Ora et Labora Wine Shop

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Ora et Labora Wine Shop

Portland wine shop, featuring glass pours, wine classes, & private events.
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11/16/2024

GAMAY SEASON IS HERE!

We sold out our Thanksgivng 3-Packs the past two years, but this year, we're opting for a more flexible route. Our Gamay shelf features some our fav Gamays (both domestic and Beaujolais), and we're pouring other faves by the glass throughout the fall (even from weird places like Switzerland and the Vallee d'Aoste).

From the bombastic, chuggable daily drinkers to the serious stuff (including .collector one of Dave's top 5 favorite wines of all time, and a Bojo from vines planted in freakin' 1903 from ), we've got all your needs covered.

Bring it on, Thanksgiving.

10/02/2024

And we’re back! 🙌🏻

After a little hiccup with a pipe burst, OEL is open again, and we’re ready to pour you some great wine. Stop by today from 4-9PM and help us make up for lost time!

Also, we’re just a couple of days out from our First Friday free tasting! This month we’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with two winemakers, Sam Parra of Parra Wine Co. and Adrian Cornejo of Nueva Aventura. Sam will be showcasing his dessert wine, a hibiscus-infused wine, and two distinct styles of Tempranillo. Adrian will focus mainly on red wines with bigger flavors.

🗓️ Friday, Oct 4 | 5-8 PM

Help us get a head count by RSVPing with the link in our bio!

09/30/2024

📢 Ora et Labora Update 📢

Hey friends, we’re temporarily closed due to an unexpected pipe burst under the sidewalk outside our building! Don’t worry, we’re working on getting everything fixed and will let you know as soon as we’re back in action.

In the meantime, check out this awesome sketch of our shop exterior, created by one of our own team members!

Thanks for your patience and support. Can’t wait to pour you a glass soon! 🍷✨

09/02/2024

At Ora et Labora, we’re all about good pours and creative expression. We believe wine really is an art form — crafted with heart, full of stories, and best enjoyed slowly. With that, we wanted to put some extra effort into celebrating other forms of art.

Mark your calendar for another Williams District First Friday this week, September 6th, from 6 to 8 PM. This month, we’re hosting an art walk featuring 5 local artists and some of their favorite pieces.

To top it off, we will also welcome family-owned winery (more on them later!), who will be pouring samples and selling bottles of their low intervention estate wines that highlight Tempranillo. This tasting *and* the art walk will be free!

07/16/2024

If you’re a fan of cellar-aged red wines, read on!

A number of years ago, we stumbled into a little tasting room during our first visit to Walla Walla. This winery only had one Google review at the time, and we were absolutely blown away by the wines of Kendall Mix. When we opened Ora et Labora, we asked Kendall if we could carry his wines, and he was gracious enough to obtain a license from the OLCC. We’re currently the only bottle shop in Portland to carry his wine!

Here’s a bit of Kendall’s story: originally from Canada, Kendall’s parents Lawrence and Elinor (hence “Lawr-elin”) encouraged him to move to California to attend UC Davis’s school of oenology and viticulture. Kendall moved to Washington to make wine from Red Mountain AVA, but for a few reasons didn’t sell what he made for a decade, as he made juice for other wineries.

Here’s what makes Kendall’s red wines so unique: he cellars them for a decade before releasing them, and they are remarkably well priced. Each year, Kendall makes tiny quantities (mostly in 50-100 case allotments) of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellations surrounding Walla Walla, and relatively recently began crafting white and rosé wine.

We’re thrilled that Kendall is making a rare trip to Portland to pour his wines for us, and get ready for a lineup ranging the spectrum of Kendall’s styles, with a focus his aged Cab Sauv, Syrah, and Rhone-style GSM blend.

Link for tickets in bio.

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05/16/2024

Next time you see Gerrett, congratulate him!

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05/05/2024

Finding wines that are perfect for you begins with learning to articulate the characteristics that appeal to you most.

Wine can (and should!) be mysterious, but we’re going to provide you with a firm foundation to understand—and thereby better enjoy—the wines you drink.

Before exploring the various areas of aroma and flavor profiles, we’ll talk about the key structural elements that compose a glass: sweetness, alcohol, acidity, and tannin. Alongside a little bit of science and a dose of psychology, we’ll provide tips and tricks to navigate the choreography and mechanics of tasting.

This class is so much more than a typical wine tasting! And it’s perfect for someone new to wine, or those looking to expand their knowledge.

Wednesday, May 8 | 6-8PM
Tickets: $25 | $20 for club members
Enjoy a tasting of six wines, plus discounted bottles for home

04/27/2024

May is Oregon Wine Month! To celebrate, we’ll be nerding out about the world-class Pinots and Chardonnays of Oregon. 🤓🍷

You’ve likely heard about the various sub-regions of the Willamette Valley if you’ve consumed these wines: Eola-Amity Hills, Dundee Hills, the Van Duzer Corridor, and so on. Yes, they’re delicious, but what exactly merits so many distinct AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in a relatively small region? Is it possible to really smell and taste the difference between these places? How did these appellations come to exist?!

