The Wild Bunch Natural Wine Event Happens in March in Portland

The Wild Bunch, a natural wine event that’s been around since 2020 and is held every March, is back this year. I’m not a wine drinker currently, but I gotta say—the lineup looks amazing. Tickets are going fast, according to the organizers and Eventbrite, so check out the details here, and get your ticket sooner than later if it’s something that appeals to you.

A Little History of The Wild Bunch

The Wild Bunch was founded by Dana Frank, who used to run Bar Norman; it closed last April. The closing was bittersweet and she named a few thing that were behind it—the pandemic, social stagnation, and the cost of doing business. Unfortunate, yet familiar themes.

The mission of The Wild Bunch was shared in a 2023 Instagram post:

“Our mission is to celebrate and make accessible the dynamic world of natural wine, while also setting aside the dogma. The fair showcases wines from around the world that embrace organic, biodynamic, and regenerative farming, minimal interventions in the cellar, and an overall commitment to letting grapes be grapes without losing their sense of place and deliciousness.”

I was reminded of The Wild Bunch this week via High Five Selections, the national wine import company she founded with her husband Scott. And in the old Bar Norman space is Daydream, a bar that is also serious about its DJ action. They’ll have a hand in this year’s event, too.

What To Expect at The Wild Bunch 2025

Wine

First, there are the wine participants, around 70 of them between wineries and importers. Too many to name here, so he’s the link to the list. It includes domestic wineries from Oregon, Washington, California, and Illinois (honestly, I did not know Illinois was a wine producer.) There will also be wineries from France, Spain, and Austria. Plus importers “sharing wines from nearly every winemaking region you can think of.”

Food

It’s a small be excellent list: nearby Jacqueline; Cowbell, one of Portland’s best cheese shops; Puff Coffee, a tiny roaster with a presence on SE Stark, from Stumptown founder Duane Sorenson; Commensal Fermentation, a veteran and minority owned brewery in Portland (“there may even be a very special Wild Bunch collab beer in the works”); and the pop-up Lupine, one of Dana’s favorites.

Daydream will provide the music in the form of DJ Jamko and DJ Brother Ben.

Off-Fair Events

In an aspect that gives me mini FEAST vibes, there will be “dinners, tastings, and parties all over Portland featuring participating winemakers and importers.” You can find the list here . Note: These events are not produced by The Wild Bunch.

Wine tastings include locations like Jacqueline, Idle Beer & Wine, E&R Wine shop, Heavenly Creatures, and much more. Also there will be a Midwest pizza and wine dinner, food by Astral at a tasting of wines from the Republic of Georgia and Central Europe, and Ezumeh will provide the food for the Official Wild Bunch Kick Off Party. Lots of takeovers, too, throughout Portland.

The Wild Bunch Attendance Details

The Wild Bunch takes place on Saturday, March 8 from 11am to 4pm at the Premier Gear and Machine Works Building, located at 1715 NW 17th Avenue in Portland (same locaton as the Portland Bazaar).

Tickets are $53 plus a handling fee of $5.40. Buy your tickets here via Eventbrite. No tickets will be available at the door. 21+ over only to attend, and they will check your ID.

Tickets cover your entry, a logo’d wine glass for you to take with you, and unlimited wine tasting (over 400 wines will be pouring). Food and other beverages available for purchase. There will also be a retail shop.

It sounds like a fantastic even and I hope you are able to make if over there in March.

The Wild Bunch Natural Wine Fair
1715 NW 17th Avenue, Portland
Saturday, March 8, 2025
11am to 4pm
The Wild Bunch website | Instagram
Eventbrite tickets link

Updated March 5, 2025.