Drink 2007: Put A Cork In It

[May 23rd, 2007] With the pinot noir-drenched Willamette Valley just a half-album away by car, few cities on Planet Earth can claim better proximity to a great wine region than Portland. Still, Oregon pinots don't come cheap. The best way to find a good deal is to develop a rapport with a trustworthy wine seller, bombard your new pal with questions and keep going back. Lucky you: Portland is blessed with many good and friendly bottle shops. This isn't a complete list, but it's a good start for any local wine lover.

Cork

Owner Darryl Joannides refuses to sell anything he hasn't tasted personally. His shop features scores of selections from small-producing wineries, the best deals hailing from lesser-known regions of Spain and Italy. Check out Darryl's wall of Spanish reds from Jumilla and Toro for some amazing bargains. (2901 NE Alberta St., 281-2675)

E&R Wine Shop

Ed Paladino and Richard Elden are the proprietors of this cozy, eponymous Southwest wine shop. Though Italian wines are E&R's special niche, Paladino makes an insane (i.e., incredibly full) trip to France the beginning of each year. And Elden is the shop's Oregon wine expert. (6141 SW Macadam Ave., 246-6101)

Every Day Wine

A cozy bottle shop and wine bar, with any of the store's 400 selections available by the glass. Friendly owner Beth Boston worked for Oregon vintner Sokol Blosser before nabbing the keys to this neighborhood haunt in 2003. Patrons can bring their own food, and in true Alberta Street fashion, dogs are welcome. (1520 NE Alberta St., 331-7119)

Great Wine Buys

Features 12 wines each month for less than $10, with free tastings Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. The owner is a young bicycle enthusiast, so it's no surprise the place draws a youthful crowd. (1515 NE Broadway, 287-2897)

Liner & Elsen

This Portland standby has an impressive inventory, ranging from dirt cheap to sky-high—and everything in between. (2222 NW Quimby St., 241-WINE)

McGinn's Russell Street Wine Merchants

Down the hill from busy Mississippi, this shop's "Altar to the Broke" showcases a revolving selection of about 30 wines priced at less than $10. Although owner Jerry McGinn's preferences slant heavily toward the Old World, there are plenty of well-priced American, Australian and South American bottles. Tastings are held on Thursdays at 5:30 for $8, all day Saturday, or whenever Jerry feels like cracking open a bottle. (807 N Russell St., 280-2845)

Oregon Wines on Broadway

The best place to sample fine Oregon wines by the glass. (515 SW Broadway, 228-4655)

Portland Wine Merchants

Roy Olson has been helping Hawthorne imbibe since 1993, and he claims to sell more Portuguese wine than anyone on the West Coast. There's almost always something cheap and unusual on offer here. (1430 SE 35th Ave., 234-4399)

Square Deal Wine Company

Dan Beekley directly imports hundreds of wines, primarily from Europe, and with the majority priced between $12 and $16, Square Deal lives up to its name. (2321 NW Thurman St., 226-9463)

Vino

Bruce Bauer's shop is the Sellwood neighborhood's best, with loads of deals from Spain, France and Italy. Bruce holds drop-in tastings for 10 bucks on Friday nights and free all day Saturday. (1226 SE Lexington St., 235-8545)

Vinopolis

A labyrinth of wine that's confusing to navigate but has a selection that's tough to beat. (1025 SW Washington St., 223-6002)