The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Robb Bell of Cathedral Ridge Winery. In this interview, Robb speaks about his career in marketing and how that led him into wine through connections with many of the early winemakers in California.

After finding himself in Hood River, he talks about purchasing a vineyard and starting to learn about growing grapes and making wine. And he talks about the philosophy behind his wines and hospitality model, while also speaking about the growth he's seen in Oregon wine, specifically the Columbia Gorge.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on January 31, 2025 at Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River.

This interview is with Mark Kronquist. In this interview, Mark talks about growing up in Oregon and his journey in the Oregon wine industry.

He dives into growing up in Lake Oswego and finding his way to Linfield. He then shares about meeting Myron Redford and his many memories associated with his time spent helping Myron in his "double-wide" tasting room. He then talks about his life after Linfield and how he found his life still circling wine.

Later in the interview, Mark talks about IPNC and his memories associated with the event. He goes on to share his current views related to the Oregon wine industry and where he hopes it will go in the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on March 10, 2025 at the Troon Vineyard tasting room in McMinnville.

This interview is with Felicity Carter of Drinks Insider. In this interview, Felicity shares about growing up around Europe and finding her way to Sydney, Australia. She goes on to talk about her life and journey in both media and wine. 

Felicity dives into her path in becoming a journalist and how she eventually found wine. She shares about her time as a freelance writer and how she found herself writing about wine business in Australia. 

Later in the interview, Felicity talks about how she found her own passion for wine and the industry. She goes on to talk about her current media venture, Drinks Insider, which is an interview style podcast with different entrepreneurs in the beverage industry. Finally, she shares her aspiration to write another non-fiction book in the future.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University on March 6, 2025.

This interview is with Sébastien Marquet of Sébastien Marquet Wines. In this interview, Sébastien talks about growing up in Burgundy, France and his journey to Oregon. 

Sébastien dives into his childhood and how he found himself making his first wine at 16. He goes on to talk about his early career in France. He also shares how he found himself organizing wine sales for the French army for a time. 

Later in the interview, Sébastien shares about his journey to America and his first memories and thoughts. He talks about his time in places like California and Virginia before he eventually came to Oregon in 2018. He then shares about starting his own label and what he hopes for in the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University on March 4, 2025.

This interview is with Charles Hesson of Arborbrook Vineyards. In this interview, Charles talks about his path into the wine industry and finding Oregon. 

Charles shares about growing up and spending time on his great grandparents’ farm outside of Dallas, Texas. He goes on to talk about the farm’s wild blackberry bushes and how wine really started to click when he connected the aromas of his great grandma’s fermented blackberry juice to wine. 

Charles goes on to talk about his experience in fine dining and how he got immersed in Italian wine. Later, he shares about transitioning out of the restaurant industry and into wine. He goes on to talk about finding Oregon and working at places like Dobbes, Alexana, and now Arborbrook.  

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Arborbrook Vineyards in Newberg on February 27, 2025.

This interview is with Simon Lowry of Petit Monde Wine Merchants. In this interview, Simon talks about growing up around wine, how he found himself in the wine distribution industry, and where he hopes to see himself in the future. 

Simon dives into growing up in France and how his parents' practice of enjoying a nice wine with a good meal shaped him. He shares about attending college in France and how his passion for wine was truly spurred through an informal tasting group he formed with his friends. 

Later in the interview, Simon talks about moving to Portland and his journey in getting involved with wine buying and distribution. He also shares some of his aspirations to have and farm and produce some small scale boutique wine. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Petit Monde in Portland on February 24, 2025.

This interview is with Alexis Harrington of Amica Luna and Vitae Springs. In this interview, Alexis shares her winding path to becoming a winemaker and all she is looking forward to in the future with her different projects.  

Alexis talks about growing up surrounded by those in the hospitality industry and how both these people and their experiences influenced her. She goes on to share about attending culinary school, becoming a bartender, and then working a harvest at Brooks as an intern.

Later in the interview, Alexis shares about her different harvests, traveling, and her transition to becoming a full-time winemaker. She goes on to talk about working with her partner at Vitae Springs and also her own label Amica Luna. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University on February 12, 2025.

This interview is with Katie Sombat of Fancy Baby. In this interview, Katie shares about her journey in service, hospitality, management, and wine. She also dives into the many famous Portland restaurants she had the opportunity to work at and the many thoughts, feelings, and memories regarding both the places and the people she worked with. 

Katie talks about her early life and the memories associated with wine, her family, and her childhood. She goes on to share about her time in college and how she eventually found herself pursuing different wine certifications. 

Later in the interview, Katie shares a special saved label that represents her “a-ha” moment. She then reflects on her past and shares some thoughts regarding her future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University on February 6, 2025.

This interview is with Kristy Wenz. In this interview, Kristy speaks about her path to finding wine and her journey once she entered the industry. 

Kristy shares about her passion regarding stories and how her love for storytelling translates to her wine career. She goes on to share how she became hooked with wine early in life, but never sought out a career in the industry until later in her life. She then talks about how a trip to the Fingerlakes region of New York changed her life and shifted her thoughts regarding wine and her career. 

Later in the interview Kristy dives into working her first harvests and how she eventually found her way to Oregon. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University on January 30, 2025.

This interview is with David DeLaitsch and Victoria Chavez of Spearhunter Wines. In this interview, David and Victoria talk about pursuing wine as their later career and finding their way to Oregon. 

Victoria dives into growing up in Texas and her first career path related to chemical engineering. She goes on to talk about how she found the UC Davis wine masters program and how that was just the beginning of her wine journey. David shares about growing up in Wisconsin and how he had limited exposure to wine growing up. He goes on to talk about traveling to Spain in his early twenties and finding a wine masters program abroad. 

Later in the interview, the couple dives into meeting each other, moving to Oregon, and starting their own label, Spearhunter Wines. David and Victoria also share some things they are looking forward to in the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Fullerton Wines tasting room in Corvallis on January 28, 2025.