Isa Bistro
Old World soul in a Portland living room
Old Port · Portland · Bistro · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 15, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Isa Bistro doesn't announce itself with a thud — it's a focused, tightly curated document that feels like it was built by someone who actually drinks wine. There's a sommelier in the house and it shows: you won't find the usual Napa Cab and Pinot Grigio filler taking up real estate here. What you get instead is a list that nudges you toward regions you might not have ordered on your own.
Selection Deep Dive
The Old World leans hard into Italy and Austria, with strong representation from Puglia via Cantele and some genuinely interesting Austrian bottlings from Schloss Gobelsburg. The Cistercian bottling from Gobelsburg — a Grüner Veltliner-forward blend rooted in ancient monastic viticulture — is the kind of thing that earns a list credibility fast. Raul Perez appearing anywhere in Maine is a small miracle; his Galician wines (Bierzo, Rías Baixas) are cult-level for a reason, and seeing his name here bumps the list from 'nice' to 'serious.' The Txakolina and Arneis selections round out a white wine program that prizes texture and brightness over crowd-pleasing weight.
By the Glass
With 12-20 pours available, the by-the-glass program punches above its weight for a cozy neighborhood bistro. Expect the 2023 Rosé and the Cantele Teresa Manara Negroamaro to anchor the list — a smart pairing of a session-friendly pink and a structured southern Italian red. Rotation appears to track the seasons, which means the list you see in February probably won't be identical to the one in August.
Cantele Teresa Manara Negroamaro — $48
Cantele's Teresa Manara is a benchmark Negroamaro from Puglia — dark fruit, dried herbs, genuine structure — and it's the kind of wine that retails around $18-22. At a neighborhood bistro in Maine, finding it on the list at a reasonable markup is a win. Order it with the tagliatelle Bolognese and don't look back.
Schloss Gobelsburg Cistercian
Most tables at Isa are going to walk right past this one, and that's their loss. Gobelsburg is one of Austria's great estates, and the Cistercian blend is an entry point into their world that over-delivers on complexity for the price. It's not flashy, it doesn't have a recognizable label, and that's exactly why it's still available when you arrive.
2023 Rosé
No producer is listed with this one, and anonymous rosé at a $$$ bistro is a yellow flag. It's almost certainly a serviceable pour, but when there are wines on this list from Raul Perez and Gobelsburg, spending your money on an unattributed pink feels like ordering house bread when the charcuterie is right there.
Txakolina + Lobster Tostada
Txakolina — that sharp, slightly effervescent Basque white — was practically engineered for seafood. Its high acid and subtle salinity cut right through the richness of lobster while amplifying any citrus or heat in the dish. It's an unexpected call at a Maine bistro, but it's the right one.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Isa Bistro is a Wild Card in the best possible way — a warm, owner-run neighborhood room with a wine list that has no business being this interesting. If you're in the Old Port and you care about what's in your glass, this is where you go.
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