Old World Depth in a High Desert Town
Bend · Bend · American, European
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Flights Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You don't expect to walk into a wine bar in Bend and find Gaja and Guigal sitting on the same list — but here we are. Flights earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence with a France-and-Italy-first approach that feels intentional, not accidental. For a college-adjacent strip in Central Oregon, the ambition here is real.
The list leans hard into the Old World, and that's exactly where it delivers. France anchors things with Burgundy representation from Domaine Drouhin and Louis Jadot, and the Rhône shows up properly with Guigal and Chapoutier in the mix. Italy punches above its weight class — Gaja and Ceretto on a 150-250 bottle list is a genuine flex, covering the Barolo and Barbaresco side of Piedmont with producers who actually matter. The Oregon section keeps it local with A to Z Wineworks and Adelsheim, a sensible nod to the backyard without letting Pacific Northwest loyalty crowd out the Europeans.
Thirty to fifty by-the-glass options is an impressive spread for a wine bar this size — most places tap out at fifteen and call it a day. Whether the pours rotate meaningfully or just sit on the list indefinitely isn't entirely clear, but the sheer volume means you can explore without committing to a bottle. That's the whole point of a place called Flights.
A to Z Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir — $12
A to Z consistently overdelivers for the price point — it's the kind of Oregon Pinot that makes the case for the region without making you do math on whether you can afford a second glass.
Chapoutier Rhône Valley
Most tables at a place like this default to the familiar Burgundy names, but Chapoutier's Rhône work is where the real texture and personality lives — earthy, structured, and completely overlooked by anyone scanning the list for something they already know.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Jadot is fine — it's just everywhere. When you've got Domaine Drouhin on the same list, ordering the Jadot is leaving money's worth of interest on the table.
Ceretto Barbaresco + Charcuterie and small plates
Barbaresco's dried cherry, rose petal, and firm tannic backbone are built for cured meats and savory bites — it's the kind of pairing that makes a grazing plate feel like a real meal.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Flights is the kind of wine bar that earns its stripes by caring about the right producers in the right regions — it's not trying to be everything, just a solid Old World anchor in an unlikely zip code. If you're passing through Bend and want a proper glass of something Italian or French without flying to the coast, this is your stop.
Downtown Bend · Bend · Wine Bar & Retail Wine Shop
Viaggio is the kind of wine bar that has no business being this good in a ski town, and that's exactly why it earned a Wild Card badge. If you care about what's in your glass, make a stop here before or after dinner — you'll leave with a better bottle than you planned on.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Westside (Galveston Avenue area) · Bend · Italian (Tuscan-focused, handmade pasta)
Trattoria Sbandati is a small Italian restaurant with a small Italian wine list that punches well above its size because someone made real choices instead of filling slots. If you're in Bend and you want to drink actual Tuscan wine with actual Tuscan food, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Mill District · Bend · Italian-American
Pastini is a Lazy List on a normal night, but Wine Wednesday flips the math enough to make it worth a visit if you know what you're doing — show up on Wednesday, order the Elk Cove or Cooper Mountain, skip the Ste. Michelle, and enjoy your pasta. Any other night, manage your expectations accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Tetherow · Bend · Upscale Pacific Northwest and New American
Solomon's is a safe, well-intentioned resort wine program that does Oregon proud without doing anything adventurous — come for the elk and the Drouhin, not for discovery. If you're staying at Tetherow or celebrating something, it delivers. If you're driving across Bend specifically for the wine list, adjust your expectations.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tetherow · Bend · Elevated pub fare with American and Scottish-inspired dishes
The Row is a reliable pour in a beautiful setting — the wine list won't blow your mind, but the Sokol Blosser rosé and a smart sparkling pick make it easy enough to drink well here. Order the fish, grab the rosé, enjoy the view.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eastside · Bend · Casual American café with wood-fired pizza and seasonal, locally sourced dishes
Jackson's Corner Eastside is a counter-service café that quietly put together a wine list worth paying attention to — Oregon-focused, fairly priced, and genuinely thoughtful for the format. Send a friend here if they want good pizza and don't want to feel gouged for drinking something decent with it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Plattsburgh · Plattsburgh · American, European
Anthony's is the kind of reliable, well-maintained wine list that earns its three-decade Wine Spectator credential without ever trying to surprise you — and on a Wednesday when everything is half price, it's genuinely one of the better wine deals in the North Country. Send your parents here; they'll be happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Las Vegas Strip · Las Vegas · American, European
Ramsay's Kitchen earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the strength of a well-curated California list and a respectable by-the-glass program, and that credential is deserved — just don't come expecting adventure. It's a dependable, if pricey, wine stop on the Strip where the Wednesday half-price deal is the real story.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Clayton · St. Louis · American, European
Herbie's isn't going to blow any wine nerd's mind, but it delivers a well-curated, fairly priced list that genuinely supports a great meal. If you're in Clayton and ordering the Beef Wellington, you're in good hands.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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