The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Travis Bonilla of Bergström Wines. In this interview, Travis speaks about his career in winemaking and why he began working in the Oregon Wine Industry. He describes his wine education process, which included working harvest, developing his palate, and learning from mentors. He also talks about his winemaking style. He goes over how he became Assistant Winemaker at Bergström...

This interview is with Andy McVay of Portland Wine Cellar. In this interview, Andy speaks about his passion for art and agriculture, and how science is the nuts and bolts of life. Andy takes us through his experience in winemaking from cellarmaster to winemaker. His journey follows him through wineries like Edgefield Winery and Dobbes Family Estate. He also talks about stepping away from winemakin...

This interview is with Travis Todd of De La Boue Wines. In this interview, Travis speaks about his life before wine, including his work in the restaurant industry. He goes on to talk about his understanding of the Oregon Wine Industry prior to joining it versus his impression after he began working in Oregon. He also describes his first experiences in the industry, going over what lessons he found...

This interview is with Andy Young of St. Reginald Parish and Marigny Wines. In this interview, Andy speaks about feeling a call to wine, and how its role in his life was a recurring theme. He talks about his life before wine, including his time performing alt rock music professionally after signing a record deal. He also discusses some of his other vocations, like his work in advertising, and how...

This interview is with Kathy McBride of Filigree and Stone. In this interview, Kathy speaks about her life before wine, growing up in Australia and going to work for Four Seasons. Her time in hospitality took her all over the world, and instilled a passion for food and wine. She talks about deciding to make wine, her wine education in Australia and eventually finding her way to Oregon. After joini...

This interview is with Ben Casteel of Bethel Heights Vineyard. In this interview, Ben speaks about being born into the wine industry. He goes over what it was like growing up on a vineyard and working with his father, uncle, and cousins. He describes his education and his interest in English Literature before he decided to pursue wine. Ben also talks about going to France, learning the language, a...

This interview is with Aurélien Labrosse of Auriginal Wines. In this interview, Aurélien speaks about pursuing wine as an offshoot of a passion for food, and obtaining formal and informal wine education. He talks about coming to the US, and what brought him to Oregon, first at Del Rio in Southern Oregon before coming to work with John Grochau in the Willamette Valley. He also talks about what has...

This interview is with Art Tierce of Antica Terra. In this interview, Art speaks about his background in food, wine, and spirits, and the revelation of starting to learn about wine and work in the industry. He then tells of how he came to Oregon, his work at Ransom and a variety of places around Portland, and about continuing his wine education both formally and informally. Later, he tells how he...

This interview is with Ari and Brandy Grey of Greywing Wines. In this interview, Ari and Brandy talk about their interesting lives and careers before wine, and about finding wine first through hospitality and later production. They talk about the various places they've worked in the wine industry, and about starting their brand Greywing. Though small, they have ambitions with the wines they produc...

This interview is with Whitney Schubert of Polaner Selections. In this interview, Whitney speaks about coming to Linfield as a student and finding an interest in the local wine industry. From there she talks about getting into wine sales and distribution before taking over as the executive director of the International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC). She talks at length about her time with IPNC, as...

This interview is with Anthony Sereni of Flâneur Wines. In this interview, Anthony speaks about his experience in wine, an industry he found his passion for while rollerblading. He tells us how he made a friend who was both a skateboarder and a winemaker - he was the one who helped introduce Anthony to the wonderful world of wine. Anthony goes on to talk about his work in New Zealand, at Archery S...

This interview is with Bill Holloran of Holloran Vineyard Wines. In this interview, Bill speaks about how he went from living on the East Coast managing property to owning a vineyard and making wine in Oregon. He describes his discovery of the land that is now Holloran Vineyard and discusses his involvement in the “garagiste” winemaking movement in 1999 Oregon. Bill also talks about the wine commu...

This interview is with Mark Huff and Jill Zarnowitz of Stag Hollow Wines. In this interview, Mark and Jill speak about finding a passion for wine and following it to learning how to make wine, then eventually planting grapes and starting Stag Hollow. They also talk about their careers working in science and nature, and how they balanced their time between their various passions and jobs. And they...

