Andy Fortgang: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Andy Fortgang of Le Pigeon, Canard and Flor. In this interview, Andy speaks about growing up in New York City and developing an interest in food, wine, and restaurants. He describes how he came to work at Gramercy Tavern and how that launched his career.

Later, Andy talks about how he came to Portland, and became involved with Le Pigeon Restaurant and later Little Bird, Canard, and Flor. He describes all the personal and professional growth he had, and the effects of the pandemic on his various businesses. And he discusses learning about wine, building wine lists and selling wine.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on June 11, 2024 at Flor Wines 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.