The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Geoff Hall of Argyle Winery. In this interview, Geoff talks about how he got involved in wine - first through botany, then viticulture, and finally through the people he met along the way.

Geoff shares about growing up in Boise and attending the University of Idaho with intentions of becoming a doctor. That changed when he took a course in botany, and his professor encouraged him to find a career path he was more passionate about.

Geoff talks about being introduced to the viticulture industry and beginning a Master’s program, where he studied and published papers about an issue known as “berry shrivel.” Through these studies, he connected with many people in the industry and worked harvests in both Italy and Tasmania.

Geoff shares about being interested in the Oregon wine industry and coming to work at Adelsheim. After working at Chateau St. Michele and Erath, he joined the team at Argyle, first as the vineyard manager and now in operations for the entire winery. He also talks about his involvement in the AHIVOY organization.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Argyle Winery in Newberg on November 18, 2025.

This interview is with Claudia Bowers, a wine sales manager. In this interview, Claudia talks about her childhood in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and her move to San Fransisco as a teenager.

Claudia shares about her years working in the beauty industry, helping her sister in the wine world, and eventually discovering her passion for wine. She discusses taking WSET courses, managing tasting rooms and wine clubs, and creating her “On Tour” tasting experiences.

She also reflects on her family influences, her love for cooking and travel, and her goals of taking wine education to older audiences and expanding internationally. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt through Zoom at Linfield University on November 11, 2025.

This interview is with Ben Eyer and Stephanie Bojarski of Finite Cellars. In this interview, Stephanie and Ben talk about how their shared interest in wine began in graduate school. Ben was pursuing a Ph.D. in organic chemistry, and Stephanie was an engineering Ph.D. student. 

They share their story of moving from Pennsylvania to Oregon, despite having no prior familiarity with the state—where Ben gained hands-on experience through harvest jobs and Stephane continued her career at Intel, transitioning from research into quantitative computing. 

Stephanie and Ben talk about building Finite Cellars from the ground up, from naming the company to sourcing fruit, designing the label, and imagining a wine brand centered on bringing people closer together. They also discus logistics of starting a wine business while raising their children and balancing demanding careers with their long-term vision.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library in McMinnville on November 3, 2025.

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.