Bar Norman

For those who are curious about my next moves: I’m staying firmly rooted in the wine industry, but after nearly 20 years, I’m retiring from hospitality (I write this while smiling because we all know I’ll never really stop doting on others the way this industry has taught me). There won’t be a new wine bar, or a restaurant, instead I’m connecting with my family roots in Austria. My grandpa Norman and grandma Nora were Viennese citizens, stripped of their homes, families, and citizenship when the Nazi’s invaded in 1938. Escaping to London and then the U.S. changed the course of their lives, and they were never able to return to Austria. One of the gifts I was given during the pandemic was the time needed to do the work of becoming an Austrian citizen, taking back what was elemental and foundational to my grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, and uncles. I’m not a woo-woo person in the least, but the pull I feel towards Austria, towards grounding myself and my family there, is undeniable and I know Norman would be delighted to know that his daughter, granddaughters, and great granddaughter are now citizens of his beloved country.

With that, my husband, Scott, and I are launching a new national wine import company in May. Named High Five Selections, we’ll be focusing on the brilliant growers and wines of Styria in southern Austria. In time we’ll be adding wines from further afield in Austria, and expanding into Central and Eastern Europe. While this means that a lot of my work moving forward won’t be consumer-facing, it doesn’t mean I won’t be out in the market supporting all of the fantastic restaurants, wine bars, and bottle shops in Portland! You can trust I’ve got a million ideas brewing and you’re about to hear a lot more about what’s happening in Austrian wine. I’m unbelievably excited about this next step in my career, a move that makes me wildly nervous and feels completely natural at the same time. If you’re into pictures of beautiful vineyards drenched in all shades of green, delicious food, and the kindest farmers and winemakers, please follow . All things BN, including wine club and special events, will show up here. 💛

new things to come, for this sweet space, for all of us, for all of you. please follow along as BN will be alive in well in wine club and event form, and you won’t want to miss what’s next (surprise! it’s not another wine bar 😘). leaving this place with a full heart and memories for life…it’s been a joy and a pleasure, Portland.

we’re going out on a high, throwing one last Bar Norman party! come celebrate the end of a beautiful run with us and all our faves: food by , music by and friends (and my daughter, Orly!), and wine til it’s gone. we’ll be open late-late and we can’t wait to hug every one of you. 💜

To all our friends,

It’s bittersweet to share with you that Bar Norman is closing on April 6th. We’ve had a thrilling run on Clinton Street and while I wish we could continue on, this chapter of the bar has come to a close. We’re going to spend the next month celebrating this special place and we hope you’ll join us.

I don’t need to share how difficult the past few years have been, and I really don’t want to be mired in the what-ifs and whys anymore. I’m immensely proud of the work our team has done in welcoming in and contributing to this vibrant community we live in. We’ve put each other first every single day of Bar Norman’s life, brought humor and love to painful situations, and wrapped our arms around our patrons since we opened. I cannot think of a better way to run a business.

Bar Norman has always been about the wonderful humans who I’ve had the pleasure of working with for almost 6 years. They are the backbone and heart of the bar and I’m forever indebted to each and every one of them. As you come through over the next month, I ask you to remember all the good times you’ve had with us and allow our team to work and be with you without having to explain why the bar is closing. Tell us a story, share a memory, keep it light if you can!

Thank you, thank you for spending your time, your money, your nights off with us. Thank you for sharing your highest highs and lowest lows, knowing we would hold space for you. Thank you for trusting your palates with us, and allowing us to be spokespeople for the dedicated farmers and winemakers we’ve so happily represented. It’s been and honor and the joy of a lifetime bringing Bar Norman to life and I’ll miss it all.

With kindness and love,

Dana

Photo from opening day, July 17, 2018.

it’s week, friends and we’re suuuuuper excited to be hosting the official kick-off party FRIDAY night. join us for a Slovenian-Slovakian-Czech-Croatian-Friulian takeover with winemakers and importers .slo.cro. Taste 12 wines for $35 and eat a burger while you’re at it. 6-9pm, drop on by. 🍔 🍷 🇭🇷 🇸🇮 🇸🇰 🇨🇿 🇮🇹

this FRIDAY night, it’s our 4th annual Furmint Fest celebrating all things Hungary. join the gents of as they pour you a flight of 5 Hungarian Furmints and we all geek out on some of the world’s most delicious white wines. $35 to taste, just drop in. 🇭🇺