The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Ariel Daly of Adelsheim Vineyard. In this interview, Ariel speaks about her career in acting in New York and her introduction to wine through working in restaurants. From there, she talks about her move to Oregon and her decision to dive into viticulture and vineyard management. From courses at Chemeketa Community College to internships to full-time work, she talks about the...

This interview is with Ashley Leonard of InnoVint. In this interview, Ashley speaks about going to UC Davis and learning the technical side of winemaking before working in a number of California wineries in production and management roles. She then discusses her pivot into technology and her growing desire to build technology to help wineries. From there she talks about the creation and growth of...

This interview is with Shardul Ghogale of Left Coast Estate. In this interview, Shardul speaks about his career in wine and how he has always found upward movement and success.  Shardul shares about growing up in Canada and how he fell in love with flavors and scents through his father’s involvement with the mint industry. He goes on to talk about how this passion paved his path into the wine indu...

This interview is with Dave Holstrom of Guy du Vin. In this interview, Dave speaks about his career in restaurants, from line cook to general manager. He discusses all the places he lived and worked, and the trials and tribulations of restaurant management. From there, he talks about working more in wine, from creating and running wine programs to fixing ones that were broken. He speaks about comi...

This interview is with Andria Shirk of Laelaps Wine. In this interview, Andria talks about finding her passion for wine and the journey that led her to become a winemaker.  Andria shares about being born and raised in Portland by her parents who were part of the show-business industry. She dives into being a Jazz singer in Japan and eventually a Madonna impersonator. She then goes on to talk about...

This interview is with Hari and Paru Mahesh of Smera Vineyard. In this interview, Hari and Paru speak about their early life in India, their move to the United States, and their work in engineering and technology before discovering an interest in wine. From there, Hari and Paru talk about finding the Willamette Valley and searching for their home and vineyard there, as well as getting the vineyard...

This interview is with Jeffrey Weissler of Pairings Portland Wine Shop & Bar. In this interview, Jeffrey talks about his relationship with wine and his winding path to owning and opening his own shop. Jeffrey shares about his first interactions with wine, which centered around dinner and tasting everything on the table. He goes on to talk about how his passion for wine grew and shaped some of...

This interview is with Amira Makansi of Stoller Wine Group. In this interview, Amira speaks about discovering wine and getting excited initially about wine production. She talks about her first wine internship at Benton Lane Winery in 2010, and about discovering her love of the Willamette Valley From there, she also talks about her parallel career as a successful author - first writing a trilogy w...

This interview is with Laurent Percheron of Andante Vineyard. In this interview, Laurent speaks about growing up in France and around wine, but never anticipating it being his path in life. He then talks about his first wine experience and diving headlong into viticulture and enology. From there, Laurent talks about traveling to work in wine, meeting his wife Erin, and eventually coming to Oregon....

This interview is with Erin Percheron of Andante Vineyards. In this interview, Erin speaks about learning about wine, first on the tasting room side and later in production after graduating from the University of Oregon. After working in a tasting room, she found a passion for wine and diverted into winemaking. She talks about traveling around the world to work on harvests, and eventually meeting...

This interview is with Dustin Wyant of Park & Main restaurant. In this interview, Dustin speaks about following a hospitality path that led him to starting a restaurant in Carlton. After an early career selling wine at Willamette Valley Vineyards, Dustin talks about running the food and hospitality program at a resort in Glacier National Park and all the lessons he learned there.  After return...

This interview is with Andy Fortgang of Le Pigeon, Canard and Flor. In this interview, Andy speaks about growing up in New York City and developing an interest in food, wine, and restaurants. He describes how he came to work at Gramercy Tavern and how that launched his career. Later, Andy talks about how he came to Portland, and became involved with Le Pigeon Restaurant and later Little Bird, Cana...

This interview is with Mark Gotelli of Heavenly Creatures. In this interview, Mark talks about his life and love for all things wine and poetry.  Mark shares about his early life and growing up in the suburbs of California. He goes on to talk about how he discovered his passion and love for wine. He dives into how it was not one moment where he fell in love with wine, rather it was through wine's...

