Eugene

Broadway Wine Merchants is the kind of place Eugene doesn't deserve to have tucked into a shopping center — a real wine program, a knowledgeable staff, and enough Oregon representation to make the locals proud. If you're anywhere near Oakway and you care about what's in your glass, this is a no-brainer stop.

B2 isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — it's a neighborhood spot with a list that respects both the region and your wallet. Send a friend here and tell them to order the Owen Roe Syrah before someone else does.

Fuji is a genuinely fun night out — the teppanyaki show is the main event and it delivers — but the wine list is strictly an afterthought, with steep markups on uninspired brands and zero connection to the cuisine or the local Oregon wine scene. Order the Riesling or the plum wine, enjoy the fire, and don't overthink it.

Kirin isn't a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but the prices are fair and the Riesling with your General Tso's is a quiet win. Order accordingly and keep your expectations calibrated.

Makoto's wine list is exactly what it is — a small, sensible selection built for a neighborhood Japanese spot that cares more about the food than the cellar. Order the Riesling, don't overthink it, and you'll leave happy.

Two50 is a dependable wine stop if you're already staying at the Graduate and don't want to venture out — but it's not a destination. Lean into the local Oregon pours, skip the marked-up commodity bottles, and you'll have a perfectly fine evening.

Iris Vineyards is a small producer doing their own thing in a town people usually drive through without stopping — and that's exactly why it's worth stopping. If you like the idea of drinking estate Oregon wine poured by people who actually grew it, this is your place.

Plank Town is a genuinely good brewpub and you should absolutely go there — just order a beer. The wine list exists to accommodate the one person in a group who doesn't drink beer, and it does that job adequately and nothing more.

Beppe & Gianni's punches above its weight for a neighborhood Italian spot — 180 labels with a real Italian spine and genuine Oregon representation is more than most trattoria-style restaurants bother with. If you're in Eugene and want something better than the default pasta-house wine experience, this is your spot.

Cafe Soriah isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be a great neighborhood restaurant, and the wine list delivers exactly that. Fair prices, a genuine Willamette Valley focus, and enough Italian and French depth to keep things interesting; send your friends here with confidence.

Bar Purlieu is punching well above its weight class for Eugene, and the list is genuinely worth your attention even with the steep markups. We'd send a friend here for the Chenin and the Grower Champagne and tell them to skip the Rioja — and they'd thank us for it.

Marché is a genuinely good neighborhood wine list wearing a slightly expensive suit. The curation is real and the France-Oregon focus makes sense — just go in knowing you'll pay a bit of a premium, and steer clear of the Jaboulet.

Ambrosia is a reliable downtown anchor with a wine list that earns its Wine Spectator badge without setting the world on fire — solid Italian-meets-Oregon selection, a knowledgeable staff, and markups that sting slightly less on Wednesdays. Go for the food, let the somm steer you to the Barbera, and book it mid-week.

Lion & Owl is the Wild Card because it shouldn't work this well — a farm-to-table spot in Eugene running a Wine Spectator-recognized list stacked with legitimate Willamette Valley producers. If you're eating here, you're already winning; order the Oregon Pinot and don't overthink it.