The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Meredith McGough of Union Wine Company. In this interview, Meredith speaks about why she entered the wine industry, specifically the Oregon Wine Industry. She talks about Oregon wine and the Oregon community and why she chose to venture there from California. She also describes her process and growth, going over her travels and education. Later Meredith talks about her winem...

This interview is with Michael Lundeen of Lundeen Wines and Walnut City Wineworks. Michael talks about finding his way into wine and never looking back, progressing into work in winemaking, vineyard management and winery management. He talks about his family property just north of McMinnville and the vineyard there, and how important it is to him to be able to use those grapes in his work. Later h...

This interview is with Michael Wheeler of PDX Wine. In this interview, Michael speaks about life as a wine importer and distributor. He tells us that he first realized his love of wine in New York where he began doing tastings on his own. He talks about following his passion for wine and moving out to Oregon where he found a lot of personality and joy in supporting the many small wineries here. He...

This interview is with Miguel Lopez of Red Dirt Labor. In this interview, Miguel speaks about his past work at Walnut City Wineworks and Domaine Roy et Fils. He also describes his early experiences in vineyards with his father and his wine education, which included studying at Chemeketa. He goes over how his vineyard management style has changed over the years and what it is like now running Red D...

This interview is with Mike Andersen of Cafe du Berry. In this interview, Mike speaks about how he learned to cook and what got him interested in the restaurant industry. He discusses his first jobs and mentors, and how those experiences helped him grow. He goes on to discuss opening Cafe du Berry, what it was like at its start, and how it has evolved over the years. Later, he talks about where wi...

This interview is with Mike Primozich of Arterberry Maresh. In this interview, Mike speaks about his early life and what got him started in the wine industry. He talks about learning on the job, mistakes he made, and mentors he had. He goes over developing his palate, his winemaking skills, and his winemaking philosophy. He also talks about tasting events, memorable experiences, and changes the in...

This Oral History Interview is with Mimi Martin of Wine and Spirit Archive. Mimi talks about her time in food and wine education in New York before deciding to make the leap and move to Oregon to start her own project. She talks about the evolution of that project and the various types of educational opportunities she's able to offer. Later, Mimi discusses the growth of Oregon wine and of global w...

This interview is with Cliff Robben of J. Christopher Wines. In this interview, Cliff speaks about his life before wine, including his interest in the FBI and his jobs in accounting. He goes on to describe his introduction to the Oregon Wine Industry and how his role grew from there. He talks about his positions at IPNC and Loosen Bros. and what his experience was like working for those wine organ...

This interview is with Chris Mazepink of White Walnut Estate, with a brief discussion at the end with his sons, Archer and Charlie Mazepink. In this interview, Chris speaks about his life before wine and how he initially became interested in the wine industry. He discusses his work in wineries, such as Shea Wine Cellars, Lemelson Vineyards, and Benton-Lane Winery. He also talks about his decision...

This interview is with Chris Lubberstedt of Winter’s Hill Estate. In this interview, Chris begins by speaking about his interest in the science behind wine. He describes his time in the Napa Valley, and what his reactions were when he began hearing about Oregon Pinot Noir. Chris talks about moving to Oregon, going to Portland State, and then entering the wine industry. He goes over his work at Cri...

This interview is with Chris Fladwood of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Chris speaks about his life before wine, including his time in the army. He talks about his initial interest in the vineyard and how that turned into winemaking. He describes his work in France, New Zealand, and tells us why he decided to stay and work in the Oregon Wine Industry. He talks about the adventure, risk, and t...

This interview is with Levi Seed of the Joel Palmer House Restaurant. In this interview, Levi discusses how childhood experiences shaped his professional development. After surviving leukemia as a teenager, Levi discovered a passion for fine dining, and then, for wine. He passed the Certified Master Sommelier exam at 21. Stints as a sous chef, and later on as an executive chef, left him burnt out,...

