INTERVIEWER
Schmidt, Rich
DURATION
40 minutes 53 seconds
DATE
March 20, 2026
INTERVIEW SUMMARY
This interview is with Charlie Becker of Becker Vineyard in Roseburg. In this interview, Charlie shares his background and how he got started in winemaking.
Charlie grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and made his first wine at just 10 years old out of store bought grape juice and yeast. He later studied biology in college and eventually moved to Seattle, where he worked as a painter for many years. After some time, he move to southern Oregon and bought property in Drain, where he began pursuing winemaking more seriously.
He started making wine around 2000 and produced his first batches in 2003. Over time, he planted about 13 acres of grapes and focused on growing a few different varietals. Much of what he learned about winemaking came from self-education, including researching in public libraries. In the early years, he and his wife, Peggy, did much of the work themselves, including bottling wine by hand.
Charlie built most of his winery and tasting room on his own. His wines have gone on to win awards, and he takes pride in the quality of his work. He also values his lifestyle that comes with winemaking, having grown up around wine culture and enjoying the independence it brings.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Becker Vineyard in Roseburg, Oregon on March 20, 2026.
Thank you to the Oregon Wine Board for generously supporting this interview as part of our Southern Oregon 2026 tour!
Interview photos
COMMENTS
Some oral history interviews are conducted on site and may contain background noise from nature, winery, or tasting room operations.