The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Dru Allen of Compris Vineyard. In this interview, Dru speaks about his path to finding wine after his retirement from trucking.  Dru speaks about his past career and life before wine. He then dives into his journey in buying a vineyard with his wife, Erin, and creating the Compris label.  Dru also shares the future aspirations Erin and him share for Compris Vineyard.  This i...

This interview is with Jess Arnold of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Jess speaks about her path to finding wine and her passion for the industry. Jess talks about growing up in California and what led her to pursue a career in wine. From time spent in New York pursuing being a sommelier to working her first Oregon harvest, Jess has been hooked on wine.  Jess also dives into her current role a...

This interview is with Antonio Verduzco of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Antonio speaks about growing up in Michoacán, Mexico and coming to Oregon as a child. After high school, he found that work in the vineyards reminded him of his grandparents' farm growing up, and he worked hard to master all the skills needed. He also speaks about how he came to Soter, and the projects he's worked on th...

This interview is with John & Megan Adams of Wildsound. In this interview, John & Megan speak about their journey to creating Wildsound.  John and Megan talk about how their lives entwined with each other and wine. They share all the challenges and successes that came with learning winemaking at home and transitioning into commercial winemakers.  The couple dives into their history, passio...

This interview is with Dick and Mary Ferraro of Ferraro Cellar. In this interview, Dick and Mary speak about their journey in meeting each other and creating Ferraro Cellars.  Both Dick and Mary talk about how wine has played a role in their lives. The couple shares many stories from their past careers, old crushing parties, and first dates.  This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfiel...

This interview is with Lisa Zuniga of Citation WInes. In this interview, Lisa speaks about her initial interest in wine and starting her career at Firesteed Cellars. After holding a number of roles, she dove into vineyard management at a time when Firesteed was growing its vineyards. She talks about her biggest learning curves, parts of the work she enjoys the most and figuring out her role on the...

This interview is with Zane Morris of Ze Wines. In this interview, Zane speaks about his journey to discovering wine and creating his own brand, Ze Wines.  Zane first talks about his education in music research and how that led him to discover wine. He then dives into Ze Wines and talks about everything from his mission to the label.  With one vintage under his belt, Zane talks about his journey f...

This interview is with Todd, Lynette, Brenton, & Kate Hudak of Hudak House. In this interview, the Hudaks speak about their journey with all things wine.  The family is doing it all from the vineyard to a concert venue. As native Californians the family speaks on their first impressions of Oregon and what their transition to wine life has looked like. The family also shares their inspiration a...

This interview is with Andy Markuson of Earth & Sea restaurant. In this interview, Andy speaks about his work in restaurants at a young age while growing up in Orange County, Calif. Through experience and some strong mentors he discovered a passion for wine, and eventually found his way to Oregon. He describes his impressions of the Oregon wine industry and his experiences starting his own far...

Tune in for the first episode of the Oregon Wine History Archive’s bonus podcast Vocal Vines. I interviewed Lois Cho, of Cho Wines, and talked about everything from labels, scrapbooks, and nursing! So grab a glass, sit back, and get ready to sip on the juice of the vocal vine Lois Cho. 

This interview is with Matt Brennecke of Defranceschi. In this interview, Matt speaks about his wine journey, from growing up working as a vineyard hand at 14, eventually becoming a winemaker, and then to selling wine equipment. Matt dives into what his career looked like before wine as an educator with an art degree. He shares his journey to finding wine again in his adult life and all the challe...

This interview is with Cheryl Longshore of Serendipity Cellars. In this interview, Cheryl dives into the story of Serendipity Cellars, the brand created by her and her late husband Glen.  Cheryl shares everything from living in Alaska to getting sweet-talked into volunteering for a harvest at Amity Vineyards. She dives into the stories behind Serendipity Cellars, from customers asking for 1920's p...

This interview is with Toni Ketrenos of Linfield University. In this interview, Toni speaks about attending Linfield as an undergraduate and going on into a career in journalism. Her interest in wine led her eventually into wine sales and distribution, and then into wine education. Toni also speaks about what brought her back to Linfield to teach wine and where the Linfield wine program is headed,...

