Ken's Artisan Pizza
Wood-Fired Pies, Oregon Wines, Zero Pretense
Southeast Portland · Portland · Italian/Pizza · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Ken's, you don't expect much from the wine list — it's a pizza joint on SE 28th, not a white-tablecloth destination. Then you clock the list and realize someone here actually gives a damn. It's short, it rotates, and it leans hard into Oregon and Italian — which is exactly right for what's coming out of that wood-fired oven.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs somewhere between 30 and 60 bottles depending on the season, and it reads like it was curated by someone who eats pizza with intention. Oregon gets proper representation — Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir shows up, which tells you the buyer knows their AVAs, not just their state. The Italian-focused bottles round things out without turning into a geography lecture. Don't come here expecting a deep Burgundy cellar or a Barolo vertical — but do come expecting a list that actually makes sense with the food in front of you.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program is ever-changing, which is either exciting or maddening depending on your personality. We spotted pours starting around $14, which is reasonable for Portland in 2024. The rotating format keeps things fresh but means you can't plan ahead — just ask what's on and go with it.
2024 Konstantinos 'Helen's Cuvee' Pinot Noir, Libra Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton — $14/glass
A Yamhill-Carlton Pinot by the glass at this price point is a genuine find. This AVA produces some of Oregon's most serious Pinot — getting it at a pizza counter without a downtown markup is exactly the kind of thing we live for.
2024 Konstantinos 'Helen's Cuvee' Pinot Noir, Libra Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton
Most people ordering pizza skip straight to a casual red or whatever's cheapest on the list. This one rewards the curious — Libra Estate Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton is legitimate Oregon terroir, and it's sitting quietly on a pizza menu waiting to be discovered.
Any generic house pour
With a rotating list this thoughtful, defaulting to the cheapest unnamed house option is a missed opportunity. The specific producers on this list are there for a reason — use them.
2024 Konstantinos 'Helen's Cuvee' Pinot Noir, Libra Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton + Margherita pizza
Yamhill-Carlton Pinot brings enough acid and red fruit to cut through the char on a wood-fired crust without steamrolling the simplicity of San Marzano tomato and fresh mozzarella. It's not a complicated pairing — it just works.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Ken's is proof that a great pizza list doesn't need 200 bottles or a dedicated sommelier — it needs someone who cares, a rotating selection that stays honest to the food, and fair prices. Send your friends here, order the Pinot, eat the margherita.
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