Sandy Thompson: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Sandy Thompson of Mt. Tabor Fine Wines. In this interview, Sandy speaks about his career in the music industry and the many roles he held working with radio stations and record companies. He speaks about his growing passion for wine, and building a personal collection.

Later, he speaks about opening Mt. Tabor Fine Wines in Portland as his second career, and about building a wine inventory and customer base. He speaks about Oregon wine and its growth and talks about some of his favorite memories from working in the industry.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 10, 2025 at the Nicholson Library 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.