Portland Wine Couples
Love Stories, One Bottle at a Time
In honor of Valentine’s Day, I interviewed three of my favorite Portland wine couples about their love stories, signature bottles, and favorite date spots.
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Renee Neely and Laurie Lewis, owners and winemakers at Hip Chicks Do Wine
No list of Portland wine couples would be complete without Laurie and Renee, longtime Portlanders and founders of the city’s first urban winery. Their story began 29 years ago in community theater. Laurie fell in love with Renee at first sight when she saw Renee perform with the Portland Women's Theater Company. After Laurie volunteered for the theater, the two officially met, and the rest is history.
When it comes to wine, their style is as dynamic as their partnership. Although their tastes differ, when drinking together, they can always agree on something sparkling. They enjoy sparkling wines from Australia, Argyle Winery’s Ruby Brut, and several of the sparklings from Secret House in Eugene. Their different tastes complement each other, allowing them to experiment with a diverse portfolio of expressions in their winemaking. This creative balance also resonates with their audience, keeping their wine club thriving.
Their approach to selecting a bottle is always food-first. Whether it’s a dry Riesling, a crisp Pinot Gris, or a lovely dry rosé, the choice is guided by the meal. On nights out when they can each order their own glass, Laurie seeks out bold, spicy reds. Their ideal date? A stroll through the International Rose Test Garden with a sneaky bottle of bubbles. If you’ve visited Hip Chicks Do Wine, you know that wine and food pairings are a major focus of their work, so a picnic basket is always included on this date.
Shelby Johnson, wine steward at Zupans Market, and Ian Wayne, assistant winemaker at Cameron Winery
I’ll admit I’m a little bit biased in choosing these two. I became fast friends with Shelby after meeting her at a Friday night tasting at Taborly Wines, and she and Ian have become Ahron’s and my favorite couple to double date with. Shelby and Ian first connected during grad school at Cornell in New York, where Ian studied Oenology and winemaking while Shelby pursued studio art. Their shared passion for exploration brought them closer together.
A bottle with special meaning for the couple comes from Hoffgut Falkenstein, a winery in the Saar region. Their first trip abroad together was to Germany, where, with the help of a German-speaking friend, they managed to get a tour of Hoffgut Falkenstein. Although they hadn’t planned on engaging in much wine tourism during that trip, the experience was so memorable that they not only brought home wine but continued to seek out bottles from Hoffgut Falkenstein whenever possible.
Their tastes in wine largely overlap, with Shelby’s palate being slightly more forgiving of “fucked up” natural wines (a phrase she said with a smile and a laugh). When choosing a bottle to share, they’re always on the lookout for something new from smaller, independent producers—a reflection of their mutual love for the art of winemaking.
Both are adventurous eaters and wine drinkers, so they are always exploring new restaurants, rarely venturing to the same place twice. When asked to pick just one date spot, they immediately mentioned Canard, with a special nod to Coquine, where they enjoyed a memorable experience on Ian’s birthday.
Fabrizio Barbagelata and Justin Sedor, owners of Living Room Wines
Fabrizio and Justin’s romance began on OkCupid in 2014 in New York. Justin was just starting law school and Fabrizio was managing a Thai restaurant. When Fabrizio finally mustered the courage to ask Justin out for a real date, he realized that he had accidentally left Justin's previous message on read. Luckily, Justin gave him a chance, and they quickly discovered that true connection is best experienced in person.
Their relationship is punctuated by several meaningful bottles, each marking a milestone in their journey together. Justin introduced Fabrizio to wine from Monte Bello, a vineyard that carries personal significance because Justin’s father worked for Ridge Vineyards. Just a month after they started dating, Fabrizio scored major brownie points with Justin and his parents by surprising them with a special bottle. Justin was visiting family and eating dinner with his parents at Chez Panisse when the server brought over a bottle of Bisson Glera Vino Frizzante. From across the country, Fabrizio had arranged for the bottle to be sent to their table—a scene that sounds straight out of a romantic movie. Now, on special occasions, they celebrate with Pol Roger Champagne.
When it comes to wine, their tastes complement one another. Justin is often more open to natural, experimental wines, while Fabrizio prefers to steer clear of the descriptor “funky.” Their decision-making process is a true partnership: Fabrizio presents the initial picks, and Justin refines the choice based on the mood of the moment.
If you’ve visited Living Room Wines, it should come as no surprise that their preferred date spots are intimate, offer great service, and are both special and unpretentious. For dinner, their choice is Luce, where the menu is customizable by portion size, allowing them to order a variety of dishes. They also mentioned Canard for its wonderful food, service, and, of course, its wine menu. When they’re looking to go to someone else’s wine bar, Division Wines is their go-to.
I also have to give a special shout-out to Jenny Mosbacher and Jim Fischer of Fossil and Fawn, who inspired this series. These two met when they were double-booked to pour wine at a grocery store tasting event in Portland.
You can read more about their winery in my archived post on Oregon Winemakers!
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