The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with DJ Cook of Stoller Wine Group. In this interview, DJ speaks about growing up with a passion for plants and learning horticulture and botany. A chance to work with grapevines sparked his interest and he talks about how he pursued viticulture in California and New Zealand.

A desire to come back to Oregon brought him first to Archery Summit and then to Stoller. He speaks about learning the sites, and his role as a viticulturist.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 9, 2024 at Stoller in Dayton.

This interview is with K'Sondra Fredrickson of Stoller Wine Group. In this interview, K'Sondra speaks about finding an enthusiasm for wine while working in a tasting room, and then a passion once she started to work in production. 

From there she talks about working at various places in California and New Zealand, including work in a research winery. She discusses how she had desired to come back to Oregon, and how she found her way to Stoller in 2023. In addition, she talks about her love of Chardonnay and about what comes next for her and for Oregon.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 9, 2024 at Stoller in Dayton.

This interview is with David and Angela Anderson of Syndicate Wine Bar. In this interview, David and Angela talk about their lives and journey to opening Syndicate. 

David, a Linfield Alumni, talks about his early life and his memories of finding wine. He then goes on to share about his career in web design. Angela talks about her time as a business student and her early career related to escrow. She then goes on to share about her passions about fighting for fairness and building teams.

Later in the interview, the couple discusses their journey to open Syndicate. They also talk about their approach to making wine accessible and enjoyable. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Syndicate Wine Bar in Beaverton, Oregon on July 8, 2024.

This interview is with Doug Shumaker of Shumaker Vineyards. In this interview, Doug speaks about his early life and interest in farming, followed by his career in medicine. He discusses an interest in having a vineyard and producing wine, which factored in the decision to purchase a house that had potential vineyard land.

From there, he talks about planting his vines and starting the brand, including finding a winemaker and developing different products. And he talks about how things have grown and what the future might hold.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 8, 2024 at Shumaker Vineyards in North Plains.

This interview is with Jesse Lange, head winemaker of Lange Estate. In this interview, Jesse shares about his experience growing up around wine and how he paved his own path in the industry.

Jesse talks about finding his own passion for wine and how it first centered around agriculture and the vines. He shares about his time attending OSU and a sister university in New Zealand. He then goes on to talk about working for Lange and how both he and the brand have grown. 

Later in the interview, Jesse discusses his different roles in the Oregon wine industry. He also shares some of his outlooks and hopes for both himself and the industry. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 2, 2024 at the Lange Estate in Dundee.

This interview is with Ursula McCabe. In this interview, Ursula talks about the early Portland wine scene and her role as a trailblazing wine saleswoman.

Ursula shares how she got into wine through restaurants and talks about the burgeoning Portland wine and restaurant scene of the seventies. Ursula also dives into the adaptation of these industries and their consumers over the years. She then goes on to talk about her wine-sales philosophies and what she loves about the Oregon wine industry. 

Later in the interview, Ursula talks about her retirement and her current role in the wine industry. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 2, 2024 at Ursula’s home in Portland.

This interview is with Sam Ecenia of Antiquum Farm. In this interview, Sam speaks about his early work in wine, which took him to California, Oregon, and New Zealand. He then talks about finding his way to Littorai Wines in California and the transformative educational experience he had working for Ted Lemon there.

He discusses his evolving winemaking philosophy and his efforts in organic and biodynamic farming, as well as developing leadership skills. Then he speaks about how he came to Antiquum Farm and how his time there has gone, plus what he's looking ahead to.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 1, 2024 at Antiquum Farm in Junction City.

This interview is with Cassandra Beldowicz of Corcilla Cellars. In this interview, Cassandra shares her journey to becoming a winemaker and owning and creating Corcilla Cellars.

Cassandra talks about growing up in Washington, and how she found her way to the East Coast during her first career. She shares about being a nurse for about twelve years and how she found a passion for wine when she was taking some time to herself. Cassandra then goes on to talk about how she learned about all things wine and how she was hooked after her first harvest.

Later in the interview, Cassandra shares about her path in creating her own label, Corcilla Cellars, and the tasting space she now has. She also talks about how she wants to highlight and support women through one of her blend projects. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on June 28, 2024 at Corcilla Cellars tasting room in Oregon City.

This interview is with Dean Sandifer of Domaine Coteau. In this interview, Dean speaks about being bitten by the wine bug while living and working in the Twin Cities in Minnesota. He talks about his early home winemaking and co-owning a wine shop while living there, in addition to some of the aeronautical computer work he was doing for the US Navy.

He then discusses how he came to Oregon and looked for vineyard land, finding a space he liked in the Eola Amity Hills, then planting his vineyard and starting his wine label. He talks about making and selling wine, and what he's been up to in retirement.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on June 27, 2024 at Linfield University in McMinnville.

This interview is with Pilar Oun. In this interview, Pilar talks about her family's business, Lemma Wines, and her transition from working in the wine industry to becoming a consumer. 

Pilar shares about being raised around wine. She talks about how her parents were involved in the industry and how that influenced her career path. She goes on to talk about her upward movement within Lemma Wines, as she started in sales and worked her way up. 

Later in the interview, Pilar talks about the closing of Lemma Wines and her transition out of the wine industry. Before Pilar leaves, she shares about her current job and the hopes she still has for the Oregon wine industry.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on June 21, 2024 at Linfield University in McMinnville.