Killer frites, surprisingly honest wine list
Old Port · Portland · Belgian frites and sandwiches · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You come to Duckfat for the frites and you stay because the wine list somehow doesn't embarrass itself. It's short — maybe a dozen options — but someone clearly thought about it instead of just calling a distributor and saying 'send whatever.' The prices will make you do a double-take, and not in the bad way.
The list leans French and Italian, which is the right call for a place cooking in this tradition. There's a Manoline Sancerre that has no business being this affordable, a Nicchia Lambrusco that fits the casual vibe perfectly, and a Raza Vinho Verde that's basically a no-brainer on a warm Old Port evening. The Bluet Sparkling Blueberry is a fun local nod that could easily feel gimmicky but earns its place. Don't expect deep cuts or obscure producers — this list isn't trying to be a wine bar — but for a frites-and-panini joint, the curation is genuinely respectable.
Glass pours run somewhere in the 4-to-8 range, and based on the pricing structure they're accessible enough that you won't flinch ordering a second. The Scarpetta Prosecco at $11 a glass is a crowd-pleasing opener that works with basically everything on the menu. Rotation appears limited — this feels more like a set list than something that changes with the seasons.
Manoline Sancerre NV — $18
Sancerre at $18 a glass is nearly unheard of anywhere, let alone at a casual sandwich spot. Retail on this sits around $30, so the markup is almost embarrassingly fair. Order it.
Nicchia Lambrusco NV
Most people skip Lambrusco because they remember bad versions from the '90s. This one is the real deal — slightly fizzy, savory, low-key funky — and at $14 it's the most fun you'll have drinking wine with a duck fat panini.
Bluet Sparkling Blueberry NV
It's a Maine thing, and we respect the local love, but at $13 for a sparkling blueberry wine when the Sancerre is only $18, the math just doesn't work in its favor. Cute novelty, better left to first-timers.
Raza Vinho Verde NV + Duck fat-fried Belgian frites
Vinho Verde's natural acidity and light spritz cut straight through the richness of duck fat. It's the palate reset you need between handfuls of frites, and at $11 you can order two glasses without thinking twice.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Duckfat is a wildcard in the best sense — nobody expects a Belgian frites counter in Portland to pour Sancerre at near-retail prices, but here we are. If you're eating here anyway, there's zero reason to skip the wine.
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Acceptable
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