Wine Characters Interviews

Wine Characters are Winemakers with unique and interesting stories to tell. The interviews reveal the people behind the bottle, their wines, and brand points of difference.

I hope these story leads are worth your editorial pursuits.

These wine industry leaders would love to hear from you. Consider these interviews your invitation to work with them. See FAQ/Media Resources to learn more.

 Aaron Lieberman, Iris Vineyards

Aaron is the 15-year winemaker for Iris Vineyards and much more. He’s a veteran of Peace Corp Guatemala, where he learned Spanish and taught farming practices as a volunteer. He subscribes to the Greek Stoic principle of Arete', striving to be your best. Learn how he has achieved that in his career, and much more.

 Jenna Davis, DuMOL

Jenna Davis, winemaker at DuMOL grew up in Dayton, Ohio. Her fascination with horticulture and microbiology started a storied career path to winemaker at DuMOL. Jenna studied fermentation science at Ohio State University and brewed for a local microbrewery. After graduating, she interned at Opus One and Spottswoode in Napa Valley

 Paul Beveridge, Wilridge Winery

Paul Beveridge (yes that’s his real name) founded Seattle’s first urban winery in 1988. Paul produced 1,500 cases per year out of a 1,500 square foot cellar in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle before “retiring” from his law firm in 2006. He founded Washington State’s first offsite tasting room in Seattle’s Pike Place Market in 2001 with six other wineries. 

Mike Bayliss, Ghost Hill Cellars

Mike Bayliss is the farmer, founder, and winegrower at Ghost Hill Cellars. After more than 79 years on the property, Mike often says he’s “never gotten anywhere.” In actual fact, he has managed to keep the Bayliss farm sustainable and under family ownership over seven decades. If his father hadn’t refused to plant wine grapes in the late 1970s, Mike would have been one of the pioneer Pinot Noir growers in the Willamette Valley. 

Trey Eppright, Parable Wines

After graduating Texas A&M, he visited Napa Valley in October 2013. For the first time he had the chance to experience world-class wineries. He remembers tasting wine from VGS Chateau Potelle, which “was the one that would change my life.” That took him to Bordeaux in ‘14. “This is when I decided that I wanted to be in the wine industry one day.” He moved permanently to Napa Valley, and the family shortly thereafter bought the Dutch Henry property and started Parable Wines.

Joe Ginet, Plaisance Ranch

Joe Ginet is the 3rd generation “Joe” winemaker in the Ginet Family. He graduated UC Davis and started milking dairy cows on today’s farm in 1979. In 1998, the family planned to switch to wine grapes after a visit to Savoie, France. Longer and fascinating story short (read up on the history on their website), they sold the dairy cows and switched to beef cattle and winegrapes in 2002 when they certified the ranch Organic, and the current Joe began winemaking in 2006. 

Kirk Drake, Resistance Wine

Kirk Drake is a serial entrepreneur and the chief extrovert of Resistance Wine Company. He leads several boards and companies as executive and revenue officer. His wife Kimberly is the the Resistance Winemaker and chief introvert. Occasionