The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Elle Holcomb of L Wine Co and Björnson. In this interview, Elle talks about her journey to finding wine and Oregon. 

Elle shares about growing up in Cleveland, Ohio and her dream of going wine tasting. She dives into how this dream paved her path and eventually came true during her college years. She goes on to talk about her career shift from business, to restaurants, to wine.

Later in the interview, Elle talks about her passion for learning all things wine. She goes on to share about finding Oregon and her journey with the production side of wine. Elle leaves us with some of her hopes for her own label, L Wine Co. and where she sees the industry going as a whole.  

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on September 3, 2024 at Björnson in Salem.

This interview is with Dick Aften. In this interview, Dick speaks about his journey in becoming involved with the Oregon wine industry and dives into some of the memorable people and experiences he had. 

Dick talks about getting into wine in college and how his passion for wine spurred from his passion for music. He then goes on to talk about being drafted and the impact it had on him and his journey. 

Later in the interview, Dick dives into finding Oregon. He goes on to talk about his career in Oregon wine sales and his memories regarding the early Oregon wine pioneers. Dick then goes on to share about his retirement. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on September 6, 2024 at Dick’s home in Salem.

This interview is with Carl Thoma, the owner of Van Duzer Vineyards. In this interview, Carl talks about how he got into wine and his journey to Oregon. 

Carl talks about growing up on a ranch on the border between Oklahoma and New Mexico. He shares about his agricultural passions and how he began his college journey pursuing this passion. He then goes on to talk about how his professional dreams shifted to focus on private equity. 

Later in the interview, Carl shares about his entry into the wine industry and his journey to Oregon. He speaks about starting out in California and how he and his wife, Marilynn, eventually came to find Van Duzer Vineyards in Oregon. Finally, Carl talks about his passion for philanthropy and how he and Marilynn strive to always give back. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 20, 2024 at Van Duzer Vineyards in Dallas. 

This interview is with Andrew Minor and Cassie Salinas of Andrew Minor Wines and Vino to the People. In this interview, Cassie and Andrew talk about growing up in Oregon, meeting in college, and eventually working in the wine industry together. 

Andrew and Cassie share each of their journeys to finding wine and touch on some of the great people and memories their time in the industry has brought. They then dive into their college days and how they met. 

Later in the interview, the couple talks about their careers and how they began Andrew Minor Wines. They then go on to talk about some of their proudest accomplishments and what they are looking forward to in the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 12, 2024 at the Oregon Wine Reserve in Lake Oswego. 

This interview is with Taylor Rebora of Rebora Wines. In this interview, Taylor speaks about growing up in Chicago surrounded by a family of artists, and discovering wine as a viable path when choosing a college. She talks about her time at Cal Poly - learning by doing - and about her internships and experiences abroad while working in wine production.

Later she talks about her experiences in New Zealand during 2020, and finding Oregon later that year while working a harvest at Antica Terra. From there she talks about the places in Oregon where she worked in production as well as her pivot into working in wine accounting. She also talks about making her first wine and what might come next.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 23, 2024 at Linfield University in McMinnville.

This interview is with Karen Hinsdale of The Cellar Door. In this interview, Karen speaks about getting excited about the wine scene while living on the East Coast before coming to Oregon and getting into wine distribution with her then-husband Howard. She talks about her excitement at learning to sell wine alongside young Oregon families learning to make wine, and about her passion to support these young wine brands.

She speaks about her time at Henny-Hinsdale Wholesaler, selling wines from Oregon and California as well as those from Europe. And she talks about many of the people she met and worked with, and watching the industry grow.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 16, 2024 at The Cellar Door in Portland.

This interview is with Dewey Kelly of Ribbon Ridge Vineyard. In this interview, Dewey speaks about his background as a chef, and later in high-tech and marketing. He talks about what initially attracted him to the Oregon wine industry and led to he and his wife Robin purchasing land for a potential vineyard.

From there, he talks about the long process of getting grapes in the ground, eventually making his own wine, and finding his place in the industry. He talks about the growth of the Ribbon Ridge AVA and about the inspiration behind some of his wines and labels. And he talks about what comes next.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 12, 2024 at Ribbon Ridge Vineyard in Newberg.

This interview is with Tim and Pierre Paradis of Paradis Vineyards. In this interview, Tim and Pierre share about growing up around grape farming and how that shaped their current path in wine. 

Tim and Pierre talk about their parents starting Paradis Vineyards and what their childhood looked like. They then go on to share how they found their way back to the vines. The brothers also talk about their experience in learning to make and sell wine. 

Later in the interview, Tim and Pierre talk about building their tasting room and their future plans. The brothers also share what it is like working together day-in and day-out. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 7, 2024 at Paradis Vineyards in Silverton.

This interview is with John and Kathy Zelko of Z'ivo Wines. In this interview, John and Kathy speak about meeting in college and pursuing their primary careers: John as a surgeon, and Kathy as a lawyer. John speaks about finding wine as a fun and meaningful diversion, and about starting as a volunteer helper before starting to make his own wine.

John and Kathy share stories of the trials and tribulations of making and selling their small label, as well as some of the people they worked with and became friends with. And they discuss how they saw the Oregon wine industry grow and evolve, as well as what led them to sell their vineyard in 2020.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 6, 2024 at Linfield University in McMinnville.

This interview is with Laura Brennan Bissell of Inconnu and Aitia Wines. In this interview, Laura talks about her journeys abroad and how she eventually found her way to wine. 

Laura shares about growing up in Virginia and some of her early memories surrounding wine. She dives into her passion for scent and how wine entwines with this passion. She goes on to talk about her travels abroad and how she found herself working in the wine industry. 

Later in the interview, Laura talks about getting her own vineyard and starting her two labels. She then dives into her farming and wine philosophies. Laura leaves us with her proudest accomplishment and some words of wisdom. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on August 5, 2024 at Laura’s home in the Columbia Gorge.