Interview
This interview is with Bethany Ford of Illahe Vineyards. In this interview, Bethany talks about how she got into the wine industry, and why she prioritizes working both distribution and harvest.
Bethany shares about getting her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Los Angeles, and how she go bit by the wine bug while there. While she grew up in Northern California, she traveled often to the Pacific Northwest and really loved the Portland area.
Bethany talks about moving to Portland and joining the wine industry in 2005, working in the tasting room at Domaine Serene. After a few years she decided she wanted to work in distribution, and in 2007 she also began helping with harvest work.
Later in the interview, Bethany discusses coming to Illahe Vineyards in 2009 to help with distribution, bring the tasting room plans into fruition, and take part in the harvest process. She talks about the importance of relationships and community in the industry, and how both help her to succeed.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards in Dallas, Oregon on December 9, 2025.
Interview
This interview is with Nathan Litke of Illahe Vineyards and Winery. In this interview, Nathan talks about his background, his journey into winemaking, and the philosophy and practices that define Illahe Vineyards.
Nathan talks about spending his early 20’s working various jobs, including raft guiding in Colorado, before returning to school, he explains how attending the Chemeketa Community College wine program introduced him to winemaking through hands-on experience, such as working in tasting rooms and participating in harvests.
Next, Nathan discusses his move to Salem and later Dallas, Oregon, and how his career progressed into a more permanent role in the wine industry. He explains becoming the assistant winemaker at the Illahe Vineyards in 2016 and talks about the challenges of producing between 6,000 and 25,000 cases of wine. Nathan shares that he enjoys problem-solving and lots of experimentation with wine.
Nathan also discusses Illahe Vineyards’ commitment to traditional winemaking methods. He explains that Illahe is known for producing a wine without electricity or horsepower, instead of relying on horses, hand-hauling, and technology created before 1899. He talks about the Rainbow Mug policy, and Illahe’s goal of making high-quality wines that remain accessible at a reasonable price point.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards on December 9, 2025.
Interview
This interview is with Brad Ford of Illahe Vineyards. In this interview, Brad talks about how he got into wine, and how his dad informed his career. Brad describes when he first knew he was passionate about wine, some of the things that appealed to him on his journey, what it was like working with various people in the industry, and how he developed his style. Brad then goes on to speak about the evolution of his growth for his vineyard, and what is has been like sharing his expertise with others. Towards the end of the interview, Brad touches on his winemaking philosophy, what he hopes consumers take away from his wines, the various projects he’s worked on, his impressions of the wine industry, his words of wisdom for someone looking to enter the industry, and what he sees for its future.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards on June 8, 2020.
Interview
This interview is with Lowell Ford, the original owner of Illahe Vineyards. He talks about planting the estate vineyard and his son taking over the business as the winemaker. Lowell also discusses their unique way of making Pinot Noir and the future of the winery.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Illahe Vineyards on December 11, 2017.