John Wrigley: Oral History Interview

This interview is with John Wrigley of J. Wrigley Vineyards. In this interview, John speaks about finding wine and his path in creating J. Wrigley Vineyards. 

John shares how he got into wine through beer, even buying a winemaking book from a beer shop. He then dives into how the mysteries and challenges of wine hooked him. John talks about his time spent selling insurance during the day and teaching himself winemaking at night. 

Later in the interview, John talks about coming to Oregon and falling in love with his now wife and vineyard. He shares his journey in creating J. Wrigley Vineyards and what he hopes for the future. 

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at J. Wrigley Vineyards in Sheridan on September 29, 2022.

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.