World Class Wines

Looking for a special wine? Or just to experience an everyday affordable drinking wine? This is a great place. The owner knows wines and understands we all have different budgets. I’ve been here many times and can tell you these folks are World Clasd.

I’ve been receiving World Class Wines newsletter and trying to make it to their tastings or at least to come in to purchase some wine for a few months now. They recently had a champagne tasting and I was so excited that I had that night free and was able to attend. I invited a few friends, but it was a bit last minute and on a Thursday night so only two of us went. I’ve been going to Ambonnay downtown for their champagne tastings and have had a blast and have learned really SO much. I was really excited for this one and not only was it a tasting, but in their newsletter they said how a family member from the Champagne house in France would be there as well. I’m headed to Reims and Epernay this November, so I was hoping to get a few minutes in to pick their brain and see if their tasting room would be open while I was there.
I walked into WCW around 6:30 and there were around 8 or so people already there. I walked up to the person behind the counter and she said «Are you here for the Champagne tasting?» I said yes, yes I am thanks. My friend may be here already so I’m going to take a look around. The place isn’t that big so I just peeked around the corner to their other room which has another big bar at it and wines on the wall. It’s a pretty space, with wine all over on shelves! My friend wasn’t there yet, so I told the woman I wanted to wait for my friend to arrive. In walks my friend about a minute or so later. She asks her «are you tasting as well» or something along those lines. She tells us its going to be $ 20. I found it odd that we paid up front, seeing as I was coming to also purchase wine, it’s typically better to leave the tab open until the person has finished their tasting. My friend and I stopped at the tip part of the tab and wondered if we should tip now or wait until we knew how much we wanted to. We tipped at the beginning anyways which was also awkward.
The woman hands us each a glass (not a very nice wine glass might I add) of champagne and calls it «the first one» Having worked in a tasting room myself, there’s nothing more enjoyable (joking) then when the person that is pouring for you, doesn’t actually know what they are pouring. My friend being more blunt haha says and what is it? I could tell from there it was going to be a bit of a struggle through this tasting and it wasn’t at all what I had hoped for in a tasting experience at a new place!
The woman then says oh well let me see, we changed around the list so its… pause pause… and then a name of a wine. I said is there a list we can look at? She slides a printed out piece of paper folded in half with numbers written next to the name in pencil. Classy. I don’t need a leather bound menu with all of it’s information, but when you go to a champagne tasting, my expectations were definitely higher. Then there was the man behind the counter that poured our «second one» okay you girls are on number two? He asked. Yes, number two, just pour it in. I thought okay, maybe he knows more, so I asked him and which champagne is this? He looked at me… took the wine out of the little cooler that he was pouring it in and put the bottle in front of me to read. And that’s basically when I gave up on this place.
My friend and I wondered who the people pouring could be, people that work there? It probably couldn’t be managers or the owners…(as it turns out, I think it was the owners).
As for the «family member» that was there representing the Champagne, she was maybe in her mid 20’s? 8^th generation they said. She was very beautiful, but looked very young. She spoke with about two people and was then in the back on her phone and then after about 30 mins of us being there, she was already leaving.
This place may have it all, but if the service is not there, my business is better elsewhere. I was certainly going into that place that night, hoping to buy some wine and to find a new local wine shop that I can start going to.
When we got up to leave, the woman and man were both in the back so we just peaked around the corner and said, bye thank you, have a good night. No response, so we were out. Luckily there are so many other tasting rooms and wine shops in Portland that want and need business… and more importantly– that want to interact with their customers.

We first started coming to WCW a couple of years ago. We stopped in for a Friday tasting and were immediately greeted warmly. Within a few minutes we felt like regulars. We’ve continued to return. They regularly get great deals on wine and pass along the good prices to the customer. These guys also have a great selection of high end and rare bottles. Rick and Susan have been awesome and have always steered me to wines I enjoy.

My husband and I love going to World Class Wines. The wine selection is amazing. There is something for every taste and every budget. We love having a huge selection under one roof. It has a cozy neighboorhood feel to it. Everybody is so very friendly. Whenever we have out of town guests, we always stop by for a glass of wine. We like to go on Friday nights for the tastings and then hit one of the local restauraunts for happy hour. A perfect Friday date night!

Drinking a great NW Syrah on their patio. Great selection of sub $ 15 French wines. Very friendly.

Come here on Friday nights, and you will meet the friendliest people who appreciate good wines. The wines are grouped by prices, and Rick and Fred are very knowledgeable and so helpful in choosing wines if you need any suggestions. My favorite wine source!

I walked into WCW dressed casually, baseball hat/​shorts/​hoodie. The older guy who met me at the entrance looked me up and down (literally) and asked «do you need something?». His tone and demeanor were rude to the point of a smack down but I had a gift card and wanted to use it so on I went. I asked where they kept the good Cabernet as the wine downstairs was pretty cheap. As if to protect the valuables, the guy stood in the doorway as he told me it was upstairs… so I pushed by for a look. He and another guy had a business discussion as I looked around then he left the store.
The second guy came in and offered to help. He showed me a few bottles of what he thought I might like or what other people were buying. I appreciated being treated like a person rather than a nuisance. That said, the first guy was so incredibly rude that the best I can give here is 2 stars. The wine is over priced but that’s what you get with a small wine shop. The only reason to go into a place like this is for customer service. Larger grocery stores have many of the same wines for $ 10 less so their knowledge is what customers pay more for – but attitude is what I got… not a way to get a repeat customer for sure.

I have given WCW three tries, but they’ve struck out. Rude on every occasion, to the point of incredulity. WCW apparently has so much business that they do not mind losing mine. So much for «shop local.» Cheers!

Tried to do a tasting but staff person was rushed and rude. I ended up walking out. Not a great way to treat customers.

A friend was coming down from Seattle for a visit and said she wanted to go wine-​tasting. Thinking of having to leave the area and then drive home did NOT sound appealing. Luckily, I happened into this lovely little place just a couple of miles from home, for the first time, just a few days before her visit. The owners were kind enough to help me out with something wine-​related I was looking for and mentioned their Friday evening tasting. Voila! I knew just where to bring my visitor. Little did I know it would be such a comfortable and casual affair, and despite the slower-​than-​usual night (due to the holiday week) it was still a lively little crowd and we both had a wonderful time. Apparently it can be squeezing room only most Friday eves. Can’t wait to go back for that… And like the other reviewers, I think it’s brilliant that the wines are grouped by price range!

Outstanding customer service, friendly and knowledgeable. This is the kind of place that you want to go if you want a great experience and or learn about wine. Their selection is set up by price point so it is easy to determine which wines are in your budget. It is family owned and they try the wines that they sell, so they aren’t just guessing when you ask what a bottle is going to be like. Overall, this is a great shop to visit. Also, they have wine tasting on Friday nights for a small fee.

Great shop in downtown LO. Fantastic prices and you must try the truffle popcorn!