Paul Durant: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Paul Durant of Durant Vineyards. In this interview, Paul discusses his love for farming and how that has informed his career in wine after being a mechanical engineer. He talks about the learning curve when coming back— learning how to create a sustainable business, having the right team in place, and his vision for a diverse, multi-ethnic customer base. He then goes on to discuss his role in the olive oil business and speaks about how wine and oil compliment each other. Towards the end of the interview, Paul discusses why he doesn’t blend wines, his business model of wanting people to have a real connection to the land and farm, the future for his business, as well as the future of the Oregon Wine Industry itself.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Durant Vineyards on June 4, 2019.

What is The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast?

The Oregon Wine History Archive at Linfield University was created to collect, preserve, share, and continue the narrative of Oregon wine.

The growth of the Oregon wine industry extends from the farmers and winemakers to the marketers, scientists, innovators, and dreamers of the enterprise — all of whom are vital to the industry’s success. It is our aim to link the past, present, and future of the industry in hopes of sharing the story of Oregon wine.

Some oral history interviews are conducted on site and may contain background noise from nature, winery, or tasting room operations.