Best Places For Port Wine In Minnesota
The Iberian wine, better known as Port, is a specialty drink that comes to us from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal. Typically a sweet, after-dinner drink (not to be confused with dessert wine — although sometimes it is used as such), Port has gained popularity all across the world in its classic red, white and dry varieties. Where in Minnesota can you find the best glass? These local late-night spots are a great place to start.
Meritage
410 St Peter St.
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 222-5670
www.meritage-stp.com
With one of the strongest wine lists in the cities, it's no wonder this brasserie in downtown St. Paul is a top spot to get a glass of port. Offering quite a few different vintages to choose from, it is also one of the only places around that offers 100 years of port wine: 40-year-old, 60-year-old, 80-year-old... For those looking for a crash course in this sweet after-dinner drink, this is your spot. Just ask your always-knowledgeable server or bartender where to start and let the journey begin.
Want to step away from the hubbub of downtown Minneapolis? Whether it's after a show or before a wild night out, this is a must-stop in one of Minnesota's premier nightlife districts. You can enjoy a fantastic wine list, and of course a glass of excellent port. Bev's offers something a little different in the midst of the warehouse district's flashing lights and nightclubs, and we're all the better for it.
Port wine in a haunted mansion? Forepaugh's is located in the historic Irvine Park area of St. Paul, right outside of downtown, and the 1870s house has been beautifully restored and is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine. A fire crackles in the corner, the plush furniture begs you to stay for that second glass, and with the extensive list, you'll be remiss if you don't have it. Oh yeah, and it's haunted — but even ghost are known to respect people who drink good wine. Right?
This South Minneapolis wine bar is about as eclectic as they come. Excellent pho joins other Asian and American small plates and brunch on a diverse menu of food. But it is a wine bar, still, even if it doesn't quite act like one. The wine list is strong and creative, and there are a couple of ports that are worth a pour. It's a fantastic place to relax with a glass, and certainly one of the most unique places on this list.
This new music venue (new in concept; it used to be the Artists' Quarter) in the basement of downtown St. Paul's historic Hamm Building might be the best place on the list for a glass of port. Not only because there is always interesting music onstage (local, national, and international acts make their way through Minnesota's capital city), but because you can have it straight up or in a fantastic cocktail called the Wandering Star, a balanced mix of white port, house-made tonic, Campari, orange bitters and soda.
Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.
