The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with César Medina Maldonado. In this interview, César speaks about the entwined journey of finding both himself and wine. He goes on to share how wine has always been there for him during his major adult-life milestones. César talks about his early life and how he found himself with a degree in Audio Production & Design. He then dives into how he found wine and the journey hi...

This interview is with Peter Gibson of Wine Market Journal. In this interview, Peter speaks about discovering his love for wine and how that guided him through his journey to finding a role in the wine industry.  He first dives into his childhood and growing up in Virginia. Peter shares how he was introduced to the world of wine through his brother who was a wine steward throughout college. He goe...

This interview is with Becky Potter of Meraviglioso. In this interview, Becky talks about her journey from nursing to finding wine. She dives into her first introduction with wine and how she found herself owning a vineyard and producing wine.  Becky talks about being born and raised in Oregon and how she found her significant other, Terry. She goes on to share about all her different careers that...

This interview is with Michael Bockstahler & Mariel Hartley of Guerrilla Wine Company. In this interview, Michael & Mariel dive into their wine journey and creating their own label. The couple dives into their earlier lives and what it was like growing up for each of them. They then share how they met right before Covid and what lock-down was like with their full house. Mariel also talks a...

This interview is with Ed Fus of Angelvine. In this interview, Ed talks about his journey to wine and how he found himself in the industry without any formal training.  Ed dives into how he was born and raised on the East Coast. He goes on to talk about his college days and how he ended up spending ten years in Denver as an Environmental Consultant. Ed then shares how his life began to shift and f...

This interview is with Marissa Kipp of Cru and Domaine. In this interview, Marissa speaks about finding a passion for wine through education and service, especially as it gave her a chance to compete against herself to learn more and more about the world of wine. She talks about her time working in all aspects of food, wine, and hospitality, with education always being a focus. She also talks abou...

This interview is with Amael Orrego of Benton-Lane Winery. In this interview, Amael shares his wine journey and how he found himself in Oregon after growing up in Chile.  Amael talks about his childhood and growing up in rural Chile. He reminisces about the countryside and his family. He then shares how these factors drove him to find a profession in the wine industry.  Amael then dives into findi...

This interview is with Don Heistuman. In this interview, Don shares his journey, first paved with music, to wine and where wine has led him. Don dives into being born in Portland and raised in Washington. He talks about his early love for food, sociology, music, and culture. He then shares how all of his passions and experiences led him to the wine industry.  Later in the interview, Don shares wha...

This interview is with Joel Sokoloff. In this interview, Joel talks about how he found farming and how that led him to wine.  Joel dives into how he grew up in the suburbs of Illinois and how he found farming later in life. He shares why he loves the industry, the family, and the tight-knit community Joel then talks about how his passion for farming led him to wine. Later in the interview Joel tal...

This interview is with Aldie Howard. In this interview, Aldie speaks about his life before wine, which included time in the Navy sailing to all parts of the world, and in public service in Oregon and Alaska. While in Oregon, he talked about meeting Charles Coury, Dick Erath, Myron Redford, Barney Watson and other early Oregon winemakers. Aldie talked about working with all these different people,...

This interview is with Dillon Glusker of Prufrock Wines. In this interview, Dillon talks about all things tea, chocolate, and wine. He shares about his journey to finding wine and how he fell in love with both tea and chocolate along the way. Dillon dives into how he has always loved specialty foods and flavors. He also shares how he wanted to “use his palate to make money.” He talks about finding...

This interview is with David Heatherbell, former enology professor at Oregon State University. In this interview, David speaks about how he found wine through his love for science. David shares about his time growing up overseas, but how he has always been connected to the Pacific Northwest through his father. He goes on to talk about getting his PhD from OSU and some of his fondest memories from...

This interview is with Phil London of Cameron Winery. In this interview, Phil speaks about both his journey to finding wine and Oregon. He shares about everything from the wine castles of California to finding his place in Oregon.  Phil shares about his wine journey in California and all the travels and adventures it led him on. He then dives into what led him to Oregon and all he enjoys about the...

