Gorge Views, Friulian Surprises, Wood-Fired Everything
Waterfront · Hood River · Pizza / Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Solstice Wood Fire Pizza & 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're sitting on the Hood River waterfront, wind off the Gorge, a wood-fired oven cranking behind the counter — and then the wine list surprises you. This isn't a tourist trap pouring bulk Willamette Pinot. There's actual intention here, even if the list is short.
The list is compact but punches above its weight class. Pacific Northwest representation comes through with the House Pinot Gris from Mt. Hood Winery, which feels like the right local anchor for this setting. The real curveball is the Tocai Friulano from Colli Orientali del Friuli — northeastern Italy showing up on a waterfront pizza bar menu in Hood River is not something you see every day, and it's the kind of choice that signals someone actually thought about what drinks well with Neapolitan-style crust. The Hawkins Chardonnay and a Sauvignon Blanc round out the whites, keeping things approachable without going totally generic. Gaps exist — we'd love to see more reds with depth — but for the size of this list, the editorial instinct is sound.
Glass pours start at $11.50 for the house white and run to $12 for the Chardonnay, which is reasonable for a waterfront spot in a tourist-heavy market. The pour count appears limited, but what's there is priced accessibly enough that you won't feel squeezed. We'd like to see more options rotating through, but for a casual wood-fire dinner, the basics are covered.
House Pinot Gris, Mt. Hood Winery — $45
A local bottle at a price that respects the region. Mt. Hood Winery isn't chasing trends — this is a clean, honest Columbia Gorge Pinot Gris that earns its spot on any pizza table without asking too much of your wallet.
Tocai Friulano, Colli Orientali del Friuli
Most tables here are going to default to the Pinot Gris or the Chardonnay. Don't. The Tocai Friulano is a genuinely interesting wine — crisp, textured, slightly nutty — and it's exactly what Neapolitan pizza wants next to it. You won't find this on many menus in the Gorge, which makes it worth ordering on principle alone.
Sauvignon Blanc
At $50 a bottle with no producer name attached, this is the list's least interesting proposition. Without knowing who made it, you're paying waterfront-view pricing for a blank. The Tocai Friulano is right there and costs $2 more — take the upgrade.
Tocai Friulano, Colli Orientali del Friuli + Wood-fired pizza
Friulano's bright acidity and subtle almond finish cut through charred crust and rich cheese without overpowering the wood-smoke character. This is the pairing the menu was quietly built for, even if nobody's saying it out loud.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Solstice is doing more with a short wine list than most casual pizza spots would bother to attempt — the Tocai Friulano alone justifies a closer look. If you're passing through Hood River and want something more interesting than the obvious pour, sit down here.
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · American grill with steak, seafood and Northwest influences
3 Rivers Grill is a genuinely solid wine destination for a mid-sized grill in Hood River — the Pacific Northwest selections are legit, the view earns its own tip, and a few bottles here are worth making a reservation for specifically. The markups on trophy bottles will make you wince, but stick to the regional lineup and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hood River outskirts · Hood River · Farm-based lodge
Sakura Ridge isn't a wine destination — it's a lodge that happens to have a small, surprisingly honest wine list for guests who want something worth drinking with their orchard views. If you're staying here, lean into it; if you're driving out just for wine, the Columbia Gorge has better options nearby.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
White Salmon / Gorge Area · Hood River · Bistro with Global Fare and Seasonal Small Plates
Henni's is a genuine surprise — a chef-driven neighborhood spot in a small Washington town that built a wine list with actual intention. If you're passing through the Gorge and think wine stops at Hood River, White Salmon has an argument to make.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
13th Street area · Hood River · Mexican
Hood River Taqueria is here for the tacos and the margaritas, and that's completely fine — but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order the cocktails, leave the wine to restaurants that care.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront · Hood River · Brewpub / Pacific Northwest
Ferment is a genuinely great brewery, and we'd send anyone to Hood River for their beer and their patio. But the wine list is an afterthought in the middle of one of America's best wine regions, and that's hard to forgive — order a pint and save the wine for a spot that's trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront · Hood River · Steakhouse
Riverside Grill is a perfectly decent place to drink wine if you're also there for the ribeye and the river view — just don't come expecting the list to match the scenery. Order the Pinot Gris, watch the kiteboarders, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere else in Hood River.
Plays It Safe
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.