Wine Wednesday Changes Everything on Burnside
Southeast Portland · Portland · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list at Davenport reads like it was curated by someone who actually travels — Loire Valley discoveries rubbing shoulders with Sicilian gems and elegant Oregon pinots, all under one cozy Southeast Portland roof. It's 150 bottles deep, which is ambitious for a single dining room on E Burnside. You don't expect this kind of range walking into a neighborhood spot, and that's exactly the point.
Davenport anchors itself in Oregon — makes sense given the address — but the real intrigue is how far it reaches beyond state lines. Loire Valley producers bring the kind of acid-driven whites and savory reds that make food taste better, while the Sicilian section skews toward indigenous varieties most Portland restaurants wouldn't bother with. The Piedmont representation adds old-world gravitas without turning the list into a museum piece. There are no obvious filler bottles here; every region on this list appears to have been chosen with intention.
Somewhere between 12 and 18 options by the glass, which is a respectable spread for a room this size. The pours track with the broader list philosophy — expect at least one Loire white, a rotating Oregon red, and something from Italy that'll make you look twice. Rotation appears tied to the bottle program, so what's interesting on the list tends to show up in the glass.
Oregon Pinot Noir (house selection) — $45
On any given Wednesday, this is half price — making it one of the better deals in Portland for a proper Oregon pinot in a restaurant setting. The entry-level bottle price is already fair; at 50% off it's almost irresponsible not to order it.
Sicilian selection
Most tables at Davenport are going to reach for the Oregon section by reflex, which means the Sicilian bottles sit underordered. Indigenous Sicilian varieties — think Nerello Mascalese or Carricante — at this price point in a restaurant context are genuinely rare. Ask your server what's pouring from Sicily right now.
Top-end bottles near $200
The ceiling on this list hits $200, and at that price point in a neighborhood bistro, you're paying for the occasion more than the wine. The sweet spot here is firmly in the $45–$80 range — that's where Davenport's curation earns its keep.
Loire Valley white + Roasted chicken
A Muscadet or Savennières-style Loire white cuts through the richness of a properly roasted bird in a way that heavier Chardonnay never quite manages. The high acid keeps each bite tasting like the first one.
Wednesday — 50% off all bottles of wine
🎲 The Bottom Line
Davenport is the kind of neighborhood wine list that makes you wish every block had one — thoughtful, fairly priced, and genuinely surprising without being precious about it. Come on a Wednesday and you'll leave wondering why you ever paid full price for wine anywhere else.
Northwest 23rd · Portland · Rustic French / Northwest French
St. Jack is the rare Portland restaurant where the wine list earns as much respect as the kitchen. The French-Oregon axis is well-executed, the staff knows what they're talking about, and the pot lyonnais format alone is worth the trip.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Portland · Mexico City–inspired tacos and small plates
Tope is a Wild Card in the best sense — a rooftop taqueria that's quietly assembled a natural and low-intervention wine list worth paying attention to. If you're eating here and only drinking mezcal cocktails, you're leaving half the story on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portland · Texan–Pacific Northwest, Wood-fired American
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.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Waterfront · Portland · Seafood, Pacific Northwest
King Tide earns its Wild Card badge by hiding a genuinely curious, well-priced wine list inside what could easily have been a forgettable hotel seafood room. If you're eating oysters on the Willamette, you could do a lot worse than Domaine de l'Écu in your glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Concordia · Portland · New American
Dame is the rare neighborhood restaurant where the wine list is genuinely worth the trip on its own. Send your friends here — just tell them to skip the safe picks and trust the list.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Buckman · Portland · Russian/Eastern European
Kachka is the best argument in Portland for drinking wines you've never heard of — the list is adventurous, the staff backs it up, and the food was built for exactly these bottles. Send every curious wine drinker you know.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Contemporary American
By George is a fine place to drink wine if you know what you're walking into — a curated-but-safe list built for a stylish crowd that wants rosé and bubbles without friction. Come for the Crémant and the Tavel; don't expect to find anything that'll make you rethink your relationship with wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Contemporary American
Nine-Ten is a genuinely good restaurant with a competent wine program — the sommelier is present, the list is legitimate, and the setting earns the price of admission. But the markups are aggressive enough that you'll want to be selective, because this list can eat your wallet if you reach for the obvious names.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Winston Salem · Contemporary American
Sir Winston is the rare hotel restaurant that makes a real effort on wine, and for Winston-Salem, that counts for a lot. Pricing runs steep enough that you'll feel it by the second bottle, but the selection earns at least one visit from anyone who takes wine seriously.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.