This interview is with Jillian Bradshaw of Beaux Frères. In this interview, Jillian talks about her journey in finding Oregon and wine.  Jillian dives into her early life and growing up in New York. She shares about her early desires to live in a city and how those desires eventually shifted. Jillian goes on to talk about how she ended up in Oregon thanks to her now husband. She then talks about f...

This interview is with Brian Loehr and Noelle Hori of Amphora Wine Merchants in Portland. In this interview, Brian and Noelle speak about their respective paths to wine before they met in San Francisco, and about how they came to Portland to start their wine shop. The couple talks about the trials and triumphs of starting a small wine business, including all the things they didn't know and how the...

This interview is with Adam Rose of Great Mountain Vineyard. In this interview, Adam dives into all things wine and how he found his way to Oregon and planting a vineyard.  Adam dives into life growing up and all his career passions that eventually led him to find wine. Adam originally wanted to pursue a career that would lead him away from agriculture and into a city. However, after a time spent...

This interview is with Aaron Kendall of Compris Vineyard. In this interview, Aaron speaks about finding his way into the wine industry by being attracted to the hard work, adrenaline and camaraderie. The chance to travel and work was exciting, and Aaron eventually found his way to Oregon. From there, Aaron talks about his work at Adelsheim, then Beaux Freres, and now Compris. He discusses his evol...

This interview is with Jon Casteel, owner of Casteel Custom Bottling. In this interview, Jon dives into all things wine, equipment, and bottling.  Jon talks about life growing up as a Casteel. He shares how wine has always been a huge constant in his life, but his passion has always been with equipment rather than winemaking. He then goes on to talk about how being a self-proclaimed “gear-head” ha...

This interview is with Chris Czarnecki, head chef and owner of the Joel Palmer House Restaurant. In this interview, Chris dives into all things truffles, wine, and Nicolas Cage. Chris talks about growing up in the restaurant industry and shares some of his core memories. He goes on to talk about backpacking around Europe in his twenties and how he then found himself part of the Army. He then share...

This interview is with Sebastian Traviesa of Sunridge Nurseries. In this interview, Sebastian talks about all things agriculture, vines, and adaptation. Sebastian shares about his growing up in Chile. He talks about his time spent at a university in Chile learning about agriculture. Sebastian then goes on to share about his time in France. He talks about wanting to learn French and how he got invo...

This interview is with Cameron & Bernadette Bower of Ghost Hill Cellars. In this interview, Cameron & Bernadette dive into all things life and wine. Early in the interview, the Bowers dive into their time before Ghost Hill Cellars. Cameron shares about his time spent in the Air Force as well as his days as an engineer. Bernadette talks about growing up on her family’s farm in Oregon and he...

This interview is with Peter Liem. In this interview, Peter shares about his life and winding wine journey that led to France, Champagne, and books. Peter shares about his early life and regales us with tales about his European travels and how wine was entwined with these trips. He dives into his discovery of Burgundy and how this region and wine style shaped his core values of wine.  Later in the...

This interview is with Arron Bell of Domaine Drouhin. In this interview, Arron shares about his journey to finding wine and the many adventures his path has led him on. Arron shares about being raised in Oregon and how that led him to Hawaii and California for a time. He talks about getting his degree in Philosophy and how his restaurant jobs throughout college introduced him to wine.  Arron then...

This interview is with Danell and Kipp Myers of Anacréon Winery. In this interview, Danell and Kipp dive into their lives before and after wine. The couple talks about their early lives and all that led them to each other and Oregon. Danell shares about being born in Colorado and moving to Utah early in her life. Kipp then shares about being adopted and raised in Utah. The couple then talks about...

This interview is with Jordan Michelman. In this interview, Jordan speaks about his many careers. From music to all things coffee, Jordan talks about his winding path that led him to find wine.  Jordan talks about growing up in Washington, but being raised by New Yorkers. He shares about his high school drama era and how his passion for music led him to pursue a career in the music industry. He go...