Kelsey Glasser: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Kelsey Glasser of Arden Restaurant and Raise a Glass Wines. In this interview, Kelsey speaks about her background as a professional actress and some of her experiences and achievements in that part of her life. She talks about how she came to learn about wine by working in fine dining while working as an actress, and becoming excited enough to pursue education as a sommelier.

From there, she discusses moving to Portland and starting a wine shop before later starting Arden. She talks about Arden’s growth and evolution, surviving the pandemic, and the role wine plays in the restaurant. And she talks about Raise a Glass, her wine education side project designed to make wine accessible to everyone.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 18, 2024 at Arden in Portland.

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.