For years, I’ve found myself peeking through the curtains, squinting past the sheer window coverings.
I have been certain that what lay beyond was something special: a delightful experience of having a glass of wine—or two or three—at Dogwood, a bottle shop, florist, and wine bar all rolled into one.
The clinic I frequent for acupuncture is just across the street, but since my appointments are always in the morning, my schedule had yet to align with the business hours of this inviting, picturesque wine bar.
- Address: 4932 NE 30th Ave, Portland, OR 97211
- Phone number: (503) 719-7948
- Website: https://dogwoodpdx.com
- Instagram: @dogwoodpdx
My birthday was the perfect excuse to finally explore Dogwood. A hectic workweek, paired with an upcoming cross-country trip to visit my husband’s family, meant postponing my usual birthday festivities by several weeks. But a post-work meet up with my husband at a place I’d long pined for felt like an exquisite way to honor my special day.
After a lengthy drive home from work, I arrived a few minutes late and pushed open the door and entered.
Despite having spent ample time stalking the business from outside for years, finally stepping foot inside the long-awaited wine bar stopped me in my tracks.
The space is relatively small—just over 500 square feet—but feels very open thanks to its high ceilings and oversized windows lining one wall. In the early evening light, long shadows stretched across the room, with plants casting silhouettes on the tables and floor.
Plants adorned the space- ferns, small trees and Alocacias sprouted from pots along the wall, atop the wine fridge, and on the bench at the bottom of the windows. Wreaths of dried flowers hung on the wall and a large branch decorated with aged pampas grass and assorted dried flowers hung gracefully from the ceiling.
At the far end of the shop, fresh bouquets were displayed in clear cylinders of water by the bottles of chilled wine. The broad range in colors and varieties made for creating unique and vibrant arrangements, as simple or abundant as desired.
Indoor seating consists of a single bistro table and one long communal table that can accommodate several small groups or one large party. In the warmer months, the partially covered patio offers a lovely alternative.
Recently refreshed, the outdoor space is nearly as lovely as the interior, with thoughtfully curated potted plants that create a dreamy setting for plant lovers.
A small but intentional menu offers perfect accompaniment for my first glass of wine, a celebratory Fabre Pet-nat from southern France. The bubbles felt extra spicy in my mouth and fabulously acidic. From the mix-and-match menu, we opted for the platter with the French Camembert cheese, smoked mussels and tinned Mackerel fillets in spicy oil.
The board was served with Kewpie mayo, quince paste, hot honey and a little ramekin of cornichons. An abundant tray of sourdough bread came thickly sliced, fresh from Flour Market, the bakery just down the road.
For my second glass, I went for the Pinot Gris orange wine from local Division wines.
The tannins balanced out the acidity from my earlier bubbles and I couldn’t help but give a little happy shimmy in my seat, glass in one hand and a hunk of fresh sourdough in the other, slathered in creamy camembert and a smear of quince paste.
Beyond being a charming spot to spend a few hours with a book or catch up with a friend over a glass of wine, Dogwood is a fantastic one-stop shop—perfect for picking up a thoughtful gift before a visit or simply treating yourself. With locally made greeting cards, stunning bouquets, and a well-curated selection of wines, it’s been a Portland local’s favorite since the outset. And for those looking to explore more, Dogwood also offers monthly Wine Club memberships featuring handpicked collections.
Dogwood is the brainchild of the dynamic duo Gabby Terracciano and Brant Ozanich, crafted as a love letter to the time they both spent in California and France.
Ozanich’s expertise as a sommelier and Terracciano’s background as a florist have beautifully merged to create this idyllic wine destination in Portland.
Trending in the way that a number of business have in recent years, Dogwood has set their pricing to include gratuity.
After four years in business, they’ve only ever had one employee—Liz, who was the one helping us the day we dropped in. She was kind, attentive, and clearly shared a warm rapport with the neighborhood customers who stopped by for a glass or to pick up a few bottles.
Dogwood wine bar is located on 30th Avenue, just off of Alberta Street in Portland, Oregon. It is next door to the Alberta Rose Theater, making it a perfect stop for a drink or snack before a show.
Although it took me years to finally get there, I am already looking for any excuse to make my way back to Dogwood. It might have been the wine talking, but the filtered light and simple beauty of the space calmed my nerves in a way I am eager to experience again.
