When you hear the term “private wine label,” what comes to mind? Do you think of delicious steakhouses or chain grocery stores trying to sell wine at a cheap price? Often times the concept of “house” wine gets bogged down by Trader Joe’s brands or wines produced in bulk for the masses.
Change that mindset up with many local restaurants and grocers that are rebranding the narrative of private wine labels. These Northwest restaurants and stores are collaborating with local wineries to create exclusive wines for their stores or eateries, solely for consumers to enjoy from them.
Urban Farmer Steakhouse + Angela Estate
Portland-based Urban Farmer Steakhouse specializes in bringing the farm to the table, with majority of the menu featuring locally grown or raised ingredients from the restaurant itself. The joint grows its own mushrooms, 110 different types of fruits, vegetables and flowers, in addition to raising bees for honey. So it only makes sense the restaurant would pair up with Angela Estate in Dundee, Oregon, to create in-house wine. Focused on Pinot Noir, Urban Farmer has most recently commissioned a Pinot from Angela’s Yamhill-Carlton vineyard, made by famed winemaker Ken Wright, to sell and enjoy only in the restaurant. The wine’s herbal, savory profile is said to pair with any dish that features the house-grown mushrooms.
PCC Community Markets + Domaine Pouillon
Based out of the Seattle area, PCC Community Markets is a neighborhood-focused marketplace that aims to preserve local farmland by partnering with Northwest vendors. For its in-house wine, PCC has partnered up with Domaine Pouillon which is located in Lyle, Washington, in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Having been working with Domaine Pouillon since 2012, one of the reasons PCC has continued to collaborate with the winery is due to the practice of biodynamic farm (more on about that here). Titled Ladies and Gentlemen, the wine line includes the 2018 Mademoiselle Grenache and Counoise blend, the 2015 GSM blend Monsuir and the 2018 Madame Chardonnay.
Ethan Stowell Restaurants + Avennia Winery
One of Seattle’s largest and fastest growing restaurant groups, Ethan Stowell Restaurants — including Ballard Pizza Co., Red Cow and Goldfinch Tavern among 11 others — has teamed up with Avennia Winery from Woodinville, Washington, for a wine label and regular wine dinners. At these feasts, four courses are served in addition to all the food being paired with Avennia wine. On the regular, the Frank the Tank is offered by the glass at several fo the restaurants, a Bordeaux-style blend made in honor of Ethan Stowell’s two sons.
Hi-Lo Hotel + Chehalem Winery
Looking for a glamorous getaway weekend destination? Look not further than the Hi-Lo Hotel in downtown Portland. Situated in the historic Oregon Pioneer Building, this is the perfect hotel to stay in while you explore everything Portland has to offer. To make the hotel even better, Hi-Lo has partnered with Chehalem Winery in Willamette Valley to make the Hi-Lo Cuvée, a series with a Pinot Gris and a Pinot Noir produced from three unique vineyards in the valley.
