I love Midcoast Maine – I spend the days kayaking or hiking, then truly enjoy the food and wine scene at some of my favorite restaurants. I also love shopping for wine while I’m away, finding new things to try that are not necessarily available in New Hampshire. Here are a few of my favorite stops from south the north.

Portland

I never miss a chance to head to the eclectic and creative restaurant, Central Provision. Their small plates are great for haring and whether it is brunch, lunch or dinner, there is always something to surprise me on the menu. My personal favorites are the local beet salad, fried cauliflower. foie gras torchon and okonomiyaki hashbrowns.

Splurge and order caviar paired with champagne or indulge in that day’s special – you will not be disappointed!

recently paired my meal with the lovely Aligoté from Burgundy (very similar to an unoaked Chardonnay) and the Old Vines Touriga Nacional from the Douro region of Portugal. I enjoy their rose and skin contact selection too. Their wine list is well curated and unique, and you won’t go wrong.

Central Provisions, 414 Fore Street, Portland

Hours & Location — Central Provisions (central-provisions.com)

Next stop, over to Grippy Tannins, a wine shop and wine lounge owned and run by wine expert Lindsey Murray Choose a bottle from her excellent selections or let her know what you like stylistically, and she’ll find the perfect one for you. For only $10 per bottle, you can enjoy your choice there with a cheese or charcuterie plate to go with.

I love Lindsey selections of Italian wines and champagnes especially. Many of her producers are small growers, or family owned, and often sustainable or low intervention wines.

Grippy Tannins 16 Middle Steet, Portland

Grippy Tannins. A wine shop & tasting lounge in Portland, ME – Grippy Tannins

Phippsburg

Feeling like a little time at the beach? Popham is the pace to go…. but if you want to park at the State Park, go early. We arrived a little late but went over to a cute beachfront restaurant for lunch and were able to hit the beach there. It’s called Spinney’s Oceanfront Restaurant and you can eat inside ot do as we did – throw on a cover up and enjoy the sunny deck. The obvous choice here was oyers and these hailed from Rockport. Delicious! I paired them with the house rose, which worked, as the view more than made up for the brief wine list. Another option is a blueberry mojito!

Spinney’s Oceanfront Restaurant, 987 Popham Road, Phippsburg

Oceanfront Restaurant | Spinney’s Restaurant & Lodging | Phippsburg (spinneysmaine.com)

Wiscasset

We really love the quant, charming waterfront town of Wiscassett and always stop for lunch or dinner at the Water Street Kitchen and Bar. Located overlooking the harbor on the Sheepscot River, this restaurant has a great industrial vibe (it used to be an auto repair garage) as well as wonderful farm t table selections.

They have a chef’s special steak as well as paella, a great burger and charred brussels sprouts to start. I usually have their Tempranillo rose but also enjoy their selection of wines from France and my husnad alwy finds something special from their choices of reds from Spain, France and Portugal.

Water Street Kitchen + Bar, 15 Water Street, Wiscasset

Water Street Kitchen and Bar – Wiscasset, ME (waterstreetmaine.com)

Boothbay Harbor

We often stay or at least visit Boothbay Harbor and have found a great place along the water that has fantastic seafood and one of my favorite dishes – octopus! Harborside 1901 Bar and Grill has a laidback, coastal Maine easy vacation vibe, but the food is amything but ordinary. I’ve had the seafood special here several times and you can’t go wrong. But I always get the octopus appetizer to start and transport myself from Maine to the Mediterranean with a bottle of Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece.

Harborside 1901 Bar & Grill 12 Bridge Street, Boothbay Harbor

Harborside 1901 Bar&Grill – Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 (Menu & Order Online) (orderharborside1901.com)

Damariscotta

Damariscotta is my favorite place to get oysters, and we always strop at the King Eider’s Pub for a dozen…and sometimes more. I also enjoy their barbequed salmon sandwich or salad. Oysters pair amazingly well with crisp, dry wines from the coastal regions or Europe. I often choose an Albarino from Spain that has a tartness and salinity that complements the oysters with mignonette sauce.

King Eider’s Pub, 12 Elm Street, Damariscotta

King Eider’s Pub – American Restaurant in Damariscotta, ME (kingeiderspub.com)

Walpole

Heading out toward Pemaquid and South Bristol there’s a small but mighty wine shop tucked away in the corner of an old barn – The Walpole Barn as a matter of fact. The wines are sectioned in a way that’s easy to understand and often have the owner’s comments or interesting information about the wine on cards to help you make a choice. There are also cheeses and snacks to complement your wine choice!

On your way in, be tempted by the coastal themed housewares and gifts in the main part of the barn!

Walpole Barn 125 State Route 129, Walpole

The Walpole Barn | Products For A Good Life

I hope you’ll check out a few or all of these places on your next trip to Maine. Here are some other gorgeous images to make you want to head there….