Helmut & Andreas Wetzel: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Helmut and Andreas Wetzel, of Chateau Bianca Winery.  Wine has had a place in the Wetzel’s family history for four generations, starting in Northern Bavaria. After selling off a distributorship, they bought their current property in Dallas, Oregon, in 1990 and built Chateau Bianca Winery.  In the interview, the Wetzels discuss what it was like in the early days of the Oregon wine industry, their philosophy on growing and making wine, and why they embrace the difficult-to-make champagne-style wine.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt and Camille Weber at Chateau Bianca Winery on July 20, 2015.

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.