Interview
This interview is with Stirling Fox, owner of Mad Violets Wine Co. In this interview, Stirling discusses how he got into wine, found his place in the Oregon Wine industry, as well as his education at OSU. He talks about the various places he worked, as well as the difficulties in dealing with harvests. Stirling then goes on to discusses his “stick with it” attitude that comes with his job of vineyard management; he isn’t afraid of challenge. Stirling manages 25-35 vineyards each year, working on different projects and always staying active. He also talks about how he came up with “Mad Violets,” named after his two daughters, and how he created his own company. Further into the interview, Stirling speaks about his vineyard management philosophy, his involvement with LIVE, and the future for the Oregon Wine Industry. To conclude, Stirling expresses his gratitude for the ability to be able to work with many different people in the industry — he truly loves what he does.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Nicholson Library at Linfield College on April 5, 2019.
Interview
This interview is with Kelly Kidneigh of Mad Violets Wine Co. In this interview, Kelly talks about how she started out in acting and made her way to developing a passion for wine. After moving from California to Oregon, she talks about the various places she worked and gained experience from, her decision to get an education at OSU, and how she got to where she is today, making wine for the “most amazing people.” Kelly then goes on to speak about how she balances each place she makes wine for, her hands off-approach with winemaking, and what’s so special about Oregon Pinot Noir. Towards the end of the interview, Kelly shares the story in starting her boutique label with her husband, Stirling Fox, what it’s like to be a woman in the wine industry, changes/difficulties she’s seen to the industry, and the future for her business. To conclude, she ends with offering advice to anyone looking to enter the industry.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Nicholson Library at Linfield College on August 6, 2019.
Interview photos
