Mark and Pattie Bjornson: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Mark and Pattie Bjornson of Bjornson Vineyard. In this interview, Mark and Pattie speak about their growing interest in wine and their desire to start a vineyard in Oregon. They talk about finding the property and planting it, and adding more vines, a winery, and a tasting room over the years. Mark speaks about vineyard practices and Pattie discusses her winemaking and growing the hospitality program.

In the second part of the interview, Mark takes us to the Pamar Vineyard where he has planted Gouais Blanc. He discusses the history of the now-rare grape, why/how he planted it, and what the plans are for it.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on July 16, 2024 at Bjornson Vineyard in Salem and Pamar Vineyard in Perrydale.

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.