We’ll be getting into some of the best wines (truly) that Oregon has to offer while learning about the Valley’s ancient and more recent histories. More so, this class will focus on the Valley’s soils and microclimates, and how they distinctly affect the flavors and structures of the final juices.

Some of these bottles come from very established producers, and some are from acclaimed new kids on the block. Each bottle is indicative of its respective terroir, and most are from historic vineyards of great significance for the Willamette Valley. Expect a couple bonus pours that Dave is bringing from his own cabinet of curiosities. Swipe through to see the lineup!

This Wednesday, May 1, 6PM. Grab your tickets with the link in our bio!

04/24/2024

Planning an event over the next month or so (Mother’s Day wine brunch, anyone?)? We’re offering discounted rates on private rentals of The Vinum Lounge! Swipe to see some gorgeous pictures from our recent styled shoot, and message us for booking details. 🥂✨

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🧀 tower: .and.spread
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Styling:

04/02/2024

This Thursday, we're thrilled to be participating in a First Thursday artwalk, highlighting some of our friend Amah Dokyi's () paintings, two of which have been hanging on our walls for some time.

Blest Weter, the manager, will be leading an artwalk up and down Williams starting at 6:30pm from , taking folks to a number of businesses featuring local artists, whose work will be on display and for sale.

We hope you get to come by to meet Amah and see some of her amazing work and meet other artists and businesses that make our community so vibrant! Swipe to meet Amah and some of her paintings. Here's some information about Amah, in her own words:

"Portland-based abstract artist Amah Dokyi has been honing and exploring her skills in abstract art. Originally from upstate NY, she discovered her talent during the pandemic and has tuned that into a passion for 3 years now. With her heritage from Ghana, West Africa, Amah uses her culture to create an interplay of colors, textures, and emotions that reflect Ghanian culture, nature, music, etc. Amah paints with acrylics, tools, and other mediums, and her artworks are large, bold, and eye-catching, brightening and making a space feel whole."

Participating Williams District businesses:

Ben Cox Law

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02/24/2024

In case you're wondering where Dave and Sarah are, we haven't disappeared. We're just fresh out of the hospital with a newborn!

Audrey Day (named after Dave's great aunt, and the socialist-anarchist foundress of the Catholic Worker movement, Dorothy Day [long story]) might make appearances at OEL in the weeks ahead. Defecating potatoes are frequently of little interest to anyone but the parental units; we're just excited to show her around, ya know?

In between taking care of blowouts and napping in two hour stretches, we'll be posting new classes for the coming months and writing our club letters for next weekend. Gerrett, Tanya, Kari, and Mary will be holding down the fort until parental leave is over! See y'all soon!

02/08/2024

This Saturday 2/10 · 2PM · Join us for a collaborative class with Ethan Powell, owner of EaT: An Oyster Bar . Ethan will be schooling us on oysters from the PNW, and we’ll be pairing his smattering of oysters with classic and more unconventional wines. 🦪🥂

Get tickets on our website or with the link in our bio.

02/01/2024

In honor of Black History Month, we’re proud to foreground Black-owned labels and Black winemakers on our glass pour menu!

Stop in to try wines from local Willamette Valley producers Stoney Wines () and Chosen Family (), South Arican label Kumusha Wines (), and Lobo Wines from the Napa Valley ().

We’ll also be donating $1 of every glass pour to the nonprofit organization Our Legacy Harvested () throughout the month. Founded by Tiquette Bramlett (), their mission is to educate, advance, and empower the BIPOC community within the wine industry. For the past two years, they’ve awarded 4-month paid internships for selected BIPOC individuals at a Willamette Valley partner winery. Check them out for more details and their big goals for the future!

By enjoying a glass of wine with us, you’ll not only treat yourself, but also contribute to a meaningful cause that supports diversity and inclusion in our industry! 🍷🥂

01/26/2024

Get ready to celebrate the end of January with us! This is a collaboration you don’t want to miss.

Next Friday, February 2, from 5-8PM, taste a lineup of six wines from Chosen Family Wines () , founded by NBA Champions Channing Frye and Kevin Love, alongside small bite plant-based pairings from Chef Jewan Manuel aka .

CFW produces beautiful expressions of classic Willamette Valley varietals, as well as exceptional bottles in collaboration with select winemakers. And Chef Jewan is a genius and visionary in the rapidly expanding plant-based community.

Tickets are available on our website via the link in our bio. Note: wine tasting and food pairing are sold separately.

Spots are limited for don’t wait to snag yours! 🍷🌱

01/15/2024

Got a bad case of cabin fever from this weekend? ❄️

Join us for an evening of exploration and flavor at our upcoming class, Wine & Cheese: Alpine Edition! 🧀🥂

📅 Date: THIS Wednesday, January 17
🕕 Time: 6PM
🎟️ Price: $50 // 7 wine + cheese pairings

We’re bringing back our previously SOLD OUT class with the help of Cow Bell Cheese Shop’s () Sam Rollins, who recently won second place at the international cheesemonger competition, Mondial du Fromage.

