Erin Brooks: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Erin Brooks. In this interview, Erin talks about finding a career in the wine industry that marries her passions for writing and wine. 

Erin talks about growing up in North Carolina and her first memory of accidently trying her mom’s white wine as a kid. She shares about her early passion for all things writing and how this passion pushed her to attend college in New Mexico. She goes on to talk about working in nice restaurants throughout college and how it was through this upscale dining scene that she was introduced to wine. 

Later in the interview, Erin shares about finding her current position at The Wine Advocate. She also talks about some of the changes she hopes to see in the industry and what she is looking ahead to personally. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 25, 2024 at Linfield University in McMinnville.

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.