Oregon’s award-winning wine scene relies on a vast and diverse group of passionate people, and you don’t need to know a thing about the craft to enjoy it. Wine shops and wine bars around the state offer an excellent entry point, especially for newcomers who need help searching for a bottle that’s right for them. Here is a selection of fun, friendly wine bars and shops where the staff will have your back if you can’t tell a syrah from a chardonnay.
Wine and Community Building in Portland
Southeast Portland’s Daydream, which launched in August 2024, is a great place to start your journey into the world of wine. The focus of this cozy spot, which pairs an innovative wine list with regular DJ events, is to create a casual, friendly environment that showcases great music and approachable wines – including lesser-known varieties. “A core part of our ethos is the joy of discovery and to meet people where they are,” says Jeff Wilson, Daydream’s owner. “Just like with the music, we want to give our patrons exceptional wine in a cozy setting, but we don’t want the experience to feel overly precious. At the end of the day, we all just want to enjoy music and wine with friends.”
While you’re in Portland, be sure to also check out Vino, which sells wine by the glass and by the bottle and has a charcuterie vending machine; Corkscrew Wine Bar for a flourless chocolate torte with your pour; and Woodstock Wine & Deli, which also offers sandwiches and live music.
Find a Fantastic Bottle in Central and Eastern Oregon
Bend and Redmond are home to wine shops and bars that bring the fruits of that labor to the sunny eastern flanks. In downtown Bend, Sarah Grover Worley of Good Drop Wine Shoppe loves to help visitors figure out what wine they’ll enjoy the most while maintaining a fun, friendly atmosphere. “We like to think of ourselves as the ‘Cheers’ of Bend,” she says. “Wine can be overwhelming, so I let people know there are no dumb questions: Ask away.”
Many people, she says, think of Oregon as a pinot noir and chardonnay state, which is a good starting point. From there, she introduces her customers to other wine varieties from around the state, such as the malbecs and merlots of Southern Oregon, while introducing guests to Oregon’s wine regions and what makes them special. Grover Worley likes to steer people toward small producers such as family-owned Granville Wine Co. in the Dundee Hills or Hundred Suns Wine in the Eola-Amity Hills near McMinnville.
Other stops she recommends include Flights Wine Bar in Bend, where co-owner Kelsey Daniels helps customers try new wines. Daniels also offers desserts as well as meals like fried chicken and Champagne every Thursday. Headed to the Coast? For a breathtaking collection of bubbly, Grover Worley suggests Astoria’s beloved Brut Wine Bar.
In Redmond, be sure to stop by Testimony Wine Bar to sample wines from across Oregon paired with cheese, charcuterie, sandwiches and more. You can even take home a bottle or two from Testimony’s wine shop, which keeps over 400 bottles in stock. Also in Redmond, Beyond the Vine hosts events ranging from sommelier-led tastings to themed pairing dinners.
In the northeastern corner of the state, travelers have two spectacular shops to fill their passion for vino. Great Pacific and Alexander’s Artisan Chocolates & Vino Bistro, both in historic buildings in Pendleton’s historic downtown, are excellent spots to stop for a glass of wine between shopping and adventuring. Great Pacific pairs wine and cocktails with pizza and deli-style sandwiches, and has its own wine club highlighting small producers from the region. Alexander’s is an elegant wine bar and chocolate factory in one, run by an advanced sommelier and a French-trained chocolatier known for their decadent bonbons and other creations.
Friendly Bottle Shops and Wine Bars in the Willamette Valley
In the Willamette Valley, you can bet there are many welcoming places to learn more about Oregon wines. While you’re in the region, stop by HiFi, a wine bar in McMinnville, where you can sip local wines while listening to guest DJs spin vinyl in a sound-conditioned atmosphere.
Eugene has a number of excellent shops, each with their own specialty. Visit downtown’s Party Market & Wine for unusual bottles from all over the world; venerable Sundance Wine Cellars, with its impressive collection of pinot noirs; and Bo’s Wine Depot, which specializes in affordable, fun options available at its South Eugene shop and at its wine and jazz bar, Nero. In North Eugene, The Broadway Wine Merchants started after owner Angus James took a trip to France, where he loved seeing wine as a casual, normal part of everyday dining. James channeled that inspiration into his shop, where staff connect visitors with approachable wines in a welcoming space.
For another classic wine shop, head to Valley Wine Merchants in Newberg. Owner Andrew Turner started it after a distinguished stint working as a cook in some of the country’s most acclaimed restaurants and as a manager at Dundee’s Ponzi Wine Bar. His shop showcases hundreds of wines, including many small-lot artisanal options from the Willamette Valley.
