Chris Thomas: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Chris Thomas of Celestial Hill Vineyard. In this interview, Chris speaks about discovering wine and eventually entering the industry.

Chris talks about growing up in up-state New York and meeting his wife. He dives into being a CPA by trade, but shares how that career did not stick. Chris then talks about living in Europe and falling in love with all things Burgundy, Fance. 

Later in the interview, Chris talks about creating Celestial Hill Vineyard and all that went into creating both the label and the vineyard. He leaves us with both his professional and personal hopes for the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Celestial Hill Vineyard in McMinnville on August 21, 2023.

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.