The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Kenny & Allison McMahon of Arabilis Wines. In this interview, Kenny and Allison speak about their journey in meeting each other during grad school and later creating Arabilis Wines.  Both Kenny and Allison talk about how they fell in love with wine, whether through sensory for Allison and memories for Kenny. They then talk about how science and research shaped their path...

This interview is with Peter Adesman of Peter William Vineyard. In this interview, Peter speaks about discovering wine at a young age and starting to explore it while pursuing his medical education. Tasting groups and travel helped him engage with and understand the fine wines of the world. After his career brought him back to Medford, he talks about starting Peter William Vineyard, choosing what...

This interview is with Sean Davis of Marshall Davis Wines. In this interview, Sean speaks about his journey to finding a career in wine.  Sean talks about his love for wine as an artistic medium and dives into his previous degrees and endeavors before he found wine. He also dives into some of his current projects, as well as what he hopes to try in the future.  Later in the interview, Sean dives i...

This interview is with Chris Bertshe of Coelho Winery. In this interview, Chris speaks about his path to becoming involved with wine.  Chris dives into growing up in California and his introduction to the California wine scene after college. He also talks about how his accounting and finance degree has come in handy during his wine career.  Later in the interview, Chris talks about the wine indust...

This interview is with Dave & Deolinda Coelho of Coelho Winery. In this interview, Dave & Deolinda speak about meeting while growing up near Tracy, Calif., and becoming high school sweethearts. They talk about farming in California and then moving to Oregon, where they were introduced to wine and bought the property for what is now their home vineyard.  They also talk about their other bus...

This interview is with Jon Foster of Ribbon Ridge Winery. In this interview, Jon speaks about his passion for wine and the journey it has led him on.  Jon shares about growing up in Texas and how he ended up in the Caribbean after college. He dives into where he found a passion for wine and what opportunities and jobs his wine passion led to.  Jon also talks about ending up in Oregon and finding h...

This interview is with Bobby Rowett of Mellen Meyer. In this interview, Bobby speaks about his wine journey and love for sparkling wine.  Bobby dives into his love for wine and the inclusive culture that surrounds it. He talks about his love for science and how it has shaped his wine knowledge and journey. Bobby also shares about his many wine jobs whether related to enology, harvest, cellar work,...

This interview is with Mike and Kristy Thayer of Pete's Mountain Vineyard and Winery. In this interview, Mike and Kristy speak about their interest in viticulture coming from an interest in a rural lifestyle, and planting grapes with the idea of farming and selling them only. Encounters with their neighbors at Campbell Lane Winery and with Laurent Montalieu convinced them to start making their own...

This interview is with Adrian Cornejo of Nueva Aventura. In this interview, Adrian speaks about being introduced to agriculture and then viticulture at an early age, and becoming interested in wine production. He then talks about working at Hiyu Wine Farm and drawing inspiration from their winemaking methods, starting Nueva Aventura with his brother and recently making the move to focus on the bra...

This interview is with Scott Stursa. In this interview, Scott speaks about his background in information technology and history, and how he came to write "Oregon Wine: A Deep-Rooted History." Scott discusses his research and some of the most interesting things he learned, as well as grappling with what he sees as common misconceptions about Oregon wine's history. He also talks about the future of...

This interview is with Alyssa Vera of 00 Wines. In this interview, Alyssa speaks about her upbringing and education, and about discovering wine because her partner was in the wine industry. She talks about her first wine adventures in wine - in Margaret River on the west side of Australia - and being taken in by the idea of wine and community. Next, she talks about returning to Oregon and working...

This interview is with Morgan Schick of Grape Ape Bar and Wine Shop. In this interview, Morgan speaks about his history in fine dining, spirits and wine. He discusses how he found a passion in natural wines, and how he came to Oregon. He then talks about the concept of Grape Ape and getting the bar off the ground, as well as how the process has gone so far. This interview was conducted by Rich Sch...

