Texas smoke meets Oregon terroir, somehow it works
Downtown · Portland · Texan–Pacific Northwest, Wood-fired American · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed June 17, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bullard Tavern’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bullard Tavern doesn't scream 'wine destination' — it whispers it. For a place built around smoked brisket and fried chicken, the presence of Corison Cab and Lingua Franca Chard on the same list is a genuine surprise. This is a kitchen-first room that still took the time to put together something worth reading.
Thirty to fifty bottles is a tight canvas, but Bullard uses it well. The list leans into Oregon and California with a nod to Texas, which makes sense given the concept — you're not here for Burgundy, you're here for something that can go toe-to-toe with wood smoke and rendered fat. Bedrock Wine Co.'s Old Vine Zinfandel is exactly the kind of call that signals someone behind the scenes actually thought about the food. The Texas representation is a nice touch — rare to see it taken seriously outside of Texas itself, and it anchors the list's identity.
Eight pours in the $10–$16 range is a respectable by-the-glass program for a tavern format. The pricing doesn't gouge, which is more than you can say for most downtown Portland spots. We'd like to see the glass list rotate more aggressively — right now it feels like it was set once and left alone.
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel — $14
Old vine Zin at tavern prices is a rare thing. Bedrock makes some of the most honest, terroir-driven Zinfandel in California, and getting it by the glass in a room full of smoked meat is exactly the right call.
Lingua Franca Chardonnay
Most people at Bullard are ordering red wine with their brisket — fair — but the Lingua Franca Chard is an Eola-Amity Hills bottle that can handle richness. Skip the predictable Pinot and order this with the fried chicken. You'll be the most interesting person at the table.
Corison Cabernet Sauvignon
Corison is a legendary Napa producer and the wine is great — but at a tavern markup without the white-tablecloth context to justify it, you're paying Napa Cab prices for a brisket-and-beer room. Save this bottle for somewhere that can do it justice.
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel + Smoked Brisket
Old vine Zin has the fruit weight and peppery backbone to match wood-smoked beef without getting steamrolled by it. This is the combo Bullard was quietly built for.
The Bottom Line
Bullard Tavern is the Wild Card badge in its purest form — a smoked-meat joint that snuck in a genuinely considered wine list without making a fuss about it. Send a friend here if they think good wine and good brisket can't coexist.
Dundee · Portland · Italian, French, American
The official site identifies The Dundee Bistro as closed. The wine selections described here are historical context, not current availability. This notice does not establish a closure date or a future reopening.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Pearl District · Portland · Italian/Mediterranean
A restaurant list with 15 pours by the glass from $11 to $17 and a bottle list from 40 to 1100, split by country. Start with the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza '22 at $12, or the Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico '22 at $16 alongside the Radiatore, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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A charcuterie restaurant with a natural-leaning wine list and a 12-pour glass list on the dinner menu. Start with the $14/glass Hoppenot gamay, or split the $55 Stick Figurine orange wine across a board, and confirm current availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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Alberta Arts · Portland · Italian
An Italian-leaning bottle list with an Oregon side, and no glass pours posted. Order the $65 Bow and Arrow Gamay, or the $65 Keltis 'Zan White' Slovenian Orange Blend if you want an orange wine, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted Spring & Summer ’26 beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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