Fore Street
Hearth Fire Energy, Solid Wine to Match
Old Port · Portland · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Fore Street, the wood-burning hearth immediately steals the show — and the wine list seems to know it's playing a supporting role. It doesn't try to outshine the room, but it's clearly been put together by someone who cares more than the average casual-dining operator. The bottle range from $60 to $800 signals genuine range, not just a few house pours and a token Champagne.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans into a thoughtful mix of Old World and domestic picks that make sense alongside hearth-roasted proteins and serious Maine seafood. Champagne gets real attention — Laurent-Perrier, Billecart-Salmon in multiple formats including a magnum and a prestige cuvée, and a Grand Cru Jean Vesselle Extra Brut that most restaurants at this price point wouldn't bother stocking. On the domestic side, The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris from Willamette Valley and Ravines Dry Gewurztraminer from the Finger Lakes show some genuine curiosity about American wine regions beyond the obvious. The full list depth is harder to assess without a complete menu in hand, but what's visible here is promising enough to trust the rest.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program is described as extensive and rotating, which is the right call for a restaurant that changes its menu with the seasons. We can't confirm exact pours on any given night, but the fact that they're actively rotating means the glass selection stays relevant to what's coming out of that oven. If you're on the fence about a bottle, ask what's open — a rotating BTG program like this usually means there's something worth a half pour before you commit.
NV Laurent-Perrier 'La Cuvee' Brut Champagne, France (half bottle) — $88
A half bottle of Laurent-Perrier Brut at $88 on a night out in Portland's Old Port is genuinely fair — retail on this runs around $60 for the half, so the markup isn't punishing. It's the right move if two people want bubbles with their oysters without committing to a full bottle.
2009 Jean Vesselle Extra Brut 'Les Petit Clos', Grand Cru Champagne, France
Most tables are going to walk right past a 2009 vintage Champagne from a small Grand Cru grower-producer and order the Billecart instead. That's their loss. Jean Vesselle is a Bouzy-based family domaine with deep roots, and a 15-year-old Extra Brut at Grand Cru level is the kind of thing you drink once and talk about for a while. At $434 it's a splurge, but it's the most interesting bottle on the list.
NV Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé Champagne, France (half bottle)
Billecart Rosé is a reliable crowd-pleaser, but $155 for a half bottle — roughly 72% over retail — is the steepest markup we see on this list. The Laurent-Perrier half bottle delivers comparable occasion energy at a much fairer price. Save the Billecart upgrade for the full bottle or the magnum if you're going big.
2022 The Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon + Hearth-roasted seafood
Eyrie's Pinot Gris is textured enough to hold up against the char and smoke coming off the wood grill, but it has the restraint to not bulldoze whatever's actually on the plate. Against a piece of hearth-roasted fish or shellfish, that balance is exactly what you want — richness without weight, fruit without sweetness.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Fore Street isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's not phoning it in either — the Champagne selection alone is more serious than most restaurants twice its price point. If you're eating here, drink something from that list. You won't regret it.
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