This interview is with Justina Bice of Patton Valley Wines. In this interview, Justina speaks about how she knew wine was going to be her path in ninth grade, though she didn't know what route she would take. An internship with the Idaho Wine Board and a desire to be in Oregon led her to working at Patton Valley 2015. She talks about her work in Oregon, leading up to purchasing (along with winemak...

This interview is with Joe Padulo of Portland Wine Storage. In this interview, Joe speaks about his journey to finding wine and where the industry has led him. Joe talks about what first drew him to wine and how he made a business of creating cool spaces to store and enjoy wine.  Joe dives into growing up on the east coast and how he eventually found himself across the country at a culinary school...

This interview is with Justin Litwin of Oregon State's Woodhall III Vineyard. In this interview, Justin speaks about how he found his way to being the vineyard manager for Oregon State University's vineyard. He talks about joining the Navy after high school and some of his experiences working on a submarine, then coming to Oregon State and learning more about wine and vineyards. Later, he speaks a...

This interview is with David Hunter of Cru and Domaine. In this interview, David speaks about discovering a passion for wine, service, and wine education while working in the Bay Area. He talks about starting to learn about wine and feeling the need to pursue his education by studying in the Court of Master Sommeliers. Later, he talks about coming to Oregon and finding his people here, and how tha...

This interview is with Tom Danowski of the Oregon Wine Board. In this interview, Tom speaks about his work before wine with brands like Coca-Cola, Starbucks and Kraft Foods, and his introduction to wine when he took a position with Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington. He discusses his excitement at returning to the Northwest after growing up in Oregon, and his growing enthusiasm for learning about...

This interview is with James Osborne of Oregon State University (OSU). In this interview, James speaks about his time studying wine in his native New Zealand and his path to becoming a professor of Wine Microbiology at OSU and director of the Oregon Wine Research Institute (OWRI).  With his interest in wine stemming from his passion for microbiology James discusses his experience in the industry f...

This interview is with Rob Clarke of Terrapin Cellars. In this interview, Rob speaks about finding wine as a career change, and the many opportunities afforded to him by pursuing wine education through Chemeketa Community College. Rob then talks about starting and growing a vineyard management company, and the circumstances that led to him beginning to make his own wine as well. He speaks of the g...

This interview is with Tom Mortimer of Le Cadeau Wines. In this interview, Tom speaks about learning about wine as a consumer and collector before being taken in by the Willamette Valley and deciding to purchase property here. Once the property spoke to him, he knew he had to plant grapes and, later, produce wine. Tom talks about all the learning moments along the way, including the process of cle...

This interview is with Katy Armes of Scissortail Wine Tours. In this interview, Katy speaks about growing up in Oklahoma and attending Oklahoma State University, where a couple of life-changing conversations led her into wine and hospitality. From there, she talks about her impulsive move to the Willamette Valley and the number of roles she's had in the industry since arriving. She also talks abou...

This interview is with Joe Chepolis & Carmen Nydegger of Sound and Vision Wines. In this interview, Joe and Carmen speak about their lives before wine, meeting each other, and starting down the path of creating their own wine brand. They discuss how they found themselves in the Rogue Valley and how they got their first grapes to work with, as well as their role in creating the collaborative Ca...

This interview is with Alex Fortson of Twill Cellars. In this interview, Alex speaks about his early work in photojournalism and his growing interest in wine. A chance meeting with Chris Dickson of Twill Cellars led him down the path toward working in wine production, and he dove deeper into wine from there. Alex talks about working in wine retail, photography and web design, and about finding the...

This interview is with John Wrigley of J. Wrigley Vineyards. In this interview, John speaks about finding wine and his path in creating J. Wrigley Vineyards.  John shares how he got into wine through beer, even buying a winemaking book from a beer shop. He then dives into how the mysteries and challenges of wine hooked him. John talks about his time spent selling insurance during the day and teach...