This interview is with Lisa Parks of Brut Wine Bar. In this interview, Lisa talks about her journey from working in crisis counseling and concert promotion to owning a wine bar and building community in Astoria, Oregon.

Lisa shares about her time living in Denver and later moving to Oregon — her first time living on the West Coast. After years of working in psychology and event work, she wanted a change and purchased a wine bar in Astoria. Lisa discusses her interest in creating a gathering place where people could connect over wine and conversation.

She also reflects on the learning curve of running a wine bar while recovering from foot surgery, and how travel and exposure to old-world wines deepened her appreciation for different wine styles.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Brut Wine Bar in Astoria on October 20, 2025.

This interview is with Thomas Houseman of Radiant Sparkling Wine Company. In this follow-up interview, Thomas talks about what he has been up to since we last spoke in 2018.

Last time we spoke to Thomas he was working at Anne Amie as the winemaker. He was just starting to make sparkling wine and he worked with Radiant to bottle it. 

Thomas talks about making the move to Michigan to make wine with Two Lads Winery to further his sparkling wine knowledge. 

In 2023, Thomas returned to Oregon to join Radiant Sparkling Wine. Bringing his wine journey full circle, he is now the general manager of the company.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Radiant in McMinnville on October 23, 2025.

This interview is with Tiquette Bramlett of Henderson Ave Wines. In this follow-up interview, Tiquette talks about what she has been up to since we last spoke in 2021 and her new wine label.

Tiquette shares about her wine education and becoming a sommelier. In her class, she was most drawn to Oregon wines, and a mentor encouraged her to visit Oregon wine country.

Tiquette talks about coming to the Willamette Valley for the first time and a temporary visit turning into a permanent move. She worked at several different wineries in the valley and learned much from each of her mentors.

Later in the interview, Tiquette discusses starting her own wine label, Henderson Ave Wines. The label is named after the street her mom grew up on, and she hopes her wine encourages connection with a welcoming feel.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on October 15, 2025.

This interview is with Jody Bogle of Bogle Family Vineyards. In this interview, Jody talks about her family’s wine business and her time at Linfield.

Jody shares about her family’s history of farming: her grandpa was an early wine pioneer in the Clarksburg region of California. Her parents started Bogle Family Vineyards in 1968, so she jokes that she never knew there was another career option outside of wine.

Jody talks about her family’s history with Linfield, how both her parents attended the school, and she her first time on campus for a basketball camp. She graduated with a degree in English and teaching credentials, and stayed in the Portland area to teach.

Later in the interview, Jody discusses moving back home to California and working with her family at the winery. After her dad passed away, the family came together to ensure the winery continued forward. Now, Jody works as the Vice President of Consumer Relations.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on October 9, 2025.

This interview is with Jules Moseley of Harvest Moon Sangria Bar. In this interview, Jules talks about her work in the hospitality industry and how it led her to sangria.

Jules shares about growing up in Newberg and working her first hospitality job at Jem 100, a classic diner in town. She loved working with people and “the instant gratification of a tip,” so she knew she wanted to stay in the industry.

Jules talks about moving to Hawaii and working at Kuleana Rum Shack starting in 2019. It was here that she learned to think outside the box when it comes to mixed drinks, like making classic cocktails with rum - or with Pinot Noir.

Jules shares about moving back to Oregon in 2020 and finally deciding to open her own business. This was the beginning of Harvest Moon, which started as a booth at a farmers’ market, turned into a food truck, and now resides in two brick and mortar locations.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on October 1, 2025.

This interview is with Patrick Spencer of the Natural Cork Council. In this interview, Patrick shares his journey from restaurants to wine to cork.

Patrick was born and raised in Conneticut, where his parents owned a "classic American steakhouse." He was involved in the restaurant world early on, and in 2005 opened his own French restaurant in the Berkshires.

In 2008, he moved to Oregon and was hired at Willamette Valley Vineyards as their Sustainability Coordinator. It was during a trip to Portugal that he became fascinated with cork forests and the families that farmed them.

