The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with David DeLaitsch and Victoria Chavez of Spearhunter Wines. In this interview, David and Victoria talk about pursuing wine as their later career and finding their way to Oregon.  Victoria dives into growing up in Texas and her first career path related to chemical engineering. She goes on to talk about how she found the UC Davis wine masters program and how that was just the b...

This interview is with Rebecca Sweet of Buzz Cover Crop Seeds. In this interview, Rebecca shares about her path in creating her own cover crop business and becoming entwined with the Oregon wine industry.  Rebecca talks about growing up and always being interested in plants. She shares about managing a blueberry farm fresh out of college and how she later found her first vineyard management job. S...

This interview is with Mark Sturges. In this interview, Mark talks about his early life and introduction to wine, followed by a life-altering trip he took through Europe and Asia.  From there, Mark discusses his work selling wine with Henny-Hinsdale, as well as his work in organic farming and compost. He speaks of the people he's worked with and the growth he has seen in Oregon wine, specifically...

This interview is with Shea Guevara and Vince Kelsey of Maypop Wines. In this interview, Shea and Vince speak about their journey with wine and how they found themselves creating their own label, Maypop Wines.  Vince dives into growing up around wine and how the vines in his backyard shaped him. He shares about his time in college and the different experiences in the wine industry he has had. Shea...

This interview is with Jennifer Warner of Dagger Daisy Wines. In this interview, Jennifer speaks about her career working in law, including owning her own law-adjacent business. She talks about how her life brought her to Oregon, where she discovered and developed an enthusiasm for the wine industry. From there, Jennifer talks about the wild process of starting her own small wine brand and the suc...

This interview is with Mike Pasquarelli of White Rose Estate. In this interview, Mike speaks about becoming interested in wine while in college at Sonoma State, and starting to work in the industry after a stint in the Peace Corps. Mike talks about working in various avenues of wine, including production, sales, retail, and distribution. He then talks about traveling the world to do wine productio...

This interview is with Ken & Dana Pearlman of Pearlstad Vineyard. In this interview, Ken & Dana dive into their careers and journey with wine.  The couple shares how they fell in love with wine and dive into how they found themselves in Oregon owning a vineyard. They talk about entering the wine scene once they moved to San Jose, California and how they were hooked from there. Later in the...

This interview is with Brian Croser. In this interview, Brian speaks about his journey in finding a career in wine while growing up in Australia and his connections to the Oregon wine industry.  Brian talks about falling in love early with wine. He shares about how he found his decision to pursue a career in wine easy and made before he could even drink. He then dives into his academic journey reg...

This interview is with Page, Colin, Cal, and David Knudsen. In this interview, the Knudsen kids talk about their parents' journey in establishing Knudsen Vineyards and their own journeys with the brand.  The Knudsens share about their dad’s passion for all things Burgandy, France. They go on to talk about how this passion inspired the planting of Knudsen Vineyards. They then go on to talk about th...

This interview is with Miguel Marquez. In this interview, Miguel speaks about his journey to finding a career in the restaurant and beverage industry.  Miguel talks about growing up in Mexico and how his family and personal experiences shaped his professional life. He shares his passion for using wine and alcohol to spur critical thinking. He then dives into how his passions converged into an oppo...

This interview is with Elle Holcomb of L Wine Co and Björnson. In this interview, Elle talks about her journey to finding wine and Oregon.  Elle shares about growing up in Cleveland, Ohio and her dream of going wine tasting. She dives into how this dream paved her path and eventually came true during her college years. She goes on to talk about her career shift from business, to restaurants, to wi...

This interview is with Dick Aften. In this interview, Dick speaks about his journey in becoming involved with the Oregon wine industry and dives into some of the memorable people and experiences he had.  Dick talks about getting into wine in college and how his passion for wine spurred from his passion for music. He then goes on to talk about being drafted and the impact it had on him and his jour...

This interview is with Carl Thoma, the owner of Van Duzer Vineyards. In this interview, Carl talks about how he got into wine and his journey to Oregon.  Carl talks about growing up on a ranch on the border between Oklahoma and New Mexico. He shares about his agricultural passions and how he began his college journey pursuing this passion. He then goes on to talk about how his professional dreams...

