The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Jon Tomaselli of Torii Mor Winery. In this interview, Jon talks about his family’s legacy of winemaking and how he has carried that on in the Willamette Valley. Jon talks about growing up in an Italian family with a long history of winemaking. Living in Ohio, his dad and grandpa would purchase grapes from California to make wine at home. Jon first carried on that tradition w...

This interview is with Thibaud Mandet of Clos Griotte. In this interview, Thibaud speaks about growing up in France and pursuing an interest in science, before discovering that putting his scientific knowledge toward wine was even more interesting. He then talks about his education and internships, followed by his arrival in the United States. He discusses meeting with the owners and team at Willa...

This interview is with Bruce Lundqist of Rack & Riddle. In this interview, Bruce speaks about his time at Linfield University, including his performance on the track team that led him into the school's sports Hall of Fame. He then talks about his work in the finance world in the dairy industry before starting his wine journey in California. Later, he talks about how Rack & Riddle came to b...

This interview is with Tyler Bradley of Galaxy Wine Company. In this interview, Tyler talks about his time at Linfield University and how a part-time tasting room job turned into a full-fledged wine career. He discusses his first big wine job in Idaho, and taking on a role he wasn't ready for. As he was growing in the job, he also had to deal with the COVID pandemic and he talks about how that cha...

This interview is with Olive Hamilton Russell. In this interview, Olive talks about growing up in South Africa and her family's background in farming. She discusses moving to London and become enamored with wine, which led to her working in the South African wine industry and selling wine in the United States. Her introduction to Oregon was at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in 2015, and...

This interview is with Dallas Way. In this interview, Dallas speaks about his journey into the wine industry, explaining how he grew up in Tennessee, studied business, and initially traveled to South Korea to teach English before discovering an interest in wine. Next, he discusses how his path wasn’t straightforward, describing how a road trip to California and a job at a tasting room introduced h...

This interview is with Trevor Hertrich. In this interview, Trevor speaks about his path into the world of wine, explaining how he grew up in Chicago without much exposure to it and originally studied sociology at the University of Illinois before discovering wine while working in a restaurant.  Next, he discusses how his curiosity led him deeper into wine, becoming known as the “wine guy” and cont...

This interview is with Darcy Pendergrass of Amity Vineyards. In this interview, Darcy talks about her journey from tasting room associate to winemaker at Amity, and what she has been up to since then. Darcy shares about growing up in Oregon and staying close by in Montana for college. After earning her degree in microbiology to work in healthcare, then later deciding that wasn’t for her, she moved...

This interview is with Brynn Bradley. In this interview, Brynn speaks about her journey into the wine industry and how her experiences shape her career path. Next, she discusses her early life, explaining that she was born in the Bay Area but did not know much about wine when she was younger. She became interested in wine and viticulture later and decided to study wine business at Cal Poly. During...

This interview is with Gabriel Jagle of Scenic Valley Farms. In this interview, Gabriel talks about learning about the world by tasting wine and making a wine that has soul and personality. Gabriel talks about learning to taste wine while working at Trader Joe’s and a few wine shops in California. By tasting wines from around the world, he was able to learn about each place. He affirms that both d...

This interview is with Boone McCoy-Crisp of Lumos Wine. In this interview, Boone talks about growing up in the Oregon wine industry and the seeming inevitability that he would end up working in it. He talks about the early history of his family's vineyard and his father Dai Crisp's entry into the wine industry. Later, he talks about his childhood memories of being in vineyards, and how he slowly s...

This interview is with Nicolas Quillé of Crimson Wine Group. In this interview, Nicolas speaks about his upbringing in France and his extensive wine education.  He then talks about coming to the United States for what he thought would be a short time, only to find himself wanting to stay in the American wine industry. He talks about work in both wine production and wine leadership, culminating in...

This interview is with Colt Deitrick. In this interview, Colt speaks about his background, growing up in a small town in western Kentucky before moving to Illinois, studying jazz piano and audio engineering in college, and eventually finding his way into the hospitality industry, where he discovered a passion for food and beverage. Next, he discusses his journey to Newport and Local Ocean Restaura...

