Interview
This interview is with Hallie Whyte of Soter Vineyards. She began the interview with discussing her time studying math and Spanish at Linfield College. Hallie grew up in McMinnville working in and around the wine industry at restaurants and tasting rooms. After college she went to Mexico City to teach and upon returning to Oregon she ended up at Soter.
Hallie began in DTC sales and eventually took the role of Managing Director. She spoke of striving for diversity of all kinds in Soter employees, and gave her marketing advice. Later in the interview Hallie described the changes she has seen in the industry and of her hopes for the collaborative culture of the Oregon wine industry to remain.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on May 7, 2021 at Soter Vineyards.
Interview
This interview is with Chris Fladwood of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Chris speaks about his life before wine, including his time in the army. He talks about his initial interest in the vineyard and how that turned into winemaking. He describes his work in France, New Zealand, and tells us why he decided to stay and work in the Oregon Wine Industry. He talks about the adventure, risk, and thrill that’s in winemaking and also compares winemakers to artists.
Later Chris goes over his role as winemaker for Soter and offers words of wisdom to those entering the industry. His advice: trust your instincts and prepare yourself for a difficult job.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Soter Vineyards on May 7, 2021.
Interview
This interview is with Julia Bandy of Soter Vineyards. In this interview, Julia describes how she made her way from culinary school and restaurant management to the world of wine. She speaks about how her skills in leadership, hospitality, and food helped her dive into the wine industry.
Julia also discusses the Oregon Wine community and how it thrives on connection. She talks about women in the industry and what changes can be made to improve where the industry is lacking – specifically in the tasting room. She goes on to describe the new generation of winemakers and how she thinks they may impact the wine world.
Later she describes working at Soter Vineyards as their Director of Consumer Sales and Marketing. She talks about how they have built their reputation and how their strategies may change in the coming years. She also speaks about their values and says that every decision they make thinks about the environment and people first. She describes it as a company who can stand behind their values.
She finishes by describing what she hopes to see in the future of the Oregon Wine Industry, and what she thinks her role in that will be.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University Library on February 23, 2021.
Interview
This interview is with James Cahill, winemaker at Soter Vineyards. In this interview, James talks about how he found his way into the wine industry, and later production: “one thing led to another,” and he was immediately engaged in the story, culture, and uniqueness of wine. He then goes on to discuss the various jobs he held, as well as the reasoning behind why he was so passionate about Burgundy wine. James later describes how he ended up in Oregon, and his initial impressions of the Oregon wine industry. With this, he then speaks of the challenges he has faced, as well as how the industry itself has evolved. Towards the end, James describes his connection with Linfield College and offers his thoughts about the wine education it provides. To conclude, he states what the future of the Oregon wine industry will look like and urges people to take a look at their habits and think about what can be done to better protect the environment. James ends with a statement about how prevalent community and culture is a key element for the industry to thrive.
Interview Photos
Oregon Wine History Archive 