The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Ryan Clifford of Alloro Vineyard and The Allison.  Ryan talks about his early life growing up in Detroit, Michigan, where he developed interests in biology, animals, and aquarium science, which later influenced in his interest in wine.  Next, Ryan discusses his education and career path, including attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, moving to Po...

This interview is with Mike Osborn of Willamette Valley Vineyards. In this interview, Mike talks about starting “wine.com” and later becoming the CEO of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Mike shares about first becoming interested in wine through hospitality. While starting up software businesses, he would often go out to restaurants with clients or employers and drink wine. Mike talks about this inter...

This interview is with Ken Cook of Cherry Hil Winery. In this interview, Ken talks about how he got into the wine industry, and his work in the Oregon industry. Ken talks about his time in the Air Force working as a mechanic, and about his time as a firefighter. Time in Germany shaped his palate, and he became excited about the potential of working with wine. Later Ken talks about his winemaking e...

This interview is with Nick Konen, an alumnus of Linfield University and a vineyard manager in Oregon’s wine industry. Nick talks about his educational and career journey, including growing up in Beaverton, Oregon, attending Linfield because he wanted a smaller school, playing tennis, studying abroad, and majoring in business and sports management. He explains how an introductory wine class and fu...

This interview is with Jerry Murray, an Oregon-based winemaker. In this interview, Jerry talks about his background, his unconventional path into winemaking, and his philosophy surrounding lifelong learning, experimentation, and creativity into wine.  Jerry talks about his early life and career, explaining that he originally worked in the sciences before moving to Arizona, where he worked various...

This interview is with Céline Fauveau Schaff of Fine Wine Circle PDX. In this interview, Céline talks about her background in science, food, and wine, and how her interests have evolved over time. Céline talks about being French-born and raised in Toulouse, France, where she studied biology, food science, and wine. She explains how she initially pursued wine analysis but found the work too practic...

This interview is with Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards. In this interview, Bethany talks about how she got into the wine industry, and why she prioritizes working both distribution and harvest. Bethany shares about getting her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Los Angeles, and how she go bit by the wine bug while there. While she grew up in Northern California, she traveled often to the Pacific N...

This interview is with Nathan Litke of Illahe Vineyards and Winery. In this interview, Nathan talks about his background, his journey into winemaking, and the philosophy and practices that define Illahe Vineyards.  Nathan talks about spending his early 20’s working various jobs, including raft guiding in Colorado, before returning to school, he explains how attending the Chemeketa Community Colleg...

This interview is with Piper Underbrink and Ben Stalker of Sealionne. In this interview, Piper and Ben talk about meeting in 2019, moving to Oregon, and starting their own wine label. Ben talks about going to school for design and architecture in Durango, Colorado before moving to Salt Lake City, where he met Piper. They moved to Oregon in 2020 so Ben could go to University of Oregon for their arc...

This interview is with Manuel Recio of Abbott Claim. In this interview, Manuel talks about the different decades of his life and the 3 main paths he has taken so far. Manuel talks about spending his 20s working in advertising and marketing, working for companies in Florida and later Oregon after moving there with his wife Leslie. They met while studying abroad in Spain, and Leslie was attending Li...

This interview is with Dave and Sarah Gregory of Ora et Labora Wine Shop. In this interview, Dave and Sarah talk about beginning to take an interest in wine, taking educational courses, and eventually opening their own space to make wine more approachable for others. Dave talks about going to school to study theology and education, and earning several degrees while he was there. After his journey...

This interview is with Jen Cossey of Brooks Winery. In this interview, Jen talks about her 30-year path in hospitality, beginning with her childhood in Missouri and Kansas City and her early interest in photojournalism. She shares how she shifted from photography art education, eventually discovering wine while working harvest and serving in restaurants.  Jen talks about building a career through...

This interview is with Geoff Hall of Argyle Winery. In this interview, Geoff talks about how he got involved in wine - first through botany, then viticulture, and finally through the people he met along the way. Geoff shares about growing up in Boise and attending the University of Idaho with intentions of becoming a doctor. That changed when he took a course in botany, and his professor encourage...

