Wednesday Nights Just Got a Lot Cheaper
Downtown · Portland · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed MJ's Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into MJ's, the wine list feels genuinely welcoming — not intimidating, not dumbed down. Fifty-plus bottles spanning Argentina, Spain, France, and Italy with over 30 by-the-glass options tells you this place wants to be your casual Tuesday (or Wednesday) night. The downtown Portland crowd clearly appreciates having somewhere that takes wine seriously without making you feel like you need a degree to order.
The list leans into approachable crowd-pleasers — your Catena Malbecs, your La Crema Chardonnays — which isn't a knock, it's a positioning choice. The Old World side brings in Spanish Garnacha and French and Italian representation that adds some texture to what could otherwise be a purely supermarket-familiar lineup. That said, don't come expecting obscure grower Champagnes or deep Burgundy rabbit holes; the list is built for breadth over depth. There are no glaring regional blind spots, but adventurous drinkers may hit the ceiling quickly.
Thirty-plus by-the-glass options is legitimately impressive and the main reason to come here. You can hop from a Mendoza Malbec to a Prosecco to a Rosé Brut in one sitting without committing to a bottle, which is exactly what a wine bar should let you do. The rotation doesn't appear to change aggressively, but the sheer volume means there's almost always something interesting to land on.
Duckhorn Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 — $22/glass
At 220% markup, this is the least-gouged pour on the list. Duckhorn Napa Cab retails around $60 a bottle, and getting it by the glass at $22 means you're actually accessing a serious wine without committing to a full bottle. In a sea of steep markups, this one stands out.
Spanish Garnacha
Most people at a wine bar like this default to the Malbec or the Chardonnay. The Spanish Garnacha is the overlooked pick — earthy, spicy, and built for food in a way the bigger New World reds aren't. Worth asking your server to point you toward whichever bottle they're pouring.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling 2022
At $8 a glass on a wine that retails for $12 a bottle, this is a 400% markup on a grocery store Riesling. It's a fine wine in its natural habitat — your kitchen — but it's the worst value on the list by a significant margin. Pass.
Catena Malbec 2022 + Charcuterie board
The Catena Malbec's plum and dark fruit profile cuts through the fat in cured meats while the acidity keeps things from getting heavy. It's the kind of pairing that works every single time — classic for a reason.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles all night on select wines. Rare and reserve bottles are excluded, but this is the move — come on a Wednesday and the value proposition flips entirely.
The Bottom Line
MJ's earns its place as a reliable downtown spot — a deep glass pour list and a legitimate Wednesday half-price bottle program do a lot of heavy lifting. Just know that the markups outside of Wednesday can be steep, so time your visit accordingly.
East End · Portland · Sushi / Japanese
Mr. Tuna isn't a wine destination — it's a great sushi spot that happens to have two sensible, well-chosen bottles and a local can that makes the experience feel intentional. Come for the hand rolls, drink the Vinho Verde, and don't overthink it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Bayside · Portland · Seafood
A fast-casual raw bar with a wine list that punches well above its category — the French-only focus is a feature, not a limitation. If you're eating oysters in Portland, this is where you want to be drinking.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Deer Isle · Portland · Seafood Fine Dining
Aragosta is the rare case where the wine program matches the remoteness of the drive — you come all the way out here and find a 3,475-bottle cellar waiting for you. Yes, send your friends. Send everyone.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Old Port · Portland · Seafood, American
Scales is playing a different game than the tourist-trap seafood spots on either side of it — the wine list is genuinely Old World-focused and well-matched to the food, which is rare and worth noting. If you're eating clams and mussels on the Portland waterfront, this is where you want to be doing it with a glass in hand.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arts District · Portland · Seafood, Californian, Contemporary Mexican
Regards isn't trying to be a wine bar, but whoever built this list understands exactly what the food needs and went hunting for it. If you're in Portland and want a bottle that actually earns its place on the table, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West End · Portland · French and Spanish
Chaval is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood brasserie in Portland — the list is small but curated by someone who actually cares, with pricing that doesn't punish curiosity. If you're open to going off the beaten path (xarel-lo, South African grenache blanc), this is a genuinely rewarding room to drink in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Atlanta · Atlanta · Wine Bar
BOSK is quietly doing something interesting in a neighborhood that most Atlanta wine lists ignore completely, and that alone earns it a look. We need more data on specific bottles and pricing before we can tell you exactly what to order, but the concept is right and the vibe is genuinely welcoming. If you're in Southwest Atlanta and want wine without pretense alongside cauliflower bites or a BLT with candied beef bacon, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Wine Bar
Broken Anchor isn't going to satisfy anyone hunting rare bottles or obsessing over markups — but that's not who it's for. If you're in Acworth and want to drink local wine in a room where trivia night is a real possibility, this is your place. We'd send a friend here with the right expectations firmly set in advance.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
West Cobb · Marietta · Wine Bar
unWine'd & Tap fills a real gap in West Cobb — a genuinely social wine bar with solid food, good energy on a Friday night, and a staff that seems to care even if they're not Master Sommeliers. We'd send a friend here for a low-stakes date night or a girls' night out, with the caveat that you should explore the list before anchoring to the obvious picks. Reservations on weekends are non-negotiable.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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