Four Spokane-area residents have applied for a liquor license to open a winery here to be called Barili Cellars.

Russell and Marlene Feist, along with Steve and Dana Trabun, are seeking a state liquor license through their company, Barili Cellars LLC, Feist says. She says they won't know if the state will allow the operation until renovations are completed on the space they are renting in a building at 608 W. Second owned by Spokane businessman Steve Salvatori.

Salvatori says WAM Construction, of Spokane, is remodeling the space, including about 500 square feet of retail storefront on the main level, and about 800 square feet of space in the basement that is to be used for wine production. The space will be ready for occupancy sometime in the first quarter, Salvatori says.

Russell Feist says the couples became interested in winemaking 10 years ago and that the planned startup winery is "a hobby gone bad."

Feist says Dana Trabun is studying to become certified to oversee wine production. Both Russell Feist and Steve Trabun are employed at Avista Corp. here, and Marlene Feist works for the city of Spokane.

The wine cellar would buy grapes from growers in the region. The partners would like to open Barili Cellars in May, he says.