This interview is with Trevor Smith. In this interview, Trevor speaks about his work in wine production around the world, including stints at Antica Terra in Oregon, Screaming Eagle in Napa, and elsewhere. He talks about what initially drew him to wine and the enjoyable hard work of wine production. Later he takes us through the places he has worked, including Champagne, England, and as a consulti...

This interview is with Travis Culley, a Linfield grad and local wine industry veteran. In this interview, Travis talks about attending Linfield in the 90s, beginning to work at Nick’s Italian Cafe the week before he started his freshman year, and all his adventures since then. Travis talks about being introduced to wine through Riesling while his dad was in the Air Force and his family lived in Ge...

This interview is with Jackson Grom of Abbott Claim. In this interview, Jackson speaks about his decision to attend UC Davis and focus on wine, the research he did there, and how it started his career.  He then talks about his move to Oregon and his work for Results Partners, Lingua Franca, and a couple organic farms. He describes how much he learned about farming and viticulture, and about the sk...

This interview is with Ian Shapen and Leyla Ersan of Horse Devours. In this interview, Ian and Leyla talk about meeting at the University of Oregon, getting into the wine industry, and later starting their own label. Leyla talks about growing up familiar with wine and becoming more interested during college. After graduating, she went to Day Wines for a tasting and loved it so much she asked if th...

Phaedra is also a DJ, and treated us to a set during the interview. Here is the tracklist:   1. Rameses III - For Jose Maria 2. Ben Bondy - 미안해 with Sunny 3. Purelink - Looked Me Right In The Eye 4. Susumu Yokota - Tears of a Poet 5. Woob - Amoeba 6. 吉村弘 - To-Ki-Me-Ki (Heart Beats) 7. Priori - Segue 8. Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri - Light Years 9. Priori - Like It Shouldn't 10. blu -...

This interview is with Emily Howard of Hayward. In this interview, Emily talks about growing up in McMinnville, discovering wine, and helping to open restaurants in her hometown. Emily talks about her first job in hospitality at Pizza Hut in McMinnville. She immediately fell in love with the fast-paced energy of the job and the variety of people she met and worked with. Emily discusses becoming th...

This interview is with Taralyn and Cyler Varnum, with Varnum Vineyards.  Taralyn and Cyler talk about their early lives and the paths that led them into wine, including Cyler’s background in agriculture, studying abroad, and working in tasting rooms, as well as Taralyn’s journey as a chemist and longtime teacher before transitioning into the wine industry full time. Next, they discuss their journe...

This interview is with Kevin Bibler and Heather Anderson-Bibler, with HeaVin Estate Vineyard. They share how they found their way into the wine industry, their backgrounds growing up in the Pacific Northwest, and how family, education, and travel shared their pathway into winemaking. Kevin and Heather talk about their journey into wine, including Kevin’s first time studying and traveling in Italy,...

This interview is with David Harrelson, founder of Amaa Wines. David talks about his background growing up in the Pacific Northwest, including being born in Eugene, Oregon, growing up in Tacoma, Washington,  before moving to Dundee, Oregon. He discusses his family, including his father being a mountaineer, spending much of his childhood outdoors, and how these experiences shape his connection to l...

This conversation is with David Adelsheim about the 40th Anniversary or the Willamette Valley AVA. In this interview, David speaks about how the Willamette Valley AVA was established and dives into the intricate details of double petitions, nested AVAs, and the effect of the AVA on the wine industry. David finishes his interview by cheersing to 40 years of the Willamette Valley AVA.  This intervie...

This is a discussion with Harry Peterson-Nedry about the Willamette Valley’s recent Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Status. In this interview, Harry speaks about how the status was attained, why it is important for Willamette Valley wines, and what it means for the future of Oregon wine.  This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Ridgecrest Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge on July 28, 2021.

This is a discussion with Harry Peterson-Nedry about the Willamette Valley’s recent Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Status. In this interview, Harry speaks about how the status was attained, why it is important for Willamette Valley wines, and what it means for the future of Oregon wine.  This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Ridgecrest Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge on July 28, 2021.