This interview is with Jess Spera of Chehalem Winery. In this interview, Jess speaks about her past jobs, travels, and experiences that led her to Chehalem.  Jess starts by talking about her time in Colorado and found love for beer brewing. She shares how her love for brewing evolved into a love for wine, especially after her time spent doing wine harvests abroad.  She then dives into her life onc...

This interview is with Wynne Peterson-Nedry of RR Wines. In this interview, Wynne speaks about the influence of growing up around wine.  Wynne shares her past jobs which range from being in a pharmaceutical lab to learning, researching, and trapping fruit flies. She also dives into her drive to travel and expand her palate.  Wynne talks about her work on producing her own wines and label. She even...

This interview is with Ron Benza of Benza Vineyards. In this interview, Ron speaks about his time in New York, France, and now the Willamette Valley.  Ron speaks on his many careers from advertising in France to teaching executive leadership, all while trying to find where his passion for wine fit. An opportunity finally arose to come to Oregon where Ron found the perfect spot to start Benza Viney...

This interview is with Elizabeth Tomasino of Oregon State University. In this interview, Elizabeth speaks about growing up with a love of puzzles and science. She found her passion for wine through her travels and eventually started working with the Oregon wine industry through her position at Oregon State.  Elizabeth talks about working with everything from smoke, stink bugs, and green vegetables...

This interview is with Chris Lake of Stoller Wine Group. In this interview, Chris speaks about his past in the wine industry and his time as an educator at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI) at Umpqua Community College.  Chris has spent much of his career working in vineyards and speaks about vineyard science and the various places he's overseen, and what brought him to Stoller. He also tal...

This interview is with Roberta Manell Montero of Bouchard Cooperages. In this interview, Roberta speaks about being immersed in the world of wine during a post-college trip to Germany, and following that dream to California, where her wine industry journey began. From there, Roberta talks about beginning work with Bouchard, finding kindred spirits in Oregon via the Steamboat Conference, and eventu...

This interview is with John Thomas of Thomas Wines. In this interview, John speaks about his early career working on the Alaska Pipeline as a geologist and starting to gain an interest in wine through his colleagues. As his interest grew, he took a trip down the West coast, stopping at vineyards and talking with winemakers. A visit with Gary Burnap in the Santa Cruz mountains left John invigorated...

This interview is with Damien Lapuyade of Evening Land Vineyards. In this interview, Damien speaks about growing up in the Napa Valley with wine in the background, but only learning to appreciate wine once he got older. He talks about his initial wine experiences in Oregon and Australia, and his desire to further his education at UC Davis. Later, Damien talks about coming to the north Willamette V...

This interview is with Heather Perkin of Elk Cove Vineyards and Pike Road. In this interview, Heather speaks about growing up in Australia and her early education in wine. After finishing school, she found an internship at Elk Cove with the intention of boosting her résumé to work in New Zealand or Australia. Instead, she worked her way from intern to assistant winemaker to recently being named he...

This interview is with Efren Loeza of Willamette Valley Vineyards. In this interview, Efren speaks about growing up working in agriculture in Mexico before coming to the United States. He was immediately intrigued by working in vineyards, and asked enough questions to show his interest and start to learn the trade. When a full-time role came up at Tualatin Estate in 1980, he took it and has never...

This interview is with Dana Benn and Nicole Staples of Coquina Wines. In this interview, Dana and Nicole speak about their initial experiences in the wine industry and about each developing a passion for the physical, demanding labor of making wine. They talk about the various places they worked before meeting and becoming friends, and about their adventures together since. They also talk about th...

This interview is with Nate Wall of Troon Wines. In this interview, Nate speaks about discovering an interest in microbes and an interest in wine, but taking a while to find the connection between the two. He talks about getting his start working in the Virginia wine industry before coming to Oregon, and the various places he worked. Once in Oregon, he takes us through the path to coming to Troon,...