty Lake Wine Cellars prides itself on minimal intervention. “Our wines are vegan, with very few additives,” Sarah says. “People always tell us, ‘Your wine is so smooth.’ That’s because we avoid pumps, which introduce oxygen and require more sulfites.”

Fiercely Local

One of the most defining aspects of Liberty Lake Wine Cellars is that commitment to local customers and helping to elevate the larger Spokane wine scene. “We ship to maybe 15 people,” Sarah says. “Everyone else is Spokane or Liberty Lake.” That loyalty proved invaluable during COVID, when members kept the winery afloat. Out of that came Thursday Wine Club Nights, fun, themed gatherings that break the mold of traditional tasting rooms.

This local-first model shapes their pricing and philosophy. “Because we’re not selling half our wine to grocery stores, we can keep prices fair and our quality high,” Sarah explains. “Everybody wins.”

As president of the Spokane Winery Association, Sarah champions a network of 17 wineries and bottle shops. “Wine people are the best people,” she says. “If you need bottles or advice, someone’s there to help.”

Behind the Scenes

Sarah runs the tasting room and wine club, while Mark handles production “and power washing,” he jokes. Winemaking is a long game: “What we crushed last week won’t be released until 2029,” Mark says. That timeline makes planning tricky, so they focus on small lots, never more than 200 cases per wine. “It’s why we’re a bad fit for grocery stores,” Sarah notes. “But perfect for our club.”

Visitors can expect a relaxed, lively space with stainless steel accents and a patio for yard games and music. Tastings are unhurried, with pre-poured flights and plenty of conversation.

“You’ll leave with a bottle you love and a story behind it,” Sarah says.

Events in Spokane Learn More
Official Spokane Visitor Guide & Maps Learn More
Things To Do in Spokane, WA Learn More