This interview is with CJ and Elise McCollum of McCollum Heritage 91 Wines. In this interview, CJ and Elise speak about meeting in college as they were both pursuing their career passions - basketball for CJ and dentistry for Elise. They talk about coming to Oregon after CJ was drafted by Portland, and their introduction to the Oregon wine scene. This eventually led to the start of their McCollum...

This interview is with Chris Hermann of 00 Wines. In this interview, Chris goes over the history of the Oregon Wine Industry. He speaks about how Oregon Wine got its start and what “Wine Pioneers” were instrumental in making it happen. He talks about how the industry has grown, how business is done, and what changes have taken place. Chris also shares his own history with wine, which includes his...

This oral history interview is with Chenin and Sean Carlton of Twist Wine Company. Chenin and Sean talk about their various paths into the wine industry, with some recollections of the Temecula and Napa wine industries in California. They also talk about how they ended up in Oregon, and how they ended up with a hospitality space on the Oregon coast. Along the way, the pair talks about the growth o...

This interview is with Mordechai Kotler of Averæn Wines. In this interview, Mordechai speaks about how he went from teaching to working harvest to working as Winemaker for Averæn Wines. He begins by describing his early life in Southern California and later his experience attending Linfield College. He goes on to share his initial interest in wine and what his first jobs were like. He also talks a...

This interview is with Nicholas Gates of Gresser Vineyard. In this interview, Nicholas speaks about growing up and making wine with his father Paul Gates, who was educated in wine and started Gresser Vineyard. Nicholas describes both his formal and informal education, going over the interests he had before wine, what he learned from his father, and the different jobs he’s worked in the industry. L...

This oral history interview is with Nick and Sheila Nicholas of Anam Cara Cellars. The couple describe meeting and getting married, eventually ending up owning a pizza restaurant in Napa Valley and getting to know the wines and winemakers of the area. They then describe discovering Oregon and starting the vineyard that would become the home of Anam Cara. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmid...

This interview is with Ocean Yap-Powell of Rootstock PDX and the Wine Cellar. In this interview, Ocean speaks about her journey through the world of wine. She talks about her first jobs in the industry and how she learned about the Oregon Wine Industry. Ocean describes working at the Wine Cellar in Portland and what her philosophy is when working in a wine shop. She speaks about approaching custom...

This interview is with Chancy and Toni Croft and Bill Bailey of Croft Vineyards. In this interview, the trio speak about their friendship throughout the years and what their lives were like before wine. They go over where the idea of Croft Vineyards began and describe forming a partnership, building their business, and finding land for a vineyard. They talk about the early days of the Oregon Wine...

This interview is with Patrick Taylor of Cana’s Feast. In this interview, Patrick speaks about how he ended up in the wine industry. He describes his time studying viticulture and enology at OSU, traveling abroad, and working his first harvests. He then talks about Cana’s Feast and how he came to work there. He goes over his role as winemaker, the decisions he makes in regards to the wine, and rec...

This interview is with Phil Taratko of Artisan Barrels. Originally from Long Island, Phil speaks about his decision to move out west to attend University of Oregon where he was also given the opportunity to travel and study in Lyon, France. He talks about his initial interest in becoming a chef and his experiences working in restaurants. Even though those restaurants focused on beer, Phil explains...

This Oral History Interview is with Piper Underbrink of Privé Vineyard. A native of Florida, Piper started her winemaking journey in California and Utah, before discovering her love of Oregon wine and purchasing Privé right before the COVID-19 lockdown. In this interview she talks about her journey through the industry, her introduction to the Oregon Wine industry during the pandemic, and the exci...

This interview is with Rachael Woody, who started the Oregon Wine History Archives at Linfield University. In this interview, she shares the history of the Oregon Wine History Archive itself. At the start, she speaks about her early life, education, and initial interest in archives. She takes us through her time at Pacific University where she studied History and Anthropology, and then through her...

This interview is with Rachel Rose, the winemaker at Bryn Mawr Vineyards. In this interview, Rachel describes her unconventional upbringing, how she got into wine through her passion for the culinary world, the education she received, and her time studying Viticulture and Oenology in Australia. She then goes on to speak about what it was like coming to Oregon and working harvest at Ponzi and event...