Along with the mountains of food we ate, we also drank to our heart’s content. I’ve been getting more into trying new wines lately, and I really enjoy *attempting* to taste the flavor profiles and notes. The craft beer scene in Portland is growing, and I wish we were able to try more places! It’s okay, we’ll just have to visit again. We were able to stop by Deschutes Brewery, try wines from local wineries like Abbey Creek Winery and Argyle Vineyard in Dundee Hills, and also try out a cocktail bar called The Box Social. All places had their own vibe and their own twists on classic drinks. I had so much fun living out my foodie dreams trying all these different local spots. One of the reasons I love to travel is to taste different foods and drinks. I can say confidently that I was able to do both on this trip.
Argyle Winery in Dundee, OR
On our first full day in Oregon, we picked up our rental car and made our way towards Argyle Winery in Dundee Hills. Along the way we stopped by Washington Square Mall and ate yummy dumplings at Din Tai Fung. The drive to Dundee Hills was a nice change of scenery, especially coming from the hustle of Downtown Portland. Even though it was chilly outside and nothing was really growing, it was cool to see the vast open vineyards where they do grow the grapes.
We passed many vineyards before getting to Argyle Winery. The tasting room is so beautiful, I kept imagining how great of an event venue it is. At $30 a tasting, it’s hard to not want to do more than one! We sampled a Knudsen Vineyard Brut, Argyle Brut Rosé, Nuthouse Chardonnay, and Nuthouse Pinot Noir. We also pre-ordered a beautiful charcuterie box to go along with our tasting, but we were still full on dumplings from Din Tai Fung. Thankfully it was easily portable and we took it back to our hotel. Our server was also so kind to give us a tasting of the wines that were on the other tasting menu that we wanted to try! Because some of the wines would be repeats of what we already tried, she gave us tastings of the ones we didn’t get to try yet. This included a 2009 Extended Tirage Brut and Knudsen Vineyard Blanc de Blanc. Those ended up being our favorites we tried!
She also shared that Alaska Airlines doesn’t charge a baggage fee for a box of wines, as long as the wines are from Washington and Oregon! We ended up buying a bottle of 2017 Vintage Brut and 2017 Blanc de Noir to bring home, which not only waived one of our tasting fees, but also got us a mailing box and sticker to bring more wines home. It’s a good thing that my favorite wines have been from Washington and Oregon. I can’t wait to go back to Oregon and try all the other wineries in the Dundee Hills area.
Deschutes Brewery
Before watching the Lakers vs. Trail Blazers game, we stopped by at Deschutes Brewery in downtown for a quick bite to eat and some drinks. I wasn’t too hungry, so I ordered a plate of roasted brussel sprouts, and a glass of stout. I have grown to like the porters and stouts because of the deep taste that resembles coffee and chocolate. They’re higher in alcohol and thicker in consistency, but the flavor profile is a lot more appealing to me than an IPA, which I find bitter. The brussel sprouts came with a mountain of cheese and was crisped to flaky perfection. There was also a tangy vinaigrette over the brussel sprouts which made them even more addicting. Who knew that roasted brussels would be such a delicious bar food?!
My boyfriend got their house grilled cheese with thick bacon and a side of their bisque. Even his sandwich, although sounds very basic, was very good and paired well with his flight of different beers. It was the perfect fuel before our first NBA game.
The Box Social
After the game, it was still a bit early for us and we wanted to spend our last night in Portland out and about rather than in our hotel room. We decided to catch an Uber to a cocktail bar called The Box Social on North Willams Ave., on the corner of Shaver. When we arrived, I noticed that the ambiance of the bar was a bit intimate with the light music playing and the dimmed lights. Although we were one of the only parties in there, it was still nice and quiet enough to enjoy a conversation.
Instead of ordering a single cocktail, we ordered their cocktail flight of 5 different mini cocktails for only $20. WHAT A DEAL!! The cocktails were all delicious and unique in their own way. My personal favorite was the grasshopper themed one with mint and chocolate liqueur. What can I say, I love mint chocolate anything! We also ordered some parmesan and pepper popcorn and a warm mushroom bruschetta to go along with the drinks. Those were great pairings with the sweet popcorn. I actually want to attempt those dishes next time we have guests over. I feel like they’d be a hit!
The Crick, an Abbey Creek Winery tasting room
One of my most memorable experiences was at The Crick, a tasting room for Abbey Creek Winery by Bertony Faustin. As we were walking around Pioneer Square in Downtown Portland when we walked past a glass window that was rumbling from hip hop music being played inside. We were shocked to find out that we stumbled upon a wine tasting room! A hip hop wine bar, can you believe it?! Two of my favorite things in one spot. We ordered their wine tasting and I was intrigued by the hip hop influenced names of each wine. With wine names like “Shining” for Beyoncé, “Oh u fancy huh”, “Janelle Monáe”, and more, we were entertained by the creativity of the wine experience and the great music. The wines were delicious, and we had a great time trying to distinguish the flavor notes between the two of us.
Mr. Faustin was also in the tasting room and introduced himself to us, which was awesome. We learned that he was recognized in 2008 for being the first recorded black winemaker in Oregon. I could tell from his story and through speaking with him that this is his passion. I had such a great time at The Crick that we bought two wines, and two glasses to bring home with us. Their beautiful glasses are printed with their “Hip Hop and Chill” logo. Check out Mr. Faustin’s documentary, Red, White, & Black here.
Experiencing the craft drink scene in Portland was something that I was dying to do, and I’m so glad that we got to experience a little bit of everything. Two local wineries, a brewery, and a cocktail bar – and I know we only scratched the surface. Next time we’re in Portland, I’m so down to try more breweries and local wineries. I better make sure to fly back on Alaska so that I can bring some wines home for free!
Until next time…
Where there is a will, there is a way.