Sam will take a deep dive into cheeses from the French, Swiss and Italian Alps, and we’ll pair them with some exceptional regional wines, sharing insights, tips, and tricks along the way that will elevate your tasting experience. 🍇🧀

Whether you're a wine enthusiast or a cheese connoisseur, this class is perfect for all levels of expertise.

Limited spots available, so secure your spot now! Purchase your ticket on our website or w/ link in our bio.

01/13/2024

WE ARE OPEN!

Nothing goes better with a snow storm than a glass (or two) of red wine.

Warm up with us, or grab a bottle to enjoy at home by the fire. 🍷

01/03/2024

Okay, let's all agree January can be a bit of a bummer month. So here's something to brighten up these gloomy post holiday season days:

This Friday, stop by the wine bar from 5-8pm for OEL’s $5 First Friday Wine Tasting with and !

Winemakers Meg and Jonathan will each be pouring three of their local wines and sharing their wine knowledge for any and all to hear. No tickets necessary; tastings are first come first serve.

12/22/2023

Well, it's official. We made it to one year! 🥂

We've learned a ton. Namely, that we couldn’t run the shop without the help of some amazing employees (most, but not all pictured!), as well as a few incredibly generous family/friends. Also, people love chillable red wines by the glass.

Our deepest thanks to all our club members, patrons, and new friends that we've made over the past year. It’s because of all you wonderful folks that were still going strong on this whole small business thing.

May this holiday season and the new year be filled with beauty and light and peace. ✨

Address

3928 N Williams Avenue
Portland, OR
97227

Website

https://www.oraetlabora.wine/

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Sip and shop this weekend! Wine tasting with local producers! Plus, local food and gifts! ❄️ Winter Wine Market: Saturday, December 16th at Ora et Labora Wine Shop 🕰️ 2PM to 5PM 🍷 Corollary Wines Hundred Suns Wine Ovum Wines Nueva Aventura Winee Johan Vineyards Dirty Radish The Color Collector 🍫 Roste Chocolate House 🦪 EaT: An Oyster Bar 👚 Monochromatic $20 advance tickets / $25 at the door Purchase w/ the link in the comments or at www.oraetlabora.wine #shoplocal #whattodoinportland #pdxwine #pdxwinebar #pdxwineshop #williamsdistrictpdx #portlandholidaymarket

We’re teaming up with @beautifultableco for a wine and floral workshop in our new event space on Sunday, October 22nd! Craft a stunning floral centerpiece with step-by-step instruction from florist Regina Rivera Giusti! While you design, sip on a flight of three wines and learn about food and wine pairing to prepare for your next gathering! Tickets available at the link below. Use code ORAETLABORA for a $20 discount!

Curious about the name of our wine shop/bar? “Ora et Labora” is Latin for “prayer and labor,” and was the motto of the monks and nuns who kept grape-growing and winemaking alive in Europe during the Middle Ages. The adage applies perfectly to wine. A vigneron prays for good weather, and labors really hard in the vineyards; in the winery, the hard work continues, and once the wine is made, the winemaker prays that the end result reflects that work. Much like everything in life (especially starting your own business!), the process of growing grapes and making wine is an interweaving of human agency and things outside of our control. There you have it, friends. Ora et labora! #oelwineshop

The month of May is packed with some serious wine events for all you oenophiles out there! Join us for one of our educational classes, a guided tasting of some seriously aged wines, or a concert featuring local artists. Visit our website or use the link in the bio for tickets. Cheers! 🥂#oelwineshop #winebar #portlandwine #winetasting #oregonwinemonth #williamsdistrictpdx #portland #smallbusiness #supportlocal

Take your wine knowledge to the next level! This class is for folks who love wine, but find the world of tasting notes befuddling or intimidating. We’ll demystify the key aspects of wine and help you differentiate between tannin, body, acidity, sweetness, aroma, and flavor. Thursday | February 23 | 7-9pm | $20 Purchase your ticket here: oraetlabora.wine/events/p/demystifying-wine-tasting

Rolling into the weekend with a new flight. We have a brand new lineup of wines for you.��Pick and choose from a variety of producers to create your own flight. Plus, in honor of Black History Month, we will be featuring black winemakers and vignerons throughout the month. This week we are excited to share Kumusha wines from award-winning South African sommelier/winemaker Tinashe Nyamudoka. This featured flight includes a white blend, red blend, and Pinotage. ��We’ll also be donating a portion of the proceeds from all Kumusha flights or glasses to the Scholarship Fund at De La Salle North Catholic High School (where Dave used to work).��See you at the wine shop!

Our GRAND OPENING is coming, and we want to see you there! Join us Wednesday, December 21st through Saturday, December 24th for all day tastings and full glass pours, free small bites from Plantbasedpapi & Cow Bell, plus a raffle for swag, gift cards to classes and more! Get details and RSVP for entry into our raffle here: https://tr.ee/gSBIU3QKAr