After starting a cork recycling program in the states, through which he worked with Whole Foods stores across the country, Patrick set his sights on a career focused on cork. He helped to start the nonprofit Cork Forest Alliance and was later hired by the Natural Cork Council out of California, where he still works today.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Libray at Linfield University in McMinnville on September 24, 2025.

This interview is with Angela Gargano of Fresh Take Creative. In this interview, Angela talks about her journey to start her boutique marketing agency and some of the careers and hobbies she’s explored along the way.

Angela shares about growing up in the midwest and working in her family’s fine-dining Italian restaurant. She remembers wine being very special to her family, and her dad asking her opinion about wines brought by merchants. She also speaks to visiting family in Sicily and discovering how important wine was to that culture.

Angela talks about her various careers since high school, including buying wine for Cost Plus World Market, owning a yoga studio, working harvests in Sonoma, and acting as the wine director at Triple Creek Ranch in Montana. After planning to move back to Sonoma in 2020, wildfires caused her to spend some time on in Oregon instead, and she’s been here ever since.

Angela shares about beginning to work in marketing for wineries, and that leading her to open her own marketing agency, Fresh Take Creative. She speaks to the current challenges she sees in the wine industry as well as her hopes for the future, and she encourages wineries to pinpoint a unique point in their story that sets them apart from other labels.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Angela’s home in Amity on September 11, 2025.

This interview is with Jack Trenhaile of Hyland Estates. In this interview, Jack talks about becoming the vineyard manager at Hyland in McMinnville and his work over those 31 years.

Jack shares about growing up on a farm in northeast Nebraska, attending a one-room schoolhouse until high school, and then leaving home to join the Air Force. In 1968, Jack and his wife moved so he could attend the University of Hawaii, where he worked for a bookstore and started a hobby farm in their backyard.

Jack talks about moving back to Oregon in 1973, purchasing a farm in McMinnville, and hearing about “the vineyard up the hill.” After meeting the four owners of Hyland Orchard, as it was known originally, Jack became the vineyard manager on January 3, 1976.

Jack shares the early days of the Oregon wine industry, including working with other pioneers to prune and trellis the vineyard, attending monthly meetings at the Tigard Fire Hall, and digging up one of the first vines known to be infected with phylloxera. Jack was president of the company at the time of the sale in 2007.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Jack’s home in Newberg on September 10, 2025.

This interview is with Michael Bathurst of Vin de Garde. In this interview, Michael talks about starting his own wine importing business and his travels through France to meet producers.

Michael shares about growing up in Detroit before moving to the west coast as an adult. He worked many years as a CPA and later with mergers and acquisitions, both in Portland and San Francisco. It was in SF that he joined a wine tasting group and his interest was sparked.

Michael talks about starting to work for another importer and beginning to travel to Europe to meet producers. When he felt like it was time to start his own business, Vin de Garde (“cellar-worthy”) was born. He speaks to the differences between US and European producers and the importance of knowing who you’re working with.

Later in the interview, Michael shares what he sees for the future of the wine industry, both locally and internationally. He sees that many people now purchase wine online rather than in bottle shops and how that shift is changing the game for importers.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Michael's home in Portland on August 26, 2025.

This interview is with Mike, Mary Ann, and Meara McNally of Fairsing Vineyard. In this interview, the McNally family talks about their move from Texas to Oregon, and the shift from grape growers to wine producers.

Mike, Mary Ann, and Meara McNally share about moving to Oregon in 2005 in search of a new project. Mary Ann had studied wine at Grayson College in Texas, and she had visited Oregon several times to see family and taste wine.

The family talks about the process of bringing the vineyard online, building their family home, and later starting to make wine from their estate fruit. In 2016, they opened their new tasting room and welcomed the public. Their brand, Fairsing, means “bountiful” or “wide vista” in the Irish language.

Later in the interview, Mike, Mary Ann, and Meara talk about their various hobbies including gardening, beekeeping, and Irish dancing. They also talk about their work with various sustainability projects and Mike’s work with the Willamette Valley Wine Foundation.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Fairsing Vineyard in Yamhill on August 25, 2025.

