Best Urban Wineries in Portland
These city-based establishments are changing the way we view Oregon wine country.
When someone mentions Oregon wine country, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley—the state’s largest wine region—and though that’s a good instinct to have, there are some city folk who are changing the way we perceive wineries in the Beaver State.
In bustling Portland, dozens of wineries have popped up within the city limits, trading in those rolling hills for a view of downtown and a rustic barn operation for warehouses outfitted with fermenting vats and barrels.
These are called urban wineries, and they’re taking the city by storm, not just because of their convenience, but also because of the variety of grapes these winemakers are able to harvest and bottle. Oregon is known for its pinots, and these urban wineries offer wonderful Pinot Noir and Gris, along with so much more. Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.
Hip Chicks Do Wine
Hip Chicks Do Wine is Portland’s oldest winery. Opening up a shop in 1999, the women-owned operation produces wine from grapes sourced in Oregon and Washington. Its Southeast tasting room offers a rotating flight of six wines that include selections such as Bad Girl Blanc, Riot Girl Rose, Drop Dead Red and Wine Bunny Rouge.
Coopers Hall
Coopers Hall is housed in an old auto body shop in Buckman neighborhood and perfectly combines two very Portland things: good wine and taprooms. The space is open, so there’s no confines between the winery and taproom, allowing patrons to observe how their wine gets made. Pair a nice selection of reds and whites on tap with dinner offerings, and you’ve got a whole night planned.
ENSO Winery
ENSO specializes in hand crafting authentic old-world style wines. Housed in a Buckman warehouse, the urban winery has been bottling small-batch wines since 2011, with grapes sourced from Oregon, Washington, and California. In addition to some sensational red and white blends, ENSO offers Malbecs, Cabernet Francs, Chardonnays, and cans some delightfully refreshing sangria.
Teutonic Wine Company
Teutonic Wine Company is a hipster wine lover’s dream. The SE tasting room has the vibe of a neighborhood bar, with records constantly spinning and libations constantly flowing. The urban winery specializes in German-style wines like Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Meunier. It even offers a club called Wine Crüe that includes the “Ultra High Fidelity” membership, which not only gets you 12 bottles of wine, three times a year, but also the ability to purchase records for Teutonic to add to its collection.
Seven Bridges Winery
Seven Bridges is the winery for lovers of bold red varietals. Sourcing grapes from a multitude of vineyards in Washington and north-central Oregon, the North Portland winery only offers red wines, specializing in making red blends including a Cabernet Sauvignon-based “Resolution,” Malbec-based “Equilibrium,” Merlot based “Paradox,” and a premium blend “Prima Nata,” which blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
Boedecker Cellars
You didn’t think we’d make a list of Oregon wineries without featuring at least one that specialized in Pinot Noir, did you? The husband and wife duo at Boedecker Cellars began making wine in the Willamette Valley before moving operations to Northwest Portland. Luckily, they’re still only 40 miles away from the vineyards where they harvest their grapes. Aside from Pinot Noir, Boedecker Cellars also make a variety of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and a white blend.