At the intersection of the Willamette Valley and the Columbia River Gorge, Portland is in a prime spot for wine lovers. In the years running up to the pandemic, the city built its wine scene up with a boom of new wine bars. Rather than stuffy, old-school bars serving predictable glasses of Oregon pinot or California syrah over bowls of tired Marcona almonds, Portlanders could find chic, relaxed spots serving everything from Slovenian orange wines and fried chicken to grower Champagne and Pacific Northwestern oysters. And, of course, plenty of glasses of Oregon pinot and Californian syrah.
Since the pandemic, things have, naturally, looked a little different. Many of Portland’s favorite wine bars were forced to transform their dining rooms into takeout markets and build makeshift websites for bottle delivery. Others closed their doors — some, like Shift Drinks, permanently; others, like Ambonnay and Sardine Head, are currently closed but may open again down the line. And, as the delta variant continues to torment the state, some, like Enoteca Nostrana and Coopers Hall, are sticking to the bottle-shop model, without the wine bar schtick.
Nevertheless, the city perseveres, and today there are plenty of places to imbibe some natural wines with some tinned fish. These are Portland’s best spots to tuck into some vino and snacks. As usual, this map is organized geographically, not by ranking.
The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.
Read More