Oregon Locals Meet French Classics on Sandy
Kerns · Portland · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 11, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Parallel’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Parallel doesn't try to be everything to everyone — it picks a lane (Oregon and France, mostly) and commits hard. The list is compact enough to read in two minutes but curated well enough that you'll actually spend ten doing it. This is a wine bar that takes the 'wine' part of that seriously.
The list leans into a tight Oregon-meets-France thesis, and it works. On the domestic side, you've got Patricia Green 'Reserve' 2023 and Brooks 2023 flying the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir flag, plus Purple Hands Lone Oak Ranch 2023 for a more structured take. The Landmass Two Sides blend of Pinot Noir and Tempranillo from the Columbia Gorge is the kind of left-field pick that signals someone on staff is actually paying attention. French representation comes via Alsace, with the Moltès Crémant anchoring the bubbles category. The list isn't deep, but almost every bottle earns its spot.
Glass pours run $13–$16, which is honest pricing for Portland in 2024. The Belle Pente Willamette Valley Chardonnay at $16/glass is a standout pour — that's a bottle that retails around $25, so you're not getting gouged. We'd love to see more rotation in the by-the-glass program, but what's here is well-chosen.
Chardonnay, Belle Pente, Willamette Valley 2021 — $16/glass
Belle Pente doesn't get enough credit in the Oregon Chardonnay conversation. At $16 a glass for a bottle that retails around $25, you're paying a fair premium to drink it here — and you don't have to do the dishes.
Pinot Noir & Tempranillo, Landmass, Two Sides, Columbia Gorge 2024
A Pinot Noir-Tempranillo blend from the Columbia Gorge isn't something you see every day, and most people will scroll right past it. Don't. This kind of cross-varietal, cross-state experimentation is exactly what makes Pacific Northwest wine exciting right now.
Pinot Blanc Blend, Moltès, Crémant d'Alsace Brut NV
At $62 a bottle on a retail price of around $30, this is the one spot where Parallel's pricing math gets uncomfortable. A 107% markup on a Crémant — a category that's supposed to be the affordable bubbles play — stings a little. Order a glass of something else.
Patricia Green 'Reserve' Pinot Noir 2023 + Smoked Pork Belly
Patricia Green's Reserve Pinot has enough structure and dark fruit to stand up to the richness of smoked pork belly without bulldozing the dish. The smoke and the earthy Willamette floor notes in the wine just make sense together.
The Bottom Line
Parallel is the kind of neighborhood wine bar Portland needs more of — focused, honest, and run by people who clearly give a damn. If you're in the Kerns area and want a well-poured glass with food that actually thinks about the wine, this is your spot.
Dundee · Portland · Italian, French, American
The official site identifies The Dundee Bistro as closed. The wine selections described here are historical context, not current availability. This notice does not establish a closure date or a future reopening.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Pearl District · Portland · Italian/Mediterranean
A restaurant list with 15 pours by the glass from $11 to $17 and a bottle list from 40 to 1100, split by country. Start with the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rioja Crianza '22 at $12, or the Tenuta di Lilliano Chianti Classico '22 at $16 alongside the Radiatore, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Southeast Portland · Portland · Charcuterie/American
A charcuterie restaurant with a natural-leaning wine list and a 12-pour glass list on the dinner menu. Start with the $14/glass Hoppenot gamay, or split the $55 Stick Figurine orange wine across a board, and confirm current availability. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
King · Portland · Spanish
A Spanish tapas-bar wine page with glass and bottle prices from 13/50 and a ten-sherry list. Start with the Pago del Cielo Celeste Verdejo at 13 a glass, try the chilled Vara y Pulgar Tintilla at 17 if you want something different, and order the Miquel Pons Cava with the croquetas. The page says the posted menu may differ from the restaurant's, so confirm prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Portland · New American with Asian Influences
A long list sorted by style, with glass pours from $9.50 to $20, a Coravin tier above that, and bottles that climb to $750. Start with the A to Z at $13.50 or the Roederer Estate Brut at $20, and confirm current prices because the list isn't dated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Alberta Arts · Portland · Italian
An Italian-leaning bottle list with an Oregon side, and no glass pours posted. Order the $65 Bow and Arrow Gamay, or the $65 Keltis 'Zan White' Slovenian Orange Blend if you want an orange wine, and confirm availability. This unrated guide covers the posted Spring & Summer ’26 beverage menu, not service, storage or markups.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
