The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Matt Brennecke of Defranceschi. In this interview, Matt speaks about his wine journey, from growing up working as a vineyard hand at 14, eventually becoming a winemaker, and then to selling wine equipment.

Matt dives into what his career looked like before wine as an educator with an art degree. He shares his journey to finding wine again in his adult life and all the challenges and successes that came along with the wine scene in Missouri. He also talks about what prompted him to work with Defranceschi, a wine equipment producer, and what his role there looks like.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University in McMinnville on June 13, 2023.

This interview is with Cheryl Longshore of Serendipity Cellars. In this interview, Cheryl dives into the story of Serendipity Cellars, the brand created by her and her late husband Glen. 

Cheryl shares everything from living in Alaska to getting sweet-talked into volunteering for a harvest at Amity Vineyards. She dives into the stories behind Serendipity Cellars, from customers asking for 1920's pre-prohibition wine, creating Serendipity labels by hand, and finding a Serendipity vintage from her oldest child’s birth year. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University in McMinnville on June 12, 2023.

This interview is with Toni Ketrenos of Linfield University. In this interview, Toni speaks about attending Linfield as an undergraduate and going on into a career in journalism. Her interest in wine led her eventually into wine sales and distribution, and then into wine education.

Toni also speaks about what brought her back to Linfield to teach wine and where the Linfield wine program is headed, as well as technology that has her excited about the future of wine teaching. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Library at Linfield University in McMinnville on June 9, 2023.

This interview is with Jess Spera of Chehalem Winery. In this interview, Jess speaks about her past jobs, travels, and experiences that led her to Chehalem. 

Jess starts by talking about her time in Colorado and found love for beer brewing. She shares how her love for brewing evolved into a love for wine, especially after her time spent doing wine harvests abroad. 

She then dives into her life once she returns to the states and shares the ways she found herself working towards a future. Whether it was sharing how she met her husband during harvest or how she advanced to being the winemaker's second hand, Jess talks about her experiences and journey so far.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Chehalem Winery in Newberg on June 8, 2023.

This interview is with Wynne Peterson-Nedry of RR Wines. In this interview, Wynne speaks about the influence of growing up around wine. 

Wynne shares her past jobs which range from being in a pharmaceutical lab to learning, researching, and trapping fruit flies. She also dives into her drive to travel and expand her palate. 

Wynne talks about her work on producing her own wines and label. She even dives into the fact that her father, Harry's, pen and ink sketches are the labels for the RR brand they started together.

Wynne shares that she is just beginning and cannot wait to see where the vines and wines of Oregon take her. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at RR Wines in Newberg on June 7, 2023.

This interview is with Ron Benza of Benza Vineyards. In this interview, Ron speaks about his time in New York, France, and now the Willamette Valley. 

Ron speaks on his many careers from advertising in France to teaching executive leadership, all while trying to find where his passion for wine fit. An opportunity finally arose to come to Oregon where Ron found the perfect spot to start Benza Vineyards. 

Ron talks about how his passion has influenced his labels, wines, and tasting experiences. He reflects on the challenges of starting a vineyard and shares his aspirations for Benza in the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Benza Vineyards in Hillsboro on June 5, 2023.

This interview is with Elizabeth Tomasino of Oregon State University. In this interview, Elizabeth speaks about growing up with a love of puzzles and science. She found her passion for wine through her travels and eventually started working with the Oregon wine industry through her position at Oregon State. 

Elizabeth talks about working with everything from smoke, stink bugs, and green vegetables. She is always researching and looking for flavor solutions. 

Elizabeth is planning to continue her research related to smoke taint and hoping to branch out into some of her other passions.  

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Oregon State University in Corvallis on June 2, 2023.

This interview is with Chris Lake of Stoller Wine Group. In this interview, Chris speaks about his past in the wine industry and his time as an educator at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI) at Umpqua Community College. 

Chris has spent much of his career working in vineyards and speaks about vineyard science and the various places he's overseen, and what brought him to Stoller. He also talks about what he's seen in Oregon wine and what might be coming next.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Stoller Family Winery in Dayton on May 31, 2023.

This interview is with Roberta Manell Montero of Bouchard Cooperages. In this interview, Roberta speaks about being immersed in the world of wine during a post-college trip to Germany, and following that dream to California, where her wine industry journey began.

From there, Roberta talks about beginning work with Bouchard, finding kindred spirits in Oregon via the Steamboat Conference, and eventually planting a vineyard in New Zealand. Along the way, she talks about finding community through wine and how she's watched Oregon grow through her barrel sales role.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Seven Springs Vineyard in Salem on May 10, 2023.

This interview is with John Thomas of Thomas Wines. In this interview, John speaks about his early career working on the Alaska Pipeline as a geologist and starting to gain an interest in wine through his colleagues. As his interest grew, he took a trip down the West coast, stopping at vineyards and talking with winemakers. A visit with Gary Burnap in the Santa Cruz mountains left John invigorated and inspired, and he came to Oregon in search of land to grow grapes.

He also talks about learning to grow grapes and make wine, and finding the style that he wanted to make. He talks about selling wine, and his notorious lack of marketing. And he talks about his interactions with some of the other interesting characters in Oregon wine history.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Thomas Vineyard in Carlton on May 2, 2023.