Jessie Manning
Street Disco | Portland, OR
JULY 2023
Jessie Manning was raised with an appreciation for beverages. Her father’s enthusiasm for wine stuck with her, and sparked a curiosity about flavors and food outside of her small Montana hometown. She began her restaurant industry career working as a barista, eventually moving to the East Coast and transitioning into front of house service. Moving back to the Pacific Northwest, she worked her way around Portland’s neighborhood restaurants, learning how to provide flexible hospitality for whatever her guests needed, night in and night out. While she loved working as a server, the late hours became too much. After an ‘aha’ moment with a bottle of dry riesling in 2016, Manning knew that it was time to pursue a career in wine.
Manning completed an intensive wine course at Linfield University, learning grape varietals, terroir, and harvest, then joined the team at Dame in Northeast Portland where she met chef, future business partner, and 2023 Rising Star, Kyle Christy. While working at Dame and completing her certifications, Manning grew her palate, learning about the world of natural wines and how to deliver an elevated service. During the pandemic, she and Christy worked through a number of pop-up concepts in preparation for the opening of their wine bar, Street Disco. There, Manning focuses on both domestic and foreign wines—highlighting Oregon wines in particular—and supporting local winemakers with selections that pair well with Christy’s seasonal food. By not having grape varietals on her “by the glass” list, Manning emphasizes approachability, opting instead for descriptive language to familiarize her customers with her selections.
