This interview is with Patrick Spencer of the Natural Cork Council. In this interview, Patrick shares his journey from restaurants to wine to cork.
Patrick was born and raised in Conneticut, where his parents owned a "classic American steakhouse." He was involved in the restaurant world early on, and in 2005 opened his own French restaurant in the Berkshires.
In 2008, he moved to Oregon and was hired at Willamette Valley Vineyards as their Sustainability Coordinator. It was during a trip to Portugal that he became fascinated with cork forests and the families that farmed them.
After starting a cork recycling program in the states, through which he worked with Whole Foods stores across the country, Patrick set his sights on a career focused on cork. He helped to start the nonprofit Cork Forest Alliance and was later hired by the Natural Cork Council out of California, where he still works today.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt in the Nicholson Libray at Linfield University in McMinnville on September 24, 2025.
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.