This interview is with Claudia Bowers, a wine sales manager. In this interview, Claudia talks about her childhood in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and her move to San Fransisco as a teenager. Claudia shares about her years working in the beauty industry, helping her sister in the wine world, and eventually discovering her passion for wine. She discusses taking WSET courses, managing tasting rooms and...

This interview is with Ben Eyer and Stephanie Bojarski of Finite Cellars. In this interview, Stephanie and Ben talk about how their shared interest in wine began in graduate school. Ben was pursuing a Ph. D. in organic chemistry, and Stephanie was an engineering Ph. D. student.  They share their story of moving from Pennsylvania to Oregon, despite having no prior familiarity with the state—where B...

This interview is with Lisa Parks of Brut Wine Bar. In this interview, Lisa talks about her journey from working in crisis counseling and concert promotion to owning a wine bar and building community in Astoria, Oregon. Lisa shares about her time living in Denver and later moving to Oregon — her first time living on the West Coast. After years of working in psychology and event work, she wanted a...

This interview is with Thomas Houseman of Radiant Sparkling Wine Company. In this follow-up interview, Thomas talks about what he has been up to since we last spoke in 2018. Last time we spoke to Thomas he was working at Anne Amie as the winemaker. He was just starting to make sparkling wine and he worked with Radiant to bottle it.  Thomas talks about making the move to Michigan to make wine with...

This interview is with Tiquette Bramlett of Henderson Ave Wines. In this follow-up interview, Tiquette talks about what she has been up to since we last spoke in 2021 and her new wine label. Tiquette shares about her wine education and becoming a sommelier. In her class, she was most drawn to Oregon wines, and a mentor encouraged her to visit Oregon wine country. Tiquette talks about coming to the...

This interview is with Jody Bogle of Bogle Family Vineyards. In this interview, Jody talks about her family’s wine business and her time at Linfield. Jody shares about her family’s history of farming: her grandpa was an early wine pioneer in the Clarksburg region of California. Her parents started Bogle Family Vineyards in 1968, so she jokes that she never knew there was another career option outs...

This interview is with Jules Moseley of Harvest Moon Sangria Bar. In this interview, Jules talks about her work in the hospitality industry and how it led her to sangria. Jules shares about growing up in Newberg and working her first hospitality job at Jem 100, a classic diner in town. She loved working with people and “the instant gratification of a tip,” so she knew she wanted to stay in the ind...

This interview is with Patrick Spencer of the Natural Cork Council. In this interview, Patrick shares his journey from restaurants to wine to cork. Patrick was born and raised in Conneticut, where his parents owned a "classic American steakhouse." He was involved in the restaurant world early on, and in 2005 opened his own French restaurant in the Berkshires. In 2008, he moved to Oregon and was hi...

This interview is with Angela Gargano of Fresh Take Creative. In this interview, Angela talks about her journey to start her boutique marketing agency and some of the careers and hobbies she’s explored along the way. Angela shares about growing up in the midwest and working in her family’s fine-dining Italian restaurant. She remembers wine being very special to her family, and her dad asking her o...

This interview is with Jack Trenhaile of Hyland Estates. In this interview, Jack talks about becoming the vineyard manager at Hyland in McMinnville and his work over those 31 years. Jack shares about growing up on a farm in northeast Nebraska, attending a one-room schoolhouse until high school, and then leaving home to join the Air Force. In 1968, Jack and his wife moved so he could attend the Uni...

This interview is with Michael Bathurst of Vin de Garde. In this interview, Michael talks about starting his own wine importing business and his travels through France to meet producers. Michael shares about growing up in Detroit before moving to the west coast as an adult. He worked many years as a CPA and later with mergers and acquisitions, both in Portland and San Francisco. It was in SF that...

This interview is with Mike, Mary Ann, and Meara McNally of Fairsing Vineyard. In this interview, the McNally family talks about their move from Texas to Oregon, and the shift from grape growers to wine producers. Mike, Mary Ann, and Meara McNally share about moving to Oregon in 2005 in search of a new project. Mary Ann had studied wine at Grayson College in Texas, and she had visited Oregon sever...