INTERVIEWER
Schmidt, Rich
DURATION
1 hour 19 minutes 57 seconds
DATE
November 9, 2026
INTERVIEW SUMMARY
This interview is with Adam Moreno, who has returned to Lemelson Vineyards as an assistant winemaker after building a career across several Oregon wineries.
Adam grew up in Grants Pass, Oregon, then studied music in college at Western Oregon University. Although music played a major role in his life, his interest in wine began while working in a tasting room during college. After becoming interested in the winemaking process, he decided to pursue a wine studies program at Chemeketa Community College.
Adam’s first experience in production came at Firesteed Cellars, where he got his first introduction to the winemaking side of the industry. He later worked his first harvest at Chateau Bianca in 2018, which gave him a valuable learning experience in the cellar. He went on to work at Adelsheim and Argyle before joining Lemelson Vineyards as cellar master in 2019.
During his time at Lemelson, Adam took ownership of the cellar, focusing on keeping the space organized, clean, and presentable while becoming more involved in the winemaking process. In the winter of 2023, he traveled to New Zealand for harvest, where he gained experience with harvest management and learned more about winery design. After returning to Oregon, he worked as an assistant winemaker at Northwest Wine Company before making his way back to Lemelson.
Adam returned to Lemelson for a second stint and continues to enjoy the hands-on work that comes with harvest and winemaking. Looking ahead, he hopes to continue growing as a winemaker, uphold the quality of the wines, and eventually lead a winemaking team of his own.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Lemelson Vineyards in Carlton, Oregon on November 9, 2026.
Interview photos
COMMENTS
Some oral history interviews are conducted on site and may contain background noise from nature, winery, or tasting room operations.