The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast

This interview is with Doc (James) Wilson, a Portland, Oregon culinary icon who worked as a sommelier at Jake’s Famous Crawfish for 32 years. Wilson discusses how making wine accessible to the public was key to the popularity of Oregon wines within the state and, eventually, around the globe. Wilson also talks about his involvement teaching classes and writing articles about wine, and he discusses the five “S”s used to analyze the quality of wine. The interview concludes with his optimistic view on the second generation of Oregon wine enthusiasts and his opinion on how Oregon can continue to shape and develop its identity in the world of wine.

This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody on January 13, 2015.

Show Notes

This interview is with Doc (James) Wilson, a Portland, Oregon culinary icon who worked as a sommelier at Jake’s Famous Crawfish for 32 years. Wilson discusses how making wine accessible to the public was key to the popularity of Oregon wines within the state and, eventually, around the globe. Wilson also talks about his involvement teaching classes and writing articles about wine, and he discusses the five “S”s used to analyze the quality of wine. The interview concludes with his optimistic view on the second generation of Oregon wine enthusiasts and his opinion on how Oregon can continue to shape and develop its identity in the world of wine. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody on January 13, 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.