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๐ŸŽฒThe Wild Card

Duckfat

Killer frites, surprisingly honest wine list

Old Port ยท Portland ยท Belgian frites and sandwiches ยท Visit Website โ†—

casual-vibeshidden-gemby-the-glass-heronatural-wine

Reviewed April 16, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietySmall but Thoughtful
MarkupSteal
GlasswareBasic Stemmed
StaffWilling but Green
Specials & DealsOccasional
Storage & TempAcceptable

First Impression

You come to Duckfat for the frites and you stay because the wine list somehow doesn't embarrass itself. It's short โ€” maybe a dozen options โ€” but someone clearly thought about it instead of just calling a distributor and saying 'send whatever.' The prices will make you do a double-take, and not in the bad way.

Selection Deep Dive

The list leans French and Italian, which is the right call for a place cooking in this tradition. There's a Manoline Sancerre that has no business being this affordable, a Nicchia Lambrusco that fits the casual vibe perfectly, and a Raza Vinho Verde that's basically a no-brainer on a warm Old Port evening. The Bluet Sparkling Blueberry is a fun local nod that could easily feel gimmicky but earns its place. Don't expect deep cuts or obscure producers โ€” this list isn't trying to be a wine bar โ€” but for a frites-and-panini joint, the curation is genuinely respectable.

By the Glass

Glass pours run somewhere in the 4-to-8 range, and based on the pricing structure they're accessible enough that you won't flinch ordering a second. The Scarpetta Prosecco at $11 a glass is a crowd-pleasing opener that works with basically everything on the menu. Rotation appears limited โ€” this feels more like a set list than something that changes with the seasons.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

Manoline Sancerre NV โ€” $18

Sancerre at $18 a glass is nearly unheard of anywhere, let alone at a casual sandwich spot. Retail on this sits around $30, so the markup is almost embarrassingly fair. Order it.

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

Nicchia Lambrusco NV

Most people skip Lambrusco because they remember bad versions from the '90s. This one is the real deal โ€” slightly fizzy, savory, low-key funky โ€” and at $14 it's the most fun you'll have drinking wine with a duck fat panini.

โ›”Skip This

Bluet Sparkling Blueberry NV

It's a Maine thing, and we respect the local love, but at $13 for a sparkling blueberry wine when the Sancerre is only $18, the math just doesn't work in its favor. Cute novelty, better left to first-timers.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

Raza Vinho Verde NV + Duck fat-fried Belgian frites

Vinho Verde's natural acidity and light spritz cut straight through the richness of duck fat. It's the palate reset you need between handfuls of frites, and at $11 you can order two glasses without thinking twice.

๐ŸŽฒ The Bottom Line

Duckfat is a wildcard in the best sense โ€” nobody expects a Belgian frites counter in Portland to pour Sancerre at near-retail prices, but here we are. If you're eating here anyway, there's zero reason to skip the wine.

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