This interview is with Angus James of Broadway Wine Merchants. In this interview, Angus speaks about getting into the wine sales business at a very early age thanks to his in-laws’ grocery business and about learning the business of wine from that side. He also talks about building relationships with many of the early producers in the state and how he’s seen the Oregon wine industry grow and chang...

This interview is with Andrew Kirkland of Ruby Vineyard. In this interview, Andrew speaks about finding his way into wine and some influential times spent in Beaujolais and Australia as he was learning the industry. He also talks about finding his way to Oregon and eventually to Ruby, and his mentors and experiences along the way, along with what he’s looking forward to in the future. This intervi...

This interview is with Vanessa Hadick of Double Tap Marketing. In this interview, Vanessa speaks about working in different regions of the wine world. She describes the places she’s been during her travels, which includes her work and education in California and Australia. She goes over how why she settled in Oregon and what her first impressions were of Oregon’s wine industry. She goes on to desc...

This interview is with Amy Streger of Endless Season Wine. Amy talks about her love of wine and desire to make her own project, especially after she met with the powerhouse duo behind Landmass Wines and got to work with them. She also talks about her background in marketing and advertising, and some of the projects she's worked on, as well as all the details that go into designing a wine brand. Th...

This interview is with Alisa Le of Authentique Wine Cellars. In this interview, Alisa shares what it is like being a female winemaker in the Oregon wine industry. She compares the different jobs and experiences she’s had so far and talks about her intentions when it comes to creating wine. Alisa also speaks about her future goals and gives advice to those curious about working in the wine industry...

This interview is with Alan Mitchell of Territorial Vineyards and Wine Company. In this interview, Alan speaks about finding wine completely by accident and sticking with the industry even though it wasn't what he had planned or expected. He talks about his working in developing vineyards and transitioning into winemaking as well, and about the establishment and growth of Territorial, as well as t...

This interview is with AJ Trommello and Katie McConnell of Throughline Wines. In this interview, the couple speak about their wine journeys, which both began on the east coast. They talk about meeting in in Atlanta, Georgia while they were both pursuing law - Katie still practices while AJ is now what he calls a "retired lawyer." The two describe first coming to Oregon on a whim where the wine com...

This interview is with Vic Winquist, who planted the initial vines in multiple vineyards in Oregon. In this interview, Vic speaks about dropping out of law school for his passion in wine, seeing the transition of the wine industry, and current challenges with growing and making Pinot noir. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt outside Nicholson Library at Linfield University in McMinnville...

This oral history interview is with Wei-En Tan of STEM Wine Bar in Portland. Wei-En talks about her background and interest in wine, as well as her education and careers in Silicon Valley and elsewhere before moving to Oregon and starting STEM. She also talks about building a wine program and a clientele for a new wine business. In addition, Wei-En talks about her pilot training and work in aeroba...

This interview is with Claire Jarreau of Brooks Wine. In this interview, Claire speaks about her first introductions to wine, and how she ended up in Oregon after her experiences traveling and working harvest abroad. She shares what lessons she learned from working at wineries in Austria, South Africa, and New Zealand. Later on she reflects on the struggles of maintaining the winery and relationsh...

This interview is with Alex Fullerton of Fullerton Wines. In this interview, Alex speaks about visiting Burgundy, where his interest in wine began, and getting his first job in the industry at Penner-Ash Cellars. He talks about growing in confidence and learning more about winemaking at his jobs, as well as traveling to New Zealand to get more experience. Later, Alex shares how Fullerton Wines was...

This interview is with Sashi Moorman. In this interview, Sashi speaks about his culinary background, and how it connects to wine for him. He shares his experiences entering the industry as an underdog, and gaining confidence in his process throughout the years. He also shares his philosophy of embracing risk in the process of making and drinking wine. Later, Sashi shares his thoughts on the changi...