The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Travis Culley, a Linfield grad and local wine industry veteran. In this interview, Travis talks about attending Linfield in the 90s, beginning to work at Nick’s Italian Cafe the week before he started his freshman year, and all his adventures since then. Travis talks about being introduced to wine through Riesling while his dad was in the Air Force and his family lived in Ge...

This interview is with Jackson Grom of Abbott Claim. In this interview, Jackson speaks about his decision to attend UC Davis and focus on wine, the research he did there, and how it started his career.  He then talks about his move to Oregon and his work for Results Partners, Lingua Franca, and a couple organic farms. He describes how much he learned about farming and viticulture, and about the sk...

This interview is with Ian Shapen and Leyla Ersan of Horse Devours. In this interview, Ian and Leyla talk about meeting at the University of Oregon, getting into the wine industry, and later starting their own label. Leyla talks about growing up familiar with wine and becoming more interested during college. After graduating, she went to Day Wines for a tasting and loved it so much she asked if th...

Phaedra is also a DJ, and treated us to a set during the interview. Here is the tracklist:   1. Rameses III - For Jose Maria 2. Ben Bondy - 미안해 with Sunny 3. Purelink - Looked Me Right In The Eye 4. Susumu Yokota - Tears of a Poet 5. Woob - Amoeba 6. 吉村弘 - To-Ki-Me-Ki (Heart Beats) 7. Priori - Segue 8. Steve Jansen & Richard Barbieri - Light Years 9. Priori - Like It Shouldn't 10. blu -...

This interview is with Emily Howard of Hayward. In this interview, Emily talks about growing up in McMinnville, discovering wine, and helping to open restaurants in her hometown. Emily talks about her first job in hospitality at Pizza Hut in McMinnville. She immediately fell in love with the fast-paced energy of the job and the variety of people she met and worked with. Emily discusses becoming th...

This interview is with Taralyn and Cyler Varnum, with Varnum Vineyards.  Taralyn and Cyler talk about their early lives and the paths that led them into wine, including Cyler’s background in agriculture, studying abroad, and working in tasting rooms, as well as Taralyn’s journey as a chemist and longtime teacher before transitioning into the wine industry full time. Next, they discuss their journe...

This interview is with Kevin Bibler and Heather Anderson-Bibler, with HeaVin Estate Vineyard. They share how they found their way into the wine industry, their backgrounds growing up in the Pacific Northwest, and how family, education, and travel shared their pathway into winemaking. Kevin and Heather talk about their journey into wine, including Kevin’s first time studying and traveling in Italy,...

This interview is with David Harrelson, founder of Amaa Wines. David talks about his background growing up in the Pacific Northwest, including being born in Eugene, Oregon, growing up in Tacoma, Washington,  before moving to Dundee, Oregon. He discusses his family, including his father being a mountaineer, spending much of his childhood outdoors, and how these experiences shape his connection to l...

This conversation is with David Adelsheim about the 40th Anniversary or the Willamette Valley AVA. In this interview, David speaks about how the Willamette Valley AVA was established and dives into the intricate details of double petitions, nested AVAs, and the effect of the AVA on the wine industry. David finishes his interview by cheersing to 40 years of the Willamette Valley AVA.  This intervie...

This is a discussion with Harry Peterson-Nedry about the Willamette Valley’s recent Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Status. In this interview, Harry speaks about how the status was attained, why it is important for Willamette Valley wines, and what it means for the future of Oregon wine.  This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Ridgecrest Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge on July 28, 2021.

This is a discussion with Harry Peterson-Nedry about the Willamette Valley’s recent Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Status. In this interview, Harry speaks about how the status was attained, why it is important for Willamette Valley wines, and what it means for the future of Oregon wine.  This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Ridgecrest Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge on July 28, 2021.

This interview is with Ryan Clifford of Alloro Vineyard and The Allison.  Ryan talks about his early life growing up in Detroit, Michigan, where he developed interests in biology, animals, and aquarium science, which later influenced in his interest in wine.  Next, Ryan discusses his education and career path, including attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, moving to Po...

