This interview is with Lane Kinkade of Cynthian Vineyards. In this interview, Lane discusses getting wrapped into his dad’s dream of building his own vineyard.
Lane talks about his life before joining the wine industry with different career paths. Lane got his degree is graphic design which led him to different jobs in design, user experience design, and product design. Eventually, he was offered the opportunity to teach at Savannah College of Art and Design in Atlanta. During this time, Lane’s father, Tim, had retired and started his own vineyard and production was ramping up. After teaching for about three years, Lane decided to move across country to Oregon to help his dad build the Cynthian brand.
Lane discusses his growth within his wine knowledge. Starting out, he didn’t know much about wine, but loved how it paired with food. After helping his dad with harvests for years, Lane enrolled in the Chemeketa wine program to learn more about winemaking to eventually take over as the sole Cynthian winemaker. Along with a structured education, Lane is learning from mentors as well. Now, Lane has also completed his WSET level 2. Lane realizes that knowing all the work that goes into wine makes it taste better.
Later in the interview, Lane talks about the future of the Oregon wine industry. Although it is a difficult time for the Willamette Valley, Lane is optimistic. He believes that keeping the unique spirit of the Oregon wine industry will keep it afloat. He explains that the industry is kind and cooperative. He has multiple first-hand experiences of bigger brands helping out the little guy.
This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Cynthian Vineyards in Dallas on July 16, 2026.
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.