The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

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...

This interview is with Carl Formaker, the winemaker for Domaine Serene. In this interview, Carl talks about his journey to finding a passion and career in wine.  Carl talks about growing up in California surrounded by vines. He shares about growing up around wine, but not viewing it as a career until later in life. Carl goes on to talk about his college days in California and studying to pursue a...

This interview is with Steve Whiteside of Bella Vida 360. In this interview, Steve speaks about his early life and first career in orthotics and prosthetics. He talks about meeting Jim and Loie Maresh and being instantly captivated by the Oregon wine industry. He then talks about embarking on his 25-year plan of buying property, installing a vineyard, building a tasting room, and starting a brand....

This interview is with Erin Brooks. In this interview, Erin talks about finding a career in the wine industry that marries her passions for writing and wine.  Erin talks about growing up in North Carolina and her first memory of accidently trying her mom’s white wine as a kid. She shares about her early passion for all things writing and how this passion pushed her to attend college in New Mexico....

This interview is with Julia Coney of Black Wine Professionals. In this interview, Julia speaks about coming to wine as her third career. She speaks about her work as a legal assistant and her first pivot as a beauty blogger. She then talks about her discovery of wine, and her increasing passion for it. Her epiphany came when she realized wine wasn't designed for her to be part of the industry, an...

This interview is with Steven Sinkler of Puffin Wines and The Wine Shack. In this interview, Steven shares about finding wine and how he came to own The Wine Shack and the Puffin Wines label.  Steven talks about growing up in Green Bay and how he didn’t find wine until later in life. He shares about finding his passion for wine and how it spurred him to become part of the industry. He then discuss...

This interview is with Matty Colston of Colston Biblio. In this interview, Matty speaks about his wine journey, from growing up in Ohio to opening his own bar in Kentucky to eventually moving to Chicago and working in a variety of restaurants there. He talks about learning wine along the way and finding kindred spirits among the wine community. From there, he talks about taking a chance on himself...

This interview is with Meghan Olivier of St. Merry Vineyard. In this interview, Meghan shares about her love for agriculture and how this passion led her to wine.  Meghan talks about growing up in Alabama and running wild in the forest. She goes on to share how this young love for the outdoors shaped her career path. She then talks about how she met her husband and how they both got invested in wi...

This interview is with Tim and Kari Ramey of Zenith Vineyard. In this interview, Tim and Kari share about how they turned their passion for wine into a successful business. Tim and Kari talk about being raised as Seattle kids and how they ended up together in college. They then share about their time spent on the East Coast, as Tim worked on Wall Street. Tim and Kari share about finding  passion f...

This interview is with Kelsey Glasser of Arden Restaurant and Raise a Glass Wines. In this interview, Kelsey speaks about her background as a professional actress and some of her experiences and achievements in that part of her life. She talks about how she came to learn about wine by working in fine dining while working as an actress, and becoming excited enough to pursue education as a sommelier...

This interview is with Alice Achayo of The Wine Linguist. In this interview, Alice talks about her journey to finding a passion and career in wine.  Alice shares about her time growing up in South Sudan and how she found herself, her sister, and her uncle coming to the United States. She goes on to talk about attending college and her first introduction to wine. Alice then discusses her time study...

This interview is with Mark and Pattie Bjornson of Bjornson Vineyard. In this interview, Mark and Pattie speak about their growing interest in wine and their desire to start a vineyard in Oregon. They talk about finding the property and planting it, and adding more vines, a winery, and a tasting room over the years. Mark speaks about vineyard practices and Pattie discusses her winemaking and growi...

This interview is with Jared Lloyd of Naked Grazing. In this interview, Jared speaks about growing up in farming and livestock in western Colorado, and learning to become a shepherd. He talks about how he grew his flock and started an interest in wine, as well as grazing-based agriculture. He then talks about coming to Oregon and using his herds to start viticulture programs while also working in...

This interview is with Mike and Patty Green of Deux Vert Vineyard. In this interview, Mike and Patty talk about their lives and time in the Oregon Wine Industry.  Mike and Patty talk about meeting and getting married before Mike had to serve. They also share about their first careers before they became involved with the wine industry. Later in the interview, the couple dives into finding the perfe...

This interview is with Jeff Quatraro of Augustine's Restaurant. In this interview, Jeff speaks about his passion for cooking and knowing that being a chef was what he wanted to do from a young age. He talks about the path he took, working in different parts of different restaurants before finding himself in Oregon. He speaks about deciding he wanted his own restaurant and how he found Augustine's,...