This interview is with Mike Osborn of Willamette Valley Vineyards. In this interview, Mike talks about starting “wine.com” and later becoming the CEO of Willamette Valley Vineyards. Mike shares about first becoming interested in wine through hospitality. While starting up software businesses, he would often go out to restaurants with clients or employers and drink wine. Mike talks about this inter...

This interview is with Ken Cook of Cherry Hil Winery. In this interview, Ken talks about how he got into the wine industry, and his work in the Oregon industry. Ken talks about his time in the Air Force working as a mechanic, and about his time as a firefighter. Time in Germany shaped his palate, and he became excited about the potential of working with wine. Later Ken talks about his winemaking e...

This interview is with Nick Konen, an alumnus of Linfield University and a vineyard manager in Oregon’s wine industry. Nick talks about his educational and career journey, including growing up in Beaverton, Oregon, attending Linfield because he wanted a smaller school, playing tennis, studying abroad, and majoring in business and sports management. He explains how an introductory wine class and fu...

This interview is with Jerry Murray, an Oregon-based winemaker. In this interview, Jerry talks about his background, his unconventional path into winemaking, and his philosophy surrounding lifelong learning, experimentation, and creativity into wine.  Jerry talks about his early life and career, explaining that he originally worked in the sciences before moving to Arizona, where he worked various...

This interview is with Céline Fauveau Schaff of Fine Wine Circle PDX. In this interview, Céline talks about her background in science, food, and wine, and how her interests have evolved over time. Céline talks about being French-born and raised in Toulouse, France, where she studied biology, food science, and wine. She explains how she initially pursued wine analysis but found the work too practic...

This interview is with Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards. In this interview, Bethany talks about how she got into the wine industry, and why she prioritizes working both distribution and harvest. Bethany shares about getting her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Los Angeles, and how she go bit by the wine bug while there. While she grew up in Northern California, she traveled often to the Pacific N...

This interview is with Nathan Litke of Illahe Vineyards and Winery. In this interview, Nathan talks about his background, his journey into winemaking, and the philosophy and practices that define Illahe Vineyards.  Nathan talks about spending his early 20’s working various jobs, including raft guiding in Colorado, before returning to school, he explains how attending the Chemeketa Community Colleg...

This interview is with Piper Underbrink and Ben Stalker of Sealionne. In this interview, Piper and Ben talk about meeting in 2019, moving to Oregon, and starting their own wine label. Ben talks about going to school for design and architecture in Durango, Colorado before moving to Salt Lake City, where he met Piper. They moved to Oregon in 2020 so Ben could go to University of Oregon for their arc...

This interview is with Manuel Recio of Abbott Claim. In this interview, Manuel talks about the different decades of his life and the 3 main paths he has taken so far. Manuel talks about spending his 20s working in advertising and marketing, working for companies in Florida and later Oregon after moving there with his wife Leslie. They met while studying abroad in Spain, and Leslie was attending Li...

This interview is with Dave and Sarah Gregory of Ora et Labora Wine Shop. In this interview, Dave and Sarah talk about beginning to take an interest in wine, taking educational courses, and eventually opening their own space to make wine more approachable for others. Dave talks about going to school to study theology and education, and earning several degrees while he was there. After his journey...

This interview is with Jen Cossey of Brooks Winery. In this interview, Jen talks about her 30-year path in hospitality, beginning with her childhood in Missouri and Kansas City and her early interest in photojournalism. She shares how she shifted from photography art education, eventually discovering wine while working harvest and serving in restaurants.  Jen talks about building a career through...

This interview is with Geoff Hall of Argyle Winery. In this interview, Geoff talks about how he got involved in wine - first through botany, then viticulture, and finally through the people he met along the way. Geoff shares about growing up in Boise and attending the University of Idaho with intentions of becoming a doctor. That changed when he took a course in botany, and his professor encourage...

This interview is with Claudia Bowers, a wine sales manager. In this interview, Claudia talks about her childhood in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and her move to San Fransisco as a teenager. Claudia shares about her years working in the beauty industry, helping her sister in the wine world, and eventually discovering her passion for wine. She discusses taking WSET courses, managing tasting rooms and...