The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

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 education and his work at Cherry Hill, starting as an intern and ending as the head winemaker. He then talks about his retirement and what he's been up to after wine.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on Zoom on December 17, 2025.

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 further coursework at Chemeketa Community College helped spark his interest in viticulture, leading him to earn his WSET Level 2 certification and pursue vineyard management.  

Next, Nick discusses his professional experiences, such as working part time in international programs, teaching English abroad in Spain, learning Spanish, and eventually returning to Oregon to work at Forest Hills Farms in HR and compliance. He also describes learning hands-on vineyard practices, and managing the growth and sale of grapes.

Nick also talks about his current work and interests, including continuing his work at Forest Hills Farms, using drones to scout the vineyard, selling grapes to different wineries, organizing a wine festival, and his excitement about the future of the wine industry.  

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

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 kitchen jobs. He describes how working wine dinners every few weeks helped spark his interest in wine, eventually leading him to move to Oregon and pursue winemaking as a balance between science and food. 

Next, Jerry discusses his education and early professional experiences. He shares that he is originally from Ohio, attended Ohio University, and was a track and field athlete who initially wanted to become a coach. He talks about attending graduate school and teaching anatomy before moving to New Orleans. 

Jerry also talks about his extensive winemaking journey, including working at Erath winery and traveling internationally for harvests in New Zealand and Germany. He explains working multiple vintages at Panther Creek, taking classes at Chemeketa Community College, and continuing to develop his skills through hands-on winemaking. Jerry now works as the winemaker and owner of project M, where he focuses on small-lot, owner-driven wines and constant experimentation. Jerry highlights how these experiences shaped his winemaking style and perspective.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on December 11, 2025.

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 practical, which led her to want to travel. After moving to London following her food science degree, she became involved in managing a wine exhibition.

Next, Céline discusses her career path after graduating, including traveling and internships before moving to California for work while her sisters lived close by in Oregon. She explains that she visited Oregon on weekends to see them, during which, she became more connected to the wine industry, met her husband, and eventually decided to move to Oregon permanently.

Céline also talks about her current work and future goals, including her involvement with the Oregon Wine Board, Fine Wine Circle PDX, and research connecting wine and artificial intelligence. She explains her interest in combining wine and AI—specifically carbon leap—and discusses both the opportunities and challenges of using the tool. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at  L’Echelle Bistro on December 10, 2025.

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 Northwest and really loved the Portland area.

Bethany talks about moving to Portland and joining the wine industry in 2005, working in the tasting room at Domaine Serene. After a few years she decided she wanted to work in distribution, and in 2007 she also began helping with harvest work.

Later in the interview, Bethany discusses coming to Illahe Vineyards in 2009 to help with distribution, bring the tasting room plans into fruition, and take part in the harvest process. She talks about the importance of relationships and community in the industry, and how both help her to succeed.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards in Dallas, Oregon on December 9, 2025.

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 College wine program introduced him to winemaking through hands-on experience, such as working in tasting rooms and participating in harvests. 

Next, Nathan discusses his move to Salem and later Dallas, Oregon, and how his career progressed into a more permanent role in the wine industry. 

He explains becoming the assistant winemaker at the Illahe Vineyards in 2016 and talks about the challenges of producing between 6,000 and 25,000 cases of wine. Nathan shares that he enjoys problem-solving and lots of experimentation with wine. 

Nathan also discusses Illahe Vineyards’ commitment to traditional winemaking methods. He explains that Illahe is known for producing a wine without electricity or horsepower, instead of relying on horses, hand-hauling, and technology created before 1899. He talks about the Rainbow Mug policy, and Illahe’s goal of making high-quality wines that remain accessible at a reasonable price point.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards on December 9, 2025.

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 architecture program and Piper could make wine.

Piper speaks about taking over the Privé brand in 2020 with oversight from the original owners. She emphasizes their focus on “old school Oregon winemaking” as the philosophy behind the brand, as well as putting her own influence on it.

Ben and Piper talk about finding the West Wind Vineyard which they purchased in 2021, and from which they started their own brand: Sealionne. They started pouring their wines for the public out of an Airstream trailer - remodeled by Ben - and their labels are designed each year by Ben’s sister. They strive to keep this label, fresh, bright, and acidic.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Privé Vineyard in Newberg on November 20, 2025.

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 Linfield at the time.

Next, in his 30s, Manuel and Leslie lived in Grand Island and owned Veridian Farms. Manuel shared about taking boxes of produce and marketing materials to restaurants in Portland to encourage chefs to buy ingredients directly from their farm.

Manuel also discusses focusing on specialty foods and wine in his 40s. He started by becoming one of the few master carvers of Jamón Ibérico in the United States, and continued on to receive his Level 3 WSET certification and study winemaking at UC Davis. He worked at several different wineries during that time, including Domaine Drouhin, Cristom, Domaine Serene, and Abbott Claim.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on November 20, 2025.

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 to become a Jesuit priest was cut short, he became a high school teacher in California.

Sarah discusses growing up in Oregon and going to school to be a journalist. She also received her Master’s in Public Administration. She and Dave met on OkCupid and dated long distance for a year before he moved to Oregon.

Together, Dave and Sarah opened Ora et Labora (“Prayer and Work”) in December 2022. With people showing up for both a casual glass and Foundations wine classes, they were pleasantly surprised at how quickly the neighborhood embraced their business. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Ora et Labora Wine Shop in Portland on November 19, 2025.

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 connection—moving from Kansas City to Oregon, working in testing rooms, managing events, and helping develop marketing and community programs. She shares about balancing career and motherhood, returning to Oregon in 2020, and ultimately becoming the general manager at Brooks, where she now oversees the winer’s full wine and spirits business.

Jen also discusses creating environments that bring people together, the importance of clam leadership (especially during COVID), and her work with organizations such as ¡Salud!, Women in Wine, and Wine Atlas Collective.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Brooks Winery in Amity on November 12, 2025.