Half-Price Mondays and a Serious Dessert Wine Obsession
Downtown Portland · Portland · Tapas / Small Plates
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The North Point’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 walk into a dimly lit tapas bar on Silver Street, red lamps bouncing off a tin ceiling, and then you see the wine list — 85 labels deep with a genuinely weird and wonderful dessert wine section that you absolutely did not expect. This is not the list a casual bar throws together. Someone here cares, and it shows from the first page.
The North Point runs a globally minded list that doesn't apologize for going off-script. Yes, there are the expected dry wines from across the map, but the real story is the commitment to fortified and dessert categories — Port, Madeira, Sherry, Muscat, Tokaji, and Austrian producer Steindorfer all make appearances, which is basically unheard of for a small-plates spot in Maine. The bottle range ($35–$120) is approachable without feeling like they're padding the cheap end with junk. Where they've splurged on the list, like Kosta Browne and Flowers from the Sonoma Coast, markups clock in at 38–42% over retail — reasonable by any restaurant standard, especially for wines that usually get squeezed harder.
Over 30 by-the-glass options is a serious number — most restaurants with a sommelier on staff don't even get close. Pours run $10–$16, which keeps things accessible without signaling that corners are being cut on what's in the bottle. We'd love to know how frequently the list rotates, but the sheer volume suggests there's always something worth trying on any given night.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2021 — $62
At 38% over retail, this is one of the fairer markups you'll find on a Flowers Chard anywhere. It's a wine that regularly gets taxed at restaurants — here it's almost reasonable. On a Monday after 6pm, it's a steal.
Tokaji
A tapas bar in Portland, Maine pouring Tokaji is not something you plan for — and that's exactly why you should order it. Hungary's legendary sweet wine next to a small-plates spread is a genuinely great move that most people at the table will walk right past.
Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2020
At $78, the markup is actually fine — but Kosta Browne is a name that sells itself on reputation more than it delivers on surprise. If you're spending $78 on a bottle here, the more adventurous picks on this list will reward you more.
Sherry + Nachos
A dry Fino or Manzanilla Sherry has a saline, nutty edge that cuts right through melted cheese and picks up the salt and heat of nachos in a way that no standard red or white could. It sounds weird. It works. Trust the list.
Monday — Every bottle of wine is half price after 6 p.m.
The Bottom Line
The North Point is the kind of place that sneaks up on you — a cool, low-key tapas bar with a sommelier running a genuinely eclectic 85-bottle list and half-price wine every Monday after 6pm. Send your wine-curious friends here and let them be surprised.
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
· Atlanta · Tapas / Small Plates
Azara's list is genuinely more interesting than it has any obligation to be for a tapas restaurant, and the by-the-glass program alone makes it worth exploring. Go in with an open mind, skip the Chardonnay, and let the Greek and Iberian wines do the talking.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bahama Village · Key West · Tapas / Small Plates
Santiago's Bodega is the Key West wine bar hiding inside a tapas restaurant. The variety of the wine list, the half-price happy hour, and the quality of the small plates make this a Wild Card that overdelivers every time. If you only have one casual evening in Key West, spend it here.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
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