INTERVIEWER
Schmidt, Rich
DURATION
58 minutes 38 seconds
DATE
April 12, 2023
INTERVIEW SUMMARY
This interview is with Efren Loeza of Willamette Valley Vineyards. In this interview, Efren speaks about growing up working in agriculture in Mexico before coming to the United States. He was immediately intrigued by working in vineyards, and asked enough questions to show his interest and start to learn the trade. When a full-time role came up at Tualatin Estate in 1980, he took it and has never looked back.
He talks about his time working with vines and also in the winery, including lessons learned and how his work has changed, especially after Willamette Valley Vineyards purchased Tualatin in the 1990s. He also talks about what he’s proudest of, and the vineyard that bears his family’s name.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Tualatin Estate Vineyard in Forest Grove on April 12, 2023.
COMMENTS
Some oral history interviews are conducted on site and may contain background noise from nature, winery, or tasting room operations.