The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Brian McCormick of Idiot's Grace Wines. In this interview, Brian talks about growing up in a family centered around food, with parents who owned a restaurant, and how that early exposure sparked his interest in cooking and flavor.

Brian talks about attending Dartmouth College, where he studied religion, and how after graduating he had no clear idea what he wanted to do. He explains how his interest in food eventually led him to wine, as he became curious about what to pair with it, which used him to pursue wine more seriously.

He also discussed his early experiences in the wine industry, including working in tasting rooms, doing wine auctions, and getting hands-on exposure that helped him better understand the culture and business of wine. 

Later in the interview, Brian reflects on building Idiot’s Grace, his philosophy around farming and working with the land, and how he defines success in winemaking—not just through outcomes, but through the process and continual learning each vintage brings. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Idiot’s Grace Wines in Mosier, Oregon on March 11, 2026.

This interview is with Steven Thompson and Kris Fade of Analemma Wines. In this interview, Steven and Kris talk about their unique paths into the wine industry, from Kris’s background in the Pacific Northwest studying wildlife, geology, and GIS mapping, to Steven’s experiences with international biking tours and harvest work in Italy that sparked his passion for wine.

Kris talks about her early interest in environmental law, her work in GIS mapping and vineyard analysis, and how her understanding of climate and landscape shaped her approach to winemaking.

Steven discusses his upbringing in North Carolina, studying cultural geography at Montana State, and hoe travel and hands-on harvest experiences led him to pursue starting a winery.

Later in the interview, Kris talks about their move to New Zealand for harvest work, their eventual return to the U.S., and how they built Analemma from a small farm into a biodynamic vineyard with 13 grape varieties, focused on community, regenerative agriculture, and natural winemaking practices.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Analemma Wines on March 11, 2026.

This interview is with Dean Underwood of Barakel Vineyards. In this interview, Dean talks about spending his life as a farmer and his decision to grow wine grapes. He speaks about growing up in Albany and working on his family's farm, focusing on row crops at first.

Later he discusses his burgeoning interest in wine and wine grapes, working with his neighbors at Olsen Family Vineyards and going through the wine program at Chemeketa Community College. He then talks about his own Barakel Vineyard, and about deciding what to plant, how to farm, and where to sell the grapes.

He also discusses the growth he's seen in the Oregon wine industry and his plans for the future.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on March 5, 2026.

This interview is with Jon Tomaselli of Torii Mor Winery. In this interview, Jon talks about his family’s legacy of winemaking and how he has carried that on in the Willamette Valley.

Jon talks about growing up in an Italian family with a long history of winemaking. Living in Ohio, his dad and grandpa would purchase grapes from California to make wine at home. Jon first carried on that tradition while living in Arizona.

Jon discusses moving to Oregon in 2006 when a job opportunity came up for his wife. After visiting earlier that year to purchase a house and go wine tasting, Jon was once again enraptured by the idea of making wine. The second tasting that trip was at Torii Mor Winery, where Jon introduced himself and asked for a job.

Later in the interview, Jon talks about learning commercial winemaking under Jacques Tardy, Torii Mor’s head winemaker. After a very intense first harvest in 2007, Jon quickly made his way up to assistant winemaker. He is very proud of the cohort of people who began their journey at Torii Mor, trained under Jacques and himself, and later went on to become great winemakers elsewhere. He finishes the interview with observations about the state of the wine industry currently and hope for the future.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on February 24, 2026.

This interview is with Thibaud Mandet of Clos Griotte. In this interview, Thibaud speaks about growing up in France and pursuing an interest in science, before discovering that putting his scientific knowledge toward wine was even more interesting.

He then talks about his education and internships, followed by his arrival in the United States. He discusses meeting with the owners and team at WillaKenzie Estate in Yamhill for the first time, starting work there as an enologist, and eventually being the head winemaker. He then talks about leaving to start his own brand, Clos Griotte, and how that has gone so far.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Clos Griotte in Amity on March 4, 2026.

This interview is with Bruce Lundqist of Rack & Riddle. In this interview, Bruce speaks about his time at Linfield University, including his performance on the track team that led him into the school's sports Hall of Fame. He then talks about his work in the finance world in the dairy industry before starting his wine journey in California.

Later, he talks about how Rack & Riddle came to be and its growth and accomplishments during his 20 years as co-leader. He speaks to the current state of the wine industry and what the years ahead might hold.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on March 3, 2026.

This interview is with Tyler Bradley of Galaxy Wine Company. In this interview, Tyler talks about his time at Linfield University and how a part-time tasting room job turned into a full-fledged wine career. He discusses his first big wine job in Idaho, and taking on a role he wasn't ready for. As he was growing in the job, he also had to deal with the COVID pandemic and he talks about how that changed his work.

After that, Tyler discusses coming back to Oregon and working at Les Caves and in distribution before landing his current job with Galaxy. He talks about all the lessons and skills he has learned, about the work he's currently doing, and about what comes next.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on March 2, 2026.

This interview is with Olive Hamilton Russell. In this interview, Olive talks about growing up in South Africa and her family's background in farming. She discusses moving to London and become enamored with wine, which led to her working in the South African wine industry and selling wine in the United States.

Her introduction to Oregon was at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in 2015, and from there she sought to make her own wine label in Oregon. She discussed the steps to making that happen, how she learned about winemaking, and what it has been like to have her own wines to sell.

She also talks about the future for herself and for the Oregon wine industry.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on February 24, 2026.

This interview is with Dallas Way. In this interview, Dallas speaks about his journey into the wine industry, explaining how he grew up in Tennessee, studied business, and initially traveled to South Korea to teach English before discovering an interest in wine.

Next, he discusses how his path wasn’t straightforward, describing how a road trip to California and a job at a tasting room introduced him more seriously to wine and led to opportunities like working harvest seasons. 

Dallas explains how his experiences traveling and working harvests in places like New Zealand and Australia helped him build skills and connections, eventually leading I’m to settle in Oregon and join the team at Abbey Road Farm.

Finally, Dallas talks about his future goals, including becoming more inlaid with vineyard work and containing to grow in the industry, with the long-term aim of becoming a head winemaker.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Abbey Road Farm in Carlton, Oregon on February 23, 2026.

This interview is with Trevor Hertrich. In this interview, Trevor speaks about his path into the world of wine, explaining how he grew up in Chicago without much exposure to it and originally studied sociology at the University of Illinois before discovering wine while working in a restaurant. 

Next, he discusses how his curiosity led him deeper into wine, becoming known as the “wine guy” and containing his studies in Arizona, where his interest in wine began to feel more like a potential career than just a side interest.

Trevor explains how his experiences in restaurants, retail, and distribution helped him build knowledge and connections, eventually leading him into wine education and involvement in the WSET program at Linfield University.

Finally, Trevor talks about his passion for wine as something complex an ever-evolving, as well as his goal to continue advancing in the field and give back through education while pursuing higher certifications like the Master of Wine.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University in McMinnville on February 19, 2026.