This interview is with Anna Hanson of Granville Wine Co. In this interview, Anna talks about first getting into the wine scene in northwest Indiana and her eventual move to Oregon wine country.

Anna shares about her first career in photo journalism and videography, in which she took pictures and videos of events in her hometown. She was also a concert promoter, taking that media and using it to spread the word about which bands were coming to town.

After her friend opened a wine bar, she started working there and even  managed it for several years, allowing her to taste wine from all over the world. She was hooked, and in 2019 she moved to New Zealand to work at a winery called Huia.

Later in the interview, Anna talks about moving back to the States right before NZ shut down in 2020 and coming to Oregon shortly thereafter to work at Johan Vineyards. She also worked at Sequitur before finally landing at Granville. She speaks to the various learning experiences she has had at each vineyard, and the importance of sharing that winery’s story.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Granville Wine Co. on August 20, 2025.

This interview is with Eric Foster. In this interview, Eric talks about his experience working with several different wineries, including Keeler, Duke’s, Andante, and Left Coast.

Eric shares about his introduction to the wine industry when a friend asked him to join the harvest crew at Keeler in 2017. After this, he worked another harvest at Duke’s and at Andante. Around that time, Eric was also attending Oregon State to study earth science and oceanography.

Later in the interview, Eric discusses his more recent cellar job at Left Coast and what it was like to work in the cellar full-time rather than just during harvest. He also talks about his passion for the rehabilitation of the oak savannah ecosystem, which Left Coast devotes a portion of their land to.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Erratic Rock State Park in McMinnville on August 19, 2025.

This interview is with Blair and L.J. Nicholas of LucidWild Estate. In this interview, Blair and L.J. talk about their life in California before wine and how they ended up owning a vineyard in Dundee.

Before wine, L.J. worked in the fitness industry in operations and marketing, and Blair worked as a security fraud lawyer. They started becoming interested in wine as an alternative to other alcohols, and soon began traveling internationally to taste and learn more.

After starting a backyard vineyard in San Diego, Blair and L.J. came to IPNC to experience the Willamette Valley. They quickly fell in love with the area and decided to invest in a vineyard.

Later in the interview, Blair and L.J. talk about the process of taking over what is now the LucidWild Estate, what went into designing the new tasting room and all its unique spaces, and what they hope guests take away from their experience.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at LucidWild in Dundee on August 19, 2025.

This interview is with Nick and Dana Blizzard of Blizzard Wines. In this interview, Nick and Dana talk about their entry into the wine industry after working office jobs in the city and their next steps planting their vineyard.

Nick and Dana met in high school, went to college together, and then moved from office life into the wine industry. Dana had joined an amateur winemaking club with the desire to make a physical product that she could share with people. Her parents already owned a vineyard, which she managed in exchange for the fruit. After going back to school through Chemeketa to learn more about winemaking, she and her husband started their winemaking operation in her parents’ garage.

Nick grew up in wine country, living across the street from the Ponzis. When Dana started to develop an interest in winemaking, he also expressed a desire to join the industry. He talks about discovering a love for the Carménère varietal and helping to source fruit from Eastern Washington. He also designed their tasting room and production space that now sits on Dana’s family vineyard.

Later in the interview, Nick and Dana talk about their newest project, Blizzard Ridge, and the planning that goes into planting a vineyard. They also share about the future of their sparkling wine program.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Blizzard Wines in Hillsboro on August 18, 2025.

This interview is with Megan Masterson of Daughter's Wine Shop. In this interview, Megan speaks about her early interest in wine, food, and hospitality and how she and her mother had always hoped to open a hospitality space together.

Megan speaks about her life growing up and her college experience in Montreal. She then describes how she came to Oregon and how the idea for Daughter's began to take shape.

Later, she talks about the space, the events, and the wines/people she is working with. She speaks about the unique challenges of Gearhart and about what the future might hold for her and her shop.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 13, 2025 at Daughter's Wine Shop in Gearhart.

