Interview

This interview is with Kristen Marchesi of Beck Family Estates. In this interview, Kristin talks about growing up around wine and eventually entering the industry herself. She goes over some over her original interests, including theater and the culinary world, and explains how she began working for her dad, who was running a winery. She describes what it was like working as the daughter of the company’s owner and the challenges that came with that. She speaks about learning the sales ropes and figuring out how to sell biodynamic wine.

Kristin talks about the nature of marketing biodynamic wine and customer response to it. She also discusses what it was like when her dad sold the winery and what she found herself doing after that. Later, she speaks about her work at Beck Family Estates and how being at home during quarantine affected her work.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Abbott Claim Winery in Carlton on April 28, 2021.

Interview

This interview is with Heath Payne of Abbott Claim. In this interview, he describes becoming interested in the wine industry after working at a vineyard with concord grapes in Arizona, and deciding to move to Oregon and take classes at Chemeketa Community College. After working a harvest in France for some time and falling in love with the rhythm of life there, he tells of his increasing interest in Pinot Noir. Later, he describes meeting Alban Debeaulieu at Abbott Claim, where he liked the culture and the people, and found his place in the vineyards. Heath speaks in depth about his passion for biodynamics and sustainability with grape growing. Towards the end of the interview, he describes his winemaking philosophies, and talks about the various varieties he makes wine with, and discusses the rich community he surrounds himself with. To conclude, Heath gives his thoughts for the future, and gives his words of wisdom for those that would like to join the Oregon wine industry.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Abbott Claim on September 3, 2020.

Interview

This interview is with Alban Debeaulieu of Abbott Claim/Angela Vineyards. In this interview, Alban speaks about how he got into the wine industry, where he was before coming to Oregon, how growing up in France influenced his wine, and why he chose to come to America. He goes on to speak about his various work experience, his wine making philosophy, what wines he makes, and what it was like founding Abbott Claim. Towards the end, Alban describes the differences between Oregon wine and French wine, how he’s dealing with the pandemic, and what he sees for the future.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Abbott Claim in Carlton on July 9, 2020.