Portland, Ore. (January, 2025) – The Scout Wine Bar and Bottle Shop opened in December in Gresham’s historic downtown district, at 25 NE Third St. The highly anticipated wine bar joins a community of restaurants, breweries and shops in the lively neighborhood.
The Scout is a project led by three friends—Cassondra Bird, Matt Robinson, and Brandon Smith—who teamed up to bring a space to Gresham that is as unique as it is timely. The wine selection concentrates on small, sustainable producers with offerings from around the world, with a specific emphasis on Oregon and Washington producers. The beer selection is focused on hyperlocal breweries in Portland and surrounding areas, as well as a curated selection of Belgian beers. With no other wine bar east of the 205, The Scout offers a welcoming space to learn about and enjoy fine wine at accessible price points designed for the neighborhood of Gresham and surrounding areas.
The space is decorated with vintage wood furnishings and antique paintings in gold frames, “meant to feel like you might be visiting an old friend, but having nice wine,” says Cassondra. The bar and shelving were designed and built by Smith, who completed the renovations to the space himself with help from Robinson and Bird. Dotted with antique books about the Pacific Northwest, trinkets, and framed photos from Oregon’s history, the ambiance is cozy and inviting. A Victorian-era loveseat and chair set and two 1960s leather lounge chairs complement the wooden bistro tables and bar, and create unique niches in the open space.
Cassondra fell in love with wine while living in Spain, and pursued wine knowledge during a two-decade career in service. A Certified Sommelier, she holds a WSET Diploma and a Master’s degree in writing (where she met Matt, an author). She joined the team as beverage director and fulfilled a lifelong dream to open a wine shop when Matt approached her with the project.
Brandon is an avid hiker, Army veteran, and Oregon native, who co-founded The Scout out of his adventurous spirit and penchant for bold reds. He aims to make The Scout a place where adventurers of all kinds come to compare stories, and chess strategy, over a glass of wine.
Matt met Brandon while serving in the Oregon Army National Guard and came to wine through his love of fortifieds. The friends and veterans were cavalry scouts in the Army and served in Iraq, and they had wanted to own a business together for years. The three friends came together to create a community where wines the team have “scouted” for the shop are enjoyed by new friends in a setting that celebrates the Pacific Northwest.
The Gresham Downtown Historical District has many events and shops nearby, including Maggie Mae’s Bookshop, Off the Charts Games, Foxtrot Vintage, Side Hustle Auctions and Thrift, Poppy and Dale Vintage, and more. This community was ready for a cozy yet adventurous little bottle shop that boasts a beverage menu with nine wines and four beers on tap, great snacks, and zero screens. The by-the-glass menu changes often to bring in new-to-the-neighborhood wines and labels, but the glass pour price is $11 for any choice, one of the ways that The Scout is trying to make wine more accessible and less intimidating to try. The shop also has a rotating selection of local beer and cider to go, as well as a wide selection of non-alcoholic beverages. A sample drink menu can be seen here.
The wine bar is a block from Main Street and the Gresham Arts Plaza, home to the Gresham Farmer’s Market every Saturday as well as the Festival of the Arts, Third Thursdays, and other local events. Main Street has some of Gresham’s best restaurants: the east county location of Nicholas serving Lebanese and Mediterranean cuisine, the neighborhood’s Italian staple Boccelli’s Ristorante, as well a burger restaurant, Thai food, pho, sushi, Mexican cuisine, báhn mì, a frozen yogurt shop, and a candy store, all within a block of The Scout. The Scout offers a curated selection of foods, including cured meats, tinned fish, cheeses, chocolates, olives, nuts, and other snacks to enjoy at the shop or to take home. The wine bar also welcomes outside food so guests can enjoy takeout with a glass of wine in the shop.
For more information about The Scout, visit thescoutwinebar.com or follow @thescoutgresham on Instagram.