This interview is with Nicholas Caluori of Secus Wines. In this interview, Nicholas talks about his variety of experiences working wine harvests all around the world and how he started his own label.

Nicholas shares about growing up in Kirkland, Washington, where his family owned an Italian restaurant. When he started working at the restaurant in the early 2000s, wine was starting to boom in the Pacific Northwest, and he had to know about wine in order to better serve guests.

While originally he was more interested in beer, Nicholas and his mom took a course with the Court of Master Sommeliers to understand more about wine. Many of his friends in the area worked in wine, so he joined a harvest at Betz Family Winery in 2015. After that, he worked harvests in New Zealand, California, Chile, and finally Burgundy before coming back to Washington.

Later in the interview, Nicholas talks about moving to Oregon as the wine scene seemed more “punk rock.” While working at Limited Addition, he started his own wine experiments that would later set the stage for his label. In 2024, he released his first vintage of Secus (which means “to the contrary”) Wines which included a Riesling and a Syrah.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on August 15, 2025.

This interview is with Rob Alstrin of Adelsheim Vineyard. In this interview, Rob talks about his initial career in tech, when wine sparked his interest, and how he made his passion his job.

Rob shares about working for a semiconductor company both in the states and later in Australia. He first moved to Sydney in 1990 and would take weekend trips to the Hunter Valley wine region. After studying wine marketing at the University of Adelaide, he returned stateside to find a job in wine.

While working with a distributor to adapt their computer programs to automate warehouse functions, Rob met many people from Oregon who were excited about wine. He traveled to Oregon in 1999 for IPNC and quickly fell in love with the wine region.

Later in the interview, Rob talks about moving to Oregon and starting his first job at Domaine Serene in 2001. He left in 2005 to start his own business, a wine brokerage called Northwest Core Collective, and held a few other positions in the industry before starting at Adelsheim in May 2020.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Adelsheim Vineyard in Newberg on August 14, 2025.

This interview is with Lydia DeRoss of Beyond the Vine. In this interview, Lydia talks about how her passion for wine was sparked and how that passion drove her to leave the world of accounting to join the wine industry.

Lydia shares about growing up in Tumalo, Oregon, and starting a career in accounting. After an initial interest in wine, she took a WSET class with Linfield in 2020 in order to learn more. This expanded her palette and encouraged her to try many new wines.

Later in the interview, Lydia talks about her excitement to both learn about wine and help educate others on what she was learning. After quitting her accounting job, she started working in a wine shop in Redmond before opening her own storefront.

Lydia opened Beyond the Vine in November 2023, where she focused on making wine fun and approachable. She has a limited inventory so that she can change her menu regularly and continually introduce even regulars to plenty of new and interesting wines.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Beyond the Vine in Redmond on August 11, 2025.

This interview is with Luisa Ponzi of Ponzi Vineyards. In this interview, Luisa talks about growing up in the wine industry and finding her own place in it.

Luisa shares about what it was like to grow up in the early Oregon wine industry, making friends with other kids in wine families and others not really understanding what her family did. Though she originally went to school for biology to enter the medical field, she graduated with a degree in English Literature.

In 1991, Luisa returned to her family’s winery to help with harvest, and this put her directly back onto the wine industry path. After studying wine in France - and discovering a lot of sexism towards women working in wine - she returned to her family’s estate to take over winemaking duties from her father.

Later in the interview, Luisa talks about selling the Ponzi brand and starting her own label. She and her husband, Eric Hamacher, started a project called Winery Lane Collective, which is a shared winemaking and tasting room space. She speaks to her family’s focus on quality over everything else, and her pride in how her family has grown over the years.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Winery Lane Collective in Beaverton on August 8, 2025.

This interview is with Jacques Lardière of Résonance Wines. In this interview, Jacques speaks about his early introduction to wine and his passion for the science behind winemaking.

He then talks about the Oregon part of his career, after 40 years working for the Jadot family in Burgundy. He speaks on how Jadot found and acquired Résonance and how the project has gone so far. And he talks about the potential of the wines from the site and from Oregon.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 31, 2025 at Résonance in Carlton.