On top of serving its own bottles and hosting a few local winemaking peers, Division collaborated with Bacchanal on a worldly wine list for this pop-up series.

Before New Orleans wine bar Bacchanal became a tourist destination and local legend, it was an illegal speakeasy. Founders Chris Rudge and Beau Ross started throwing parties on the edge of the Mississippi River over 20 years ago, always with live music, a respectable but crushable wine list, and Mediterranean eats. It has the necessary permits today, but as Bacchanal grew into a state-sanctioned backyard party built around a bottle shop and kitchen, it stayed true to the ancient Roman hedonist values its name implies.

Soon, the debauchery will make its way to Portland. For a weekend bender July 19 through 21, the Louisiana favorite with nearly two dozen Mardi Gras under its belt is bringing its Dionysian charms to urban winery Division Winemaking Company. Its chef and wine director, and a few other NOLA friends, are bringing the sounds, sights, and flavors of the Big Easy to Inner Southeast for three shrimp-fueled parties—and so, so much wine.

Division’s so-called “wine yard” has guests rubbing elbows with forklifts and wine barrels.

Division opened its tasting room to the public last summer, inaugurating its Hosford-Abernethy “wine yard” with a slew of outdoor events—think picnic tables and a DJ amid forklifts and endless stacks of wine barrels. Local and visiting winemakers poured and chatted about their latest bottles, serving them next to Division’s. A steady stream of food pop-ups rolled through, anchored by Café Olli’s recurring Fridaze pizza event, mobile wood-fired oven and all. Things are only getting bigger this summer, starting with this epic romp.

Outside of its parties, Division keeps its bright tasting room open for regular hours.

BBQ jumbo Louisiana shrimp are the star of Bacchanal chef and co-owner Joaquin Rodas’s Spanish tapas menu back home, and he’s bringing them out west along with other wine-friendly snacks. Division’s parties are usually stocked with its own bottles—a healthy range of low-intervention wines made with regenerative and/or biodynamic grapes—but winemakers Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe also like to invite their contemporaries. In addition to a global list assembled with Bacchanal’s wine director Katie Singer, Division will host the Portland winemakers behind the Marigny wines, Redolent Wines, and Carlton’s Anne Amie Vineyards throughout the weekend’s festivities.

It should go without saying that live jazz is essential to the Bacchanal recipe. A few local acts are scheduled to recreate the vibes. But to really bring the thing home, the guitarist and harmonica player Raphaël Bas, who plays a mix of French gypsy swing and traditional New Orleans jazz on Bacchanal’s patio stage every week, is making the trip to hold his standing gig.


Bacchanal will be at Division Winemaking Company (2005 SE 8th Avenue) July 19–21. No entry fee. See Division’s website for complete event details.