Hari and Paru Mahesh: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Hari and Paru Mahesh of Smera Vineyard. In this interview, Hari and Paru speak about their early life in India, their move to the United States, and their work in engineering and technology before discovering an interest in wine.

From there, Hari and Paru talk about finding the Willamette Valley and searching for their home and vineyard there, as well as getting the vineyard planted and starting to make wine. And they talk about starting their wine-selling platform Artisan Vino and their plans for the future. Hari also speaks about his filmmaking career and his upcoming projects.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on June 14, 2024 at Smera Vineyard 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.