This interview is with Michael Mega of Nysa Vineyard. In this interview, Michael speaks about his journey in building Nysa Vineyard.  Michael dives into his love for growing things and how this passion has shaped his belief in being a true steward of the land. He also talks about his education and ties to neuroscience and philosophy.  A lover of Greek mythology, Michael talks about the myths that...

This interview is with Chris Serra of LIVE. In this interview, Chris speaks about his background in environmental science, coming to Oregon and working at LIVE. He explains the purpose of the organization as well as how it has evolved, as well as the work he has done. He also speaks about sustainability in the wine industry and how Oregon wine has grown and changed in the years since he joined the...

This interview is with Bill & Julia Wayne of Abbey Ridge Vineyard. In this interview, Bill and Julia speak about desiring a farming lifestyle in the mid-1970s, and deciding to go to California and study at UC Davis.  They then talk about wanting to come back to Oregon and eventually finding work in the wine industry before finding the land on which they would plant their vineyard. The evolutio...

This interview is with Robin Howell of Sokol Blosser Winery. In this interview, Robin speaks about entering the wine industry with a scientific interest, and honing her skills in Oregon, France and New Zealand before finding her way to Sokol Blosser. Once at Sokol Blosser, she talks about progressing from enologist all the way up to winemaker, and about the challenges and successes that came with...

This interview is with Howard Rossbach of Citation Wines. In this interview, Howard speaks about working in all aspects of the wine business, and coming up with the idea to start Firesteed Cellars while working in wine sales and distribution. He talks about how he started a "virtual winery" and built it up, and about how he came to acquire Erratic Oaks. He also speaks about the industry's growth a...

This interview is with Drew Herman of Alexana Winery. In this interview, Drew speaks about his wine journey and his current position of director of viticulture for the Revana portfolio. Drew dives into his childhood and talks about moving and the making of his first wine. He leaves nothing out and shares all the twists and turns that led him to his current path. From sharing his feelings about bot...

This interview is with Adam Campbell of Elk Cove Vineyards. In this interview, Adam speaks about his path in becoming the second generation steward of the brand, Elk Cove.  Adam talks about his journey in growing up and then taking over Elk Cove. He dives into college, winemaking, and also raising a family. Adam also discusses his passion for being able to take care of his family and staff of work...

This interview is with Anna Sweet of Artist Block. In this interview, Anna speaks about her career in mixing fine art with wine.  Anna talks about her different art endeavors and how they led her to Oregon wine country. She shares her journey in creating her label and space for Artist Block. Anna also dives into her vision for Artist Block and what she hopes for in the future.  Anna talks about ev...

This interview is with Raj Parr of Evening Land Vineyards. In this interview, Raj speaks about growing up in India and coming to the United States pursuing an interest in culinary school. After discovering an interest and affinity for wine, he found himself in San Francisco, working at Rubicon with well-known sommelier Larry Stone. That began Raj's wine journey, with stops working on the wine list...

This interview is with Aaron Coe of Coe Cellars. In this interview, Aaron speaks about finding his way into the wine industry and what his wine path has looked like since. Aaron talks about his prior jobs and how they paved his way to wine. He even dives into some of his amazing wine travels abroad. He also talks about his label Coe Cellars, and everything that went into making it.  Later in the i...

This interview is with Max Bruening of Ponzi Vineyards. In this interview, Max speaks about his journey to Oregon and his path to his current role of Ponzi's associate winemaker.  Max talks about growing up in Michigan and his early passions in wine. He then dives into his travels that shaped his wine journey and winemaking style.  Max shares his love for the hard work of wine and talks about his...

This interview is with David Bellows of Compris Vineyard. In this interview, David speaks about his different careers that eventually lead him to wine.  David touches on his travels, yeast research, and his first wine retirement with anecdotes from his different careers along the way. David also talks about his current role as the winemaker for Compris Vineyard. David also dives into his hopes for...

This interview is with Aquiles Girón of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Aquiles speaks about growing up in Mexico before coming to California and working in the vineyards. He talks about learning his craft and taking on more and more responsibility. Later, he speaks about coming to Oregon and finding work with Soter. He speaks of work in the vineyards and in the winery, specifcally Soter's spa...