The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Jared Coon of Résonance Vineyard. In this interview, Jared speaks about transitioning from chemical engineering to wine studies at Washington State University after watching A Good Year with Russell Crowe. After his initial interest in the science and chemistry behind winemaking, a New Zealand Syrah in 2010 opened his eyes to a passion in wine itself. During school, Jared sp...

This interview is with Sandy Thompson of Mt. Tabor Fine Wines. In this interview, Sandy speaks about his career in the music industry and the many roles he held working with radio stations and record companies. He speaks about his growing passion for wine, and building a personal collection. Later, he speaks about opening Mt. Tabor Fine Wines in Portland as his second career, and about building a...

This interview is with Peter Ebbers of Stirling Wine Grapes. In this interview, Peter speaks his experience in the wine industry, specifically in the vineyard and the cellar, from places like Oregon to Virginia and even New Zealand. Peter was first introduced to wine while studying abroad in Scotland, where colleagues invited him to a wine and cheese club. It was there that the curiosity and passi...

This interview is with Alex Altshuler of Demeus Wines. In this interview, Alex speaks about finding his path to wine in New Zealand, and then continuing his education and apprenticeship there and in Oregon. He speaks of his love for working nights and his offbeat approach to winemaking, particularly with his own brand Demeus. Later, Alex speaks about the injury that took him out of the industry, w...

This interview is with Andrew Head, Afton Towry, and Chris Graves of Apona Vienyards. In this interview, Andrew, Afton, and Chris speak about their wine paths and how they came to start Apona Vineyards. Chris talks about his extensive winemaking experience and eventually coming to southern Oregon as a winemaker and instructor. Afton and Andrew talk about how they met and began their wine endeavor,...

This interview is with Dan Diephouse and Jeanne Feldkamp of Corollary Wines. We last spoke with Dan and Jeanne during the summer of 2020 after they had just released their brand, Corollary. In this interview, they briefly recap how they got into wine and started the brand, then they talk about what they have been up to since 2020. After initially releasing their wines into the world, they focused...

This interview is with Rob and Debbie Marr of Marr Cellars. In this interview, Rob and Debbie speak about their introduction to wine and their gradual entry into the Oregon wine industry. They speak about their careers outside of wine and of starting making wine in the garage. Later they talk about coming to Oregon and starting their brand. Debbie also speaks about her acting career, and the pair...

This interview is with Lukas Papagiannis of BHN. In this interview, Lukas talks about his early involvement with wine and growing up in Australia.  Lukas dives into his childhood and how he decided to pursue wine while at University in Australia. He shares about his family’s connection to having a vineyard and how this connection and the memories associated with family, vineyards, and wine likely...

This interview is with Sam Ekstrom-Welch, Rae-Ekstrom-Welch, and Kevin Geller. In this interview, Sam, Rae, and Kevin speak about their individual paths into the wine industry and how they came together to work at (and then own, along with Kevin's wife Olivia Schelly) Liner & Elsen wine shop. Kevin got into wine through food while living in Madison, Wisc., and once he was hooked pursued it pas...

This interview is with Marco Prete of BHN and Wines of Kings. In this interview, Marco talks about growing up in Italy and how he eventually found himself living in the United States and making wine.   Marco dives into growing up with wine at the table for meals and how a bottle was always shared amongst family alongside delicious food. He shares how this sparked his fascination and his early trav...

This interview is with John Faulkner of Evening Land. In this interview, John talks about his early fascination with winemaking and his journey to finding himself in the Oregon wine industry.   John shares about growing up in California and his early curiosity regarding winemaking. He then dives into an impactful experience he had during his senior year at Berkley that solidified his passion for w...

This interview is with Jess Lyon of Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. In this interview, Jess talks about his path to becoming a lawyer and his passion for all things agriculture, food, and beverage.  Jess shares about growing up in rural Washington and how his upbringing influenced his career path. He then dives into how he found himself going to law school after he discovered that he enjoyed helping pe...

This interview is with Julia Lok Yung Sliker of Cho Wines and Corazón Wine Bar & Kitchen. In this interview, Julia talks about how she discovered wine and eventually found herself working in the industry.  Julia shares about growing up in Hong Kong and how she was first introduced to wine while at a food and wine festival in Hong Kong. She dives into her immediate passion regarding Ice Wine an...

This interview is with Colin Kapps of Sequitur. In this interview, Colin speaks about his path to finding wine and how he landed in Oregon.  Colin talks about growing up and not discovering the path of wine until he was in college talking with a friend. He goes on to share about his studies and adventures abroad in Australia and how he falled further in love with wine while there.  Later in the in...

In this interview, we chat with Ashley Bachaumard, who reflects on her early life and career as an avid dinner party host, where she discovered her love for food and wine and the many ways that it brings people together. Later down the line, Ashley recalls all the ways that she has touched every aspect of the restaurant industry, working her way up from dishwasher to higher leadership positions, w...

This interview is with Mike Willison of Adelsheim Vineyards. In this interview, Mike speaks about his youthful passions, love of education, and ever present curiosity regarding wine.  Mike talks about growing up in the suburbs of Chicago and how his childhood was reminiscent of the film “Ferris Bueller's Day Off.” He goes on to share how he balanced his dream of becoming part of a rock-pop band wi...

This interview is with Michael Kelly Brown of Adelsheim Vineyard. In this interview, Michael reflects on the various passion projects that have since led him to the wine industry. Michael’s long family line of morticians gave him a small taste of the service industry and what it means to work with people. An exciting stint in Europe allowed him to fully immerse himself in new and exciting location...

This interview is with Lawrence Francis of Interpreting Wine. In this interview, Lawrence speaks about his entry into the wine industry and how he found himself hosting and producing his own wine podcast.  Lawrence talks about growing up in London and how his interest was spurred while he was in Spain. He dives into the different challenges his first couple of wine interviews in Spain posed and ho...

This interview is with Brenna O’Malley from Humble Spirit. In this interview, Brenna talks about her affinity for the culinary arts, and the ways that these early passions paved the way for her career in the restaurant industry. She distinguishes service from hospitality as she describes the ways that she has learned to be intuitive and anticipatory with guests, to ensure that they have an experie...

This interview is with Randy Freund of Vitae Springs. In this interview, Randy talks about his vineyard philosophy and passions for stewardship and viticulture.  Growing up in Texas, Randy wasn’t exposed to a lot of wines, but after visiting Oregon and working at a vineyard in France, he knew that he wanted to be more involved with wine. Maintaining the vineyard at Vitae Springs has allowed Randy...

This interview is with Danny McGeough of Flor Wines. In this interview, Danny discusses his journey into wine and curating wine lists for people to enjoy at various restaurants. Danny talks about growing up in Perth, Australia, before moving to Russia, then Portland in the United States. Here, he found a love for the restaurant industry, food, and wine. Danny’s career started at Higgins, before wo...

This interview is with Jessica Endsworth of Northwest Wine Co. In this interview, Jessica talks about growing up in a small town and her journey to finding Oregon and wine.  Jessica shares about growing up and the impact her mother had on her work ethic. Jessica dives into sharing about working in restaurants and how she found herself building a resume before she even graduated high school.  Later...

This interview is with Tyson Smith of Copious Cellars. In this interview, Tyson talks about his path to becoming a winemaker.   Tyson talks about growing up in Oregon and starting to make wines with his dad, who took copious notes about the process. He discusses his background as an artist and graphic designer, creating feature-length films and comics.  Then, Tyson talks about taking the leap to m...

This interview is with Chelsea Hinman Miller of Tior Wines. In this interview, Chelsea speaks about growing up in the wine industry with her dad's business, Hinman Cellars in Eugene. She talks about her early work with King Estate and then getting into national wine sales. Later, she talks about resurrecting the Tior brand name, which has been in her family since the late 1970s. She talks about th...

This interview is with Caryn Benke of Galaxy Wine Company. In this interview, Caryn talks about her array of experiences within the restaurant and wine industry and how her involvement has granted her the ability to contextualize her academic learning of history, religion, and art.  Caryn shares about the many hats that she has worn over her career and how valuable these roles have been in allowin...