This interview is with Andrew Minor and Cassie Salinas of Andrew Minor Wines and Vino to the People. In this interview, Cassie and Andrew talk about growing up in Oregon, meeting in college, and eventually working in the wine industry together.  Andrew and Cassie share each of their journeys to finding wine and touch on some of the great people and memories their time in the industry has brought....

This interview is with Taylor Rebora of Rebora Wines. In this interview, Taylor speaks about growing up in Chicago surrounded by a family of artists, and discovering wine as a viable path when choosing a college. She talks about her time at Cal Poly - learning by doing - and about her internships and experiences abroad while working in wine production. Later she talks about her experiences in New...

This interview is with Karen Hinsdale of The Cellar Door. In this interview, Karen speaks about getting excited about the wine scene while living on the East Coast before coming to Oregon and getting into wine distribution with her then-husband Howard. She talks about her excitement at learning to sell wine alongside young Oregon families learning to make wine, and about her passion to support the...

This interview is with Dewey Kelly of Ribbon Ridge Vineyard. In this interview, Dewey speaks about his background as a chef, and later in high-tech and marketing. He talks about what initially attracted him to the Oregon wine industry and led to he and his wife Robin purchasing land for a potential vineyard. From there, he talks about the long process of getting grapes in the ground, eventually ma...

This interview is with Tim and Pierre Paradis of Paradis Vineyards. In this interview, Tim and Pierre share about growing up around grape farming and how that shaped their current path in wine.  Tim and Pierre talk about their parents starting Paradis Vineyards and what their childhood looked like. They then go on to share how they found their way back to the vines. The brothers also talk about th...

This interview is with John and Kathy Zelko of Z'ivo Wines. In this interview, John and Kathy speak about meeting in college and pursuing their primary careers: John as a surgeon, and Kathy as a lawyer. John speaks about finding wine as a fun and meaningful diversion, and about starting as a volunteer helper before starting to make his own wine. John and Kathy share stories of the trials and tribu...

This interview is with Laura Brennan Bissell of Inconnu and Aitia Wines. In this interview, Laura talks about her journeys abroad and how she eventually found her way to wine.  Laura shares about growing up in Virginia and some of her early memories surrounding wine. She dives into her passion for scent and how wine entwines with this passion. She goes on to talk about her travels abroad and how s...

This interview is with Patrick McElligott. In this interview, Patrick shares about his journey to wine and some of his many stories and memories from the industry.  Patrick talks about growing up around agriculture and farming. He then shares how he found a love for learning while in college and how he soon discovered there is always something to learn with wine.  Later in the interview he shares...

This interview is with Adam Rack of Revino Bottles. In this interview, Adam speaks about his early work in the wine industry and becoming interested in the idea of reusable wine containers while working at Coopers Hall in Portland. He then talks about meeting Keenan O'Hern and working with him to start Revino Bottles. Adam talks about the milestones so far with Revino, including all the conversati...

This interview is with Adam Rack of Revino Bottles. In this interview, Adam speaks about his early work in the wine industry and becoming interested in the idea of reusable wine containers while working at Coopers Hall in Portland. He then talks about meeting Keenan O'Hern and working with him to start Revino Bottles. Adam talks about the milestones so far with Revino, including all the conversati...

This interview is with Keenan O’Hern of Revino. In this interview, Keenan talks about his path to help bring a reusable bottle system to the United States.  Keenan shares about growing up and how he split his time between Oregon and the Netherlands. He goes on to discuss how his time in the Netherlands influenced his environmental beliefs about bottle reusing. Before Keenan dives into all things R...

This interview is with Dave Parker of Benchmark Wine Group. In this interview, Dave speaks about moving to California to work in Silicon Valley, finding a passion for wine, and following it to purchasing a vineyard. From there he talks about becoming aware of Oregon wine, and coming to Oregon to buy a vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. Along the way, though, he had started Brentwood Wine Auctions a...