Spokane Valley-based Arbor Crest Wine Cellars has opened a new tasting room in the Historic Davenport Hotel downtown.

The tasting room occupies a 290-square-foot space on the lobby level of the hotel, at 10 S. Post.

Matt Jensen, corporate director of marketing for Davenport Hotels, says the newly converted space was formerly the back corner of the Davenport Home Store.

“We’d had prior plans to remodel and scale back the home store a bit,” he says. “It just happened to be perfect timing that we had the extra space to offer at the same time Arbor Crest was looking for a downtown spot.”

Jim van Loben Sels, Arbor Crest Wine Cellars’ general manager, says there are plans to expand the space to 500 square feet by January.

“We didn’t have to do much work to convert the space before occupancy,” he says. “It has stool and standing options for seating, and once we expand it a bit in January there will be some window seating available.”

Van Loben Sels says the concept behind the space is to offer hotel guests another entertainment option after shopping at the Home Store or during times when the neighboring Peacock Lounge is full.

“We’ve had a 15-plus-year partnership with the Davenport,” he says. “They’ve served our wines as part of their banquet program.”

Jensen says enhancing the guest experience is an ongoing priority for Davenport hotels and adding a new tasting room near the hotel is part of that effort.

“Anytime you can add to the comfort and convenience of the guest experience, it’s a good thing,” he says. “This offering gives our guests the chance to enjoy another amazing Washington wine. It also contributes to our local economy and helps to build the Washington wine brand among our out-of-town guests.”