This May’s Must-Try Wine & Food Pairings in Portland
Fresh seafood, crave-worthy eggplant dishes, and sommelier-paired wines
Here are four fantastic wine and food pairings in Portland to seek out this May.
All of these pairings originate from our Wine & Food Walks, where we highlight wines paired with dishes that truly shine together. Sometimes, chefs create special dishes just for our guests and wine selections. Other times—like with these four—the perfect pairing is already waiting for you on the menu, ready for anyone to enjoy.
Whether you're wandering the charming streets of the West End or the bustling Old Port, these pairings capture the flavors of Portland with a perfect glass of wine to match.
Here’s what to sip and savor this May:
West End
Cantina Calafia’s Taco de Pescado + 2023 Zacharias, Assyrtiko 🌮🥂
An authentic Taco de Pescado and a mineral-driven Greek white wine are a perfect match at Cantina Calafia.
Their fish taco—featuring a handmade corn tortilla, fresh local fish, and thoughtful garnishes—truly stands out. Paired with a glass of 2023 Zacharias Assyrtiko from Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula, this dish shines. The wine’s bright lemon and lime citrus, yellow apple notes, palate-cleansing acidity, and seaside salinity beautifully enhance the delicate, crispy fish and the melt-in-your-mouth tortilla.
🌟 Tip: Their Taco de Pescado is available as a single during daily happy hour or as a pair on the dinner menu.
Roma Café’s Eggplant Parmesan + 2019 Col dei Venti, "Túfoblu" Barbaresco 🍆🍷
For a cozy, soul-warming pairing, head to Portland’s beloved Roma Café and order their classic Eggplant Parmesan—an old-school Italian favorite done right with tender eggplant, rich marinara, and plenty of melted mozzarella.
The perfect wine to match? The 2019 Col dei Venti "Túfoblu" Barbaresco from Piedmont, Italy. Made from 100% Nebbiolo, this beautifully structured and complex red offers notes of ripe dark cherry, shaved truffle, rich earth, dried rose petals, licorice, and cinnamon. Its heightened tannins and bright acidity cut through the richness of the eggplant and cheese, lifting every bite and leaving you ready for the next.
It’s a pairing that feels both comforting and elevated—a perfect way to experience one of the West End’s most charming Italian spots for over 100 years.
🌟 Tip: Don’t miss their house-made focaccia—it’s perfect for soaking up the delicious marinara sauce.
📍 @romaportland | 📸 @winewiseevents
Old Port
Sur Lie’s Fluke Crudo + 2023 DO Ferreiro, Albariño 🐟🥂
At Sur Lie, "Shef" Mimi Weissenborn makes a standout crudo—featuring rotating local fish (we enjoyed fluke), Fresno chili glaze, orange, pickled red onion, togarashi, crispy potato, and cilantro.
The perfect pairing on their wine list? The 2023 DO Ferreiro, Albariño, from Spain’s Val do Salnés subzone of Rías Baixas, on the other side of the Atlantic. With ripe peach, zesty citrus, refreshing acidity, sea spray salinity, and medium body, this wine accentuates every bright, layered bite of the crudo without overpowering the fish.
🌟 Fun note: Shef Mimi is currently competing on Season 22 of Top Chef—and will be cooking for our Chef Series Wine & Food Sail on September 28.
Bar Futo’s Crispy Eggplant + 2021 Day, Johan Vineyard, Pinot Noir 🍆🍷
At Bar Futo, a Japanese grill-inspired restaurant, the Crispy Eggplant with Spicy Garlic Miso is a must-try—especially alongside the 2021 Day Wines, Johan Vineyard, Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Van Duzer Corridor in the Willamette Valley.
This expressive and complex Pinot Noir, crafted by winemaker and owner Brianne Day, offers vibrant ripe red fruit—cherries, raspberries, strawberries, with notes of mushroom, tea leaves, medium-plus body, medium and fine-textured tannins, and palate cleansing acidity that harmonizes beautifully with the crispy, savory richness of the eggplant dish.
🌟 Tip: Bar Futo is open for dinner seven nights a week and will soon be announcing lunch hours.
📍 @bar_futo | 📸 @winewiseevents
Let’s Raise a Glass
Each of these pairings offers a perfect taste of Portland’s culinary creativity—along with a great bottle to match. Try one (or all four!) this May, and tag us @winewiseevents to share your favorite sip-and-savor moments.
Stay tuned for more of our favorite pairings around the city—we can't wait to share more must-try pairings with you!
Cheers!
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