To no one's surprise, Portland's natural wine scene is bumping with nearby Willamette Valley gems. But beyond the plethora of local juice, a wide selection of New World and Old World wines can be found amidst the bottle shops, wine bars, and restaurants scattered throughout the city. When it comes to natural wine, Portland is like a house party with different themed rooms. In other words, you are bound to find something you love, and you are guaranteed to have a good time.
Must-Visit Natural Wine Bars
Looking to track down a bottle of Costadilà? Go out for an afternoon glass of Beckham rosé while basking in the sunshine? Or maybe drink through a curated list of white, orange, and red wines on a Friday night? Portland has got you covered with these natural wine bars.
Nil Wine Bar
Nil is an extension of the bottle shop, Ardor. Just next door, Nil offers pours of everything good and always seems to have something going on whether it be a DJ set, a winemaker pour through, or a pizza pop-up. It's casual, light, airy and just about sums up the hip side of natural wine that reverberates through the city.
Les Caves & Le Clos
A collaboration between John and Ksenija House and Jeff Vejr, the two spaces are closely associated, yet offer very different vibes. Les Caves is a subterranean wine bar carved out below ground. The rustic, 18-seat space makes you feel like you've traded the streets of Portland for Paris. Just above it, newly established Le Clos offers a covered, open-air option to lounge and sip your wine. Both spaces provide a carefully crafted list of Old World and New World natural wines.
Bar Norman
Bar Norman is a sweetheart space located on SE Division Street. Here, Dana Frank, known throughout the city's wine community and beyond, curates a compelling list. Both a bottle shop and bar, look forward to a cheery, bright space where you can taste from Hungry to Australia. Along with your glass of furmint, you'll find Dana's cookbook, Wine Food, in the shop. Pick up a copy to learn how she thinks about pairings and convivial gatherings.
Bar Diane
Bar Diane is a bright and colorful space in Nob Hill splashing natural wine by the glass and serving up small bites of Hamachi crudo, burrata, and oysters on the half shelf. The rotating wine list covers everything from Willamette Valley pinot noir, to Jura chardonnay, to Slovenian welschriesling, to Emilan-Romagnan pignoletto. The cheerful, stylized space is the perfect spot to share a good bottle with friends.
Dame
Dame is in northeast Portland, not too far from Hat Yai, so you can get your fried chicken and sticky rice fix on your walk there. Woman-owned, they serve up a selection of natural wines and Italian inspired dishes with seasonal, local produce in the eclectic space. During the pandemic they pivoted to running a bottle shop, which they have kept alive online since reopening for indoor dining. Head over to find that skin-contact wine from Cantina Giardino and eat a bowl of stuffed pasta.
Enoteca Nostrana
Enoteca Nostrana is a fun little place with delicious food and a pleasing wine list. Austin Bridges puts together a list that will likely include some old favorites as well as some new friends. If you fall in love while sipping your bubbles and eating your blue prawn tortelloni, you may want to look into joining the monthly wine club, Thirsty Thursday, where you'll receive a diverse array of hand-picked bottles that are bound to impress both you and your friends.
Portland Bottle Shops & More
Ready to stock your home cellar? There are numerous bottle shops throughout the city that offer a great selection of natural wines. Find one in your neighborhood or, better yet, make a point to visit them all.
Ardor
Small but mighty, Ardor has a beautifully curated selection of natural wines which quite literally span from floor to ceiling. The Southeast Belmont bottle shop brings the heat with a wide array of wines. You'll recognize some classic labels here, but you'll also come across more austere bottles that are a real treat to find. The staff are warm and helpful, so go in and get chatting to find something truly special.
45th Parallel Wines
The North Portland space carries a variety of wine, beer, and cider but focuses on highlighting the unique selection of sustainably produced wines from Oregon. You can browse the bottle collection and stay for a glass. You'll also find a small selection of other goodies like tinned fish, chocolate, and local cheese.
Division Wines
Division Wines, fittingly located on SE Division Street, is a staple in the Portland wine scene. Danyelle and Will Prouty strive to bring people together over expressive wines in the humble space. With more than 800 bottles to choose from, you'll want to take your time browsing the selection. Grab a few bottles while there and sit down at the wine bar to enjoy one with a charcuterie board.
Wellspent Market
Wellspent Market is your stop if you are en route to a picnic or similar and need to fill your basket with a range of goodies. A gourmet grocery store with some great wine on the shelves, you can get your matiz sardines, Meinklang Prosa rosé, Jasper Hill Farm cheese, crackers, and Castelvetrano olives all in one stop. Be sure to check out their events page as they always seem to have something fun on the calendar from sake tastings to wine releases.
OK Omens
Calling themselves "a wine focused restaurant", OK Omens serves up a fun selection of natural wine alongside oysters, fresh salads, and burger and fries. They break their wine list up in a fun and unique way that helps you to find that cloudy wine with a hint of VA or steer you towards a more classic nebbiolo. The riesling section will just make you chuckle. Go with friends and plan for a light-hearted evening of eating and drinking.
Drinking in the City of Roses
While Portland isn't very big, it packs a punch when it comes to the natural wine scene. With walkable neighborhoods and bike friendly streets, you can easily check out a couple bottle shops and wine bars while visiting for a long weekend.
