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.