Corkscrew Wine Bar

Went here with a girlfriend after Saburo Sushi. This venue seemed perfect for a date! We sat on a very romantic couch in the back, and had a glass of vino! She had the Grenache and I had a Tinto. We both were quite happy with our choices, and the prices were reasonable! We would definitely go back! The lady was really friendly and the place was busy with folks, which speaks to the place as well. I never knew it was here, so it is a nice find!

Staff is very friendly and helpful when it comes to navigating their wine list (especially for novices). Food is a tad pricey bringing them down just a tad bit for me. Otherwise expect to have delicious wines.

We stopped in here for a drink while waiting for a table at Saburo’s. This is perfect for that since you can keep popping in to check on your Saburo’s table.
Corkscrew is very charming. It’s quiet, romantic and the décor is beautiful with lots of wood paneling and barrels. They have a rotating list of wine ranging from $ 9 – 14 a glass. The staff was very helpful in helping me select a bold, red French wine. They also serve beer for those who don’t drink wine.
Corkscrew is the perfect spot before or after dinner, for a date or a chill hangout with friends!

I and my group had a fantastic evening at a wine pairing upstairs led by Elizabeth. Elizabeth chose a sparkling, a white, a rose, red and dessert wine… the full gamut. Her choices and pairings were excellent and her knowledge was impressive. However, her warm demeanor, charm and wit are what really made the evening so enjoyable. As we got further into the evening I’m sure we became louder and more unruly, but Elizabeth was patient and fun until the very end. We all had a very memorable experience and all plan to return to Corkscrew. Just follow Elizabeth’s (or any of the ladies’) lead and you have a great time.

A gem of a place tucked in between the ZoomCare and Saburo’s Sushi Restaurant. I knew it was there but the sign is way, way up high, it’s easy to miss. If you are exploring mid-​day, you may pass by because they open at 5pm. Well I finally found myself in the neighborhood after 5pm and noticed a New Sandwich Board sign. This will totally help. It’s quite a sign, too by the way.
The bar is slightly dark, filled with cool, old, fancy light fixtures and furnishings. The owner, Lauren seems to run the place herself and has acquired quite a few regular customers. Pretty unique, one-​of-​a-​kind place in the Sellwood Neighborhood.
I enjoyed two glasses of wine — a Tinto Blend and a Malbec. The Malbec was more my speed, a bit beefier. I like that she has mostly imports — it’s more fun to experiment with something exotic.
Pours a good amount of draft beer and cider, too. I noticed live musical acts book almost every weekend this month. So, while it could be cozy and quiet, I could picture a lively band performing. I witnessed some of the food prep – all carefully made while she balanced pouring wine and chatting up the clientele.
All around win-​win. Small place, parking in Sellwood a chore obviously, good natural lighting, friendly/​fun host, good options for seating, chairs, sofas, or stand at the bar.

Darling space, delicious wine, friendly knowledgeable staff. The perfect cozy neighborhood wine bar.

A friend and I met for drinks at Corkscrew a few nights ago, and I must say, I was thoroughly impressed! It’s a small building with a dimly lit, romantic ambiance. It was like walking into a wine barrel– lot’s of wood and wine scents mingling together in a delightful combination.
The owner, Lauren, was working and she was awesome! She has a thorough knowledge of wine and is great at helping you find just the right wine to enjoy.
The food was delicious and paired well with our wine. Everything about this place is magic! I can’t wait to go back!

Best wine bar in Portland! The atmosphere and service is a good as it gets. Whether you want a nice romantic night out or just a casual evening with the ladies.
I do however have one complaint. The owner is impossible to get in touch with! I have so many things to tell her but she won’t call me back! Maybe she’ll check Unilocal?Call me.

Rustic, intimate wine bar to enjoy a carefully curated wine list. Great neighborhood spot to enjoy date night or a girls night out!
SE PORTLAND

Corkscrew is a really great place, and this comes from somebody who doesn’t drink alcohol. What’s in it for a non-​wine drinker? Plenty. Here’s what:
1. Music. Corkscrew hosts some excellent talent, and the venue lends itself very well to intimate performances.
2. Food. Corkscrew has a very small menu, consisting of a few sandwiches, salads, cheese selections, and desserts (even a few gluten-​free). The quality of everything is outstanding, very fresh, and clearly crafted by skilled artisans.
3. Staff. Everybody who works here is extremely friendly. You seriously feel like family here.
I’ll be coming here a lot.

I went with a date on a Monday night during an open mic session.
AMBIANCE
Smells of wine and wood. Exactly as a wine bar should!
There’s a small bar, sofa couch and low table toward the back, upstairs are bench tables and small tables for two.
Intimate and small, casual yet classy.
(Go early if you want to make sure you have a seat!)
Nice for a deep chat with a friend, on a romantic date, or even on your own.
During music events, it can get too loud at times for low conversation, but the breaks in live music are well enough to continue chatting.
WINES
Open wines were versatile from all regions, mostly old-​world, not many local options (at least this night). Plenty of options for both white and red by the glass, and many bottles to boot.
Prices are reasonable, some $ 9-​$ 15 per glass and mostly in the low range.
Sangria is made one batch at a time so best to come early on summer days if interested!
SERVICE
We sat upstairs and probably would have had to come down to order another, but it was a Monday night and I think they just had the one bartender working.
Leah was our bartender, and she was totally fantastic. She’s clearly passionate about wine & has a great personality and energy about her. She tended to us perfectly, answered all of our questions, and gave us even more info that was all very appreciated. And she didn’t mind that we lingered after closing for a bit.
I’ll definitely be back to Corkscrew. Probably not on open mic night just because you never know how it’ll be. I’d go back without hesitation on off-​nights for wine and conversation, and solo or with a friend for when the music of the night sounds interesting.
Check out their calendar of events beforehand to see what’s up.

This place is very romantic and has an intimate setting.
My favorite is Monday nights Open Mic night. I love hearing all the people play!
The woman who I have always encountered working there is so nice and willing to give you recommendations depending even on your mood!
Wine is great! Ambiance is divine!
Only thing, I wish they had more options for appetizers or a little food selection.

Perfect spot for a private party! We had 18 guests upstairs, and it felt intimate and yet uncrowded. Tracee’s wine selections were excellent, the food was delicious, and the music/​crowd sounds from downstairs were at just the right level.
Extra tip: Rachel at By the Bunch down the street does the flowers for Corkscrew, so when I ordered some vases of daffodils for my party she offered to deliver them that afternoon. A terrific local occasion!

Classy wine bar! The vibe is super chill and classic. Somehow the sign for Saburos next door said 10 to 20 minute wait time, but it actually ended up taking 2 hours. Go figure! Luckily the girls and I thought it would be a good idea to drink before dinner. If we weren’t killing time, we wouldn’t have stopped into such a nice wine shop. The service is very nice, they will let you try as many tastes as it takes to find the right bottle of wine to share with the girls! the selection of wine is satisfying with international choices. There’s a cute little spot at the back of the store with more comfortable chairs and casual dining.
Bonus: looks like some great charcuterie boards to pair with some tasty wine!

Had a private party in the upstairs room and it turned out great. It is an intimate space but fit about 20 comfortably. Many more if you are willing to stand. Tracee and the crew were great. Wonderful food, great wine and we were able to decorate
And make the space our own! Highly recommend it!

If you like sipping great wines without any snobbery this is your place! The vibe here is laid back & cozy. They have live music nights and there is a thriving community of local artists. Love this spot!

Wonderful, cozy, romantic. Terrific selection of wines by the glass – no cheap junk, always worth it. The staff are happy to give you a taste, they want you to be happy and are knowledgable about both European and Oregon wine. The snacks are sophisticated and simple. Not cheap, but the rare place that is worth every dollar. Music night can be Genius.

What an awesome find!
I’m actually kind of glad that the wait for Saburo’s (next door) is absurd, or else we would have never stumbled upon Corkscrew during our visit to Portland!
The place has the most wonderful ambiance and unique wine selections (some beer too).
AND they are able to rent it out for private functions…
Do you know tempted I was to pull a last-​minute change to my wedding planning and tell everyone back home «Sorry guys… we’re going to get married in Portland now becuase I must have my reception at this amazing wine bar I just found! Please book your flights ASAP!»
Anyway.
I can’t think about this place too much anymore or else I get a little wistful because I still want to have my reception there. And I can’t. So let me just finish up this review and be done with it.
The bartender that was assisting us that afternoon was so friendly and knowledgeable. Excellent service. The glass of St. Supery Bordeaux blend I started with was perfect! And then she recommended this French one with a light blue label (I really regret not asking to take a photo of the bottle) that was one of the «off the menu secret pours».
Ahhhh.
One sip and I could have cared less about eating sushi anymore. I just wanted to stay there and try out more wines. Unfortunately, we had to leave rather abruptly because our table next door was ready. But this was one place that I could see myself frequenting (and having my wedding reception at), if I lived in the area.
If you can, go check it out. Highly recommend.

What a cozy, comfortable spot for a glass of wine on a warm spring day. My brother and I stepped inside this inviting Portland meets Europe wine bar while waiting for sushi, and we were pleasantly surprised with our experience. The staff welcomed us with great conversation and solid recommendations. We just so happened to walk in during happy hour and sipped on one of the staffs favorite reds from Italy/​/​great choice.
Unfortunately we had to leave sooner than we anticipated, but their killer ambiance, extensive wine list and true to Portland vibe definitely has us eager to come back for more.

There may be no better spot to chill out and enjoy a glass of wine, Port, Champagne or even a cold pint of draft beer than at Corkscrew on Bybee in SE.
First the owner and bartender (wine tender?) are the best, incredibly knowledgeable super friendly and make you feel like you will want to stay until closing every visit.
The specialize in harder to find vintages and vineyards and can steer you directly to your favorite… either by the bottle or an extensive by the glass selection
Additionally they serve up some great snacks and very reasonable prices
The vibe is warm… ample seating and I like the idea of standing and chatting at the bar…
I find myself doubling up on a draft of IPA and a glass of port… or make it bubbly…
A truly European vibe in the SE… Great job ladies and a staple on our favorite spot list