The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Ed Hellman, a longtime viticulture specialist who worked closely with Oregon grape growers and wrote Oregon Viticulture . In this interview, Ed shares stories of his journey into grape growing, his experiences working with growers, and his involvement in the Oregon wine industry.  Ed grew up in the Chicago suburbs and developed an interest in plants and fruit while studying...

This is a conversation with Bill Blosser, David Adelsheim, and Craig Greenleaf revolving around Oregon's landmark land use planning legislation in the early 1970s. At the urging of Governor Tom McCall, the state senate passed bills 100 and 101 in 1973, giving Oregon counties unprecedented power over their local land use planning. Bill Blosser, who had just co-founded Sokol Blosser Winery in the Du...

This interview is with Gregory Theim, a longtime Oregon businessman and wine lover who grew up alongside the early Oregon wine industry. In this interview, Gregory shares stories of growing up around his father’s businesses, his introduction to wine, and his experiences watching Oregon wine develop. Gregory was one of five children. In the early 1970s, he and his father opened Gregory’s Internatio...

This interview is with Hopper Canty of Negociant PDX in Portland, Oregon. In this interview, Hopper discusses his journey from music to the wine industry.  Hopper discusses growing up in San Diego, having a very outdoorsy childhood and originally had more interest in music than wine. After moving to Portland at 18, he attended PCC’s music production program and later began playing music all around...

This interview is with Chris Luby who worked at Cherry Hill winery and Dobbes Family Estate.  Chris discusses his journey into the wine industry and how his career has changed over the years. Chris originally became interested in wine after a honeymoon trip to Napa Valley in the late 1980’s, where he developed an interest in sparking wine. With a background in business and economics, he originally...

This interview is with Zach Mance of Sidereus Winery & Vineyard. In this interview, Zach discusses his journey into the wine industry and what led him to pursue a career in wine. Zach is originally from upstate New York and attended college at Ithaca College, where he studied film and cinema making. After graduating, Zach went wine tasting with friends, which sparked his interest in wine. He e...

This interview is with Skip & Ruth Tarr of Sidereus Winery & Vineyard. In this interview, Skip & Ruth discuss what brought them to the wine industry and what they are still learning. The couple talks about how it wasn’t actually wine that brought them to the wine industry. After retirement, Skip & Ruth were looking to move into the country to find their final home. When looking at...

This interview is with Alberto Alcazar of Lanphere Cellars. In this interview, Alberto discusses joining the Oregon wine industry in the late 90s and how it has changed over time. Alberto talks about moving to Oregon in 1993 and starting in the industry. Alberto moved from California to Oregon in search for good education for his family. During this time, Alberto discovered his loved of Oregon Pin...

This interview is with David Andreani of Cherry Hill Winery. In this interview, David discusses his beginnings within the wine industry in France and continuing that journey in America. David talks about his entrance into the wine industry. David’s good friend’s parents owned a vineyard in the south of France and David was asked to help out when times were stressful. David happily agreed to help b...

This interview is with Eliseo Bell-Uribe of Heartland Ciderworks. In this interview, Eliseo discusses his experiences within the traditional cider industry. Eliseo talks about his decision to join the cider industry. Throughout the years, cider has always been Eliseo’s favorite alcoholic beverage to enjoy. During Eliseo’s experimentation trying fermented beverages, he was studying economics at Ore...

This interview is with Will Craigie of Bryn Mawr Vineyards. In this interview, Will discusses the many pivots he took that led him to the wine industry. Will talks about his beginnings as a musician and performer. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Will performed in an acoustic rock band as a guitar player. After many incredible experiences within the music industry, Will decided he needed a lifesty...

This interview is with Elishca Charles of Kann. In this interview, Elishca discusses her journey through hospitality and what it means to her. Elishca talks about her early aspirations of becoming a military doctor, studying public health in college. When Elishca realized that career might not bring her the most joy, she started working in restaurants and never left. Elishca started learning about...

This interview is with Carrie Higgins of Press Printing & Packaging. In this interview, Carrie discusses her part within the wine industry and starting her own company. Carrie talks about looking for a relationship-based career right out of college. In 1993, Carrie started as a sales rep for a wine labeling company after finding the role in a newspaper. After building relationships within the...

This interview is with Aaron Kirschnick of Galaxy Wine Company. In this interview, Aaron discusses his work selling wine in almost every medium and the story that inspired his Pinot Noir Rosé, Mano Coronuto Wine. Aaron talks about starting out in restaurants on the culinary side where he started learning about wine. When the hours were not sustainable, Aaron decided to pursue his interest in wine,...

This interview is with Scott Sabbadini of Bjornson Vineyard. In this interview, Scott discusses his experiences within the wine industry and achieving his dream of working in the Willamette Valley. Scott talks about growing up in an Italian family who visited Italy multiple times throughout his childhood. Wine had always been on the table and he always associated it with connection. When it was ti...

This interview is with Jon Larson & Boyd Pearson of Redolent Wine Company. In this interview, the two discuss bonding over wine and starting their own brand. Jon & Boyd talk about first meeting in 2008 when Boyd and his wife moved to Portland. Boyd moved across the street from Jon and Jon noticed they disposed of a lot of wine bottles. With a huge interest in fermentation, Jon became frien...

This interview is with Jeff Makjavich of Les Caves Wine Bar. In this interview, Jeff discusses his history within hospitality and his decision to return to Les Caves. Jeff talks about his early experiences in hospitality working as a barista and in small restaurants. After experiencing the ceremony of full-service restaurants, Jeff decided that’s where he wanted to work. From there, he continued w...

This interview is with Kevin Parsons of Cluster Stuck Wine Consulting. In this interview, Kevin talks about his experiences within the wine industry and discusses parts of the industry not everyone sees.  Kevin talks about his early aspirations of becoming a winemaker. Kevin knew he wanted to be in wine early on in his life. After brewing beer with his father and going to an art high school, Kevin...

This interview is with Davis Dixon of HiFi Wine Bar. In this interview, Davis discusses his transition from restaurants to fully focusing on wine. Davis talks about working in restaurants at a young age and hospitality becoming a part of who he was. Until he worked in Seattle, he didn’t realize people could make a career out of hospitality. Although Davis had been intimidated by wine, he was fasci...

This interview is with Fiona FixMitchell & Marcus & Allie Hall of RainSong Vineyard. In this interview, the second generation of RainSong talk about growing up on the vineyard and taking over the family business. Fiona and Allie talk about growing up on the vineyard and becoming involved in their parents’ dream. Their parents, Mike and Merry Fix, purchased the vineyard when Fiona was aroun...

This interview is with Mike & Merry Fix of RainSong Vineyard. In this interview, the couple discusses how they started their vineyard and passed it along to the second generation. The two talk about how the vineyard went from an idea to a reality. Mike and Merry met in college through skydiving club at different universities. Now, the couple has been married for almost 55 years. After Mike ret...

This interview is with Perry Heistuman and Eli Doty of Hoty Wines. In this interview, the couple discusses their separate careers in hospitality and how they created a wine brand together. Perry talks about always being plant-driven and hospitality-centered. Her father worked in wine distribution all throughout her childhood so she already had a limited view of the wine industry. At 19, Perry work...

This interview is with Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre of Trinity College in Connecticut. In this interview, Jennifer discusses her career as a professor and wine historian and her initial impressions of the Oregon wine industry. Jennifer talks about her education and path into her profession. While Jennifer was born in America, she spent her formative years from 10-18 years old in London. She started her...

This interview is with Myles Nelson of Jachter Family Wines. In this interview, Myles discusses his many different experiences within the industry and how he ended up at Jachter. Myles talks about starting in sociology at Fresno State until he experienced their wine program. His friend was a viticulture major so he decided to take an intro wine class, eventually changing his major to enology. From...

This interview is with Cassondra Bird of The Scout Wine Bar. In this interview, Cassondra discusses growing her passion and education of wine.  Cassondra talks about starting in restaurants and hospitality, developing a love for serving others. It was when she moved to Spain for a year that she was engulfed in the word of wine. She enjoyed that wine was apart of everyday life in Spain, something s...