On July 30, 2024, Pairings Portland presented a wine flight inspired by Taylor Swift. This wine bar located in Northeast Portland is known for its unique concept of pairing wines with elements of pop culture, literature, and even adjectives.Teresa Mahoney

Pairings Portland, a wine bar situated in Northeast Portland, is dedicated to curating wine flights that connect with pop culture icons, TV shows, books, and more.

The owner, Jeffrey Weissler, aims to make wine enjoyable and accessible by transforming the conversation around it. His bar emphasizes pairings based on familiar, everyday words—terms that people can relate to emotionally—rather than the often complex and daunting terminologies typically seen in wine tasting notes.

This innovative approach has led to a diverse array of wine pairings linked to various subjects, including beloved TV shows like Bridgerton, popular fantasy literature, and even the Portland Trail Blazers—and intriguingly, even the experiences associated with menopause.

We embarked on a quest to discover some of the most innovative or surprising methods to relish fine, local wines. Pairings, with its energetic and distinctive approach to wine enjoyment, was included in our list of exceptional wine experiences in the region.

This past summer, we attended the bar’s Taylor Swift Lovers wine flight event. Each flight comprised eight wines, with each one reflecting Taylor Swift’s significant relationships – including ex-boyfriends, past best friends, and her current partner, Travis Kelce.

If you visit on a weeknight, we suggest sharing a flight. The servings are plentiful, and we had work commitments the following day.

Pairings presents a diverse array of themed flights throughout the year. This month, in celebration of the spooky season, the wines will be matched with ‘sexy vampires’ from pop culture – featuring references from Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Anne Rice, and many others.

Pairings Portland, 455 NE 24th Ave, Portland, Monday 4 p.m.-8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 12 p.m.-8 p.m., Friday-Saturday 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.-8 p.m.

— Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at jevensen@oregonian.com or @juliecevensen on Twitter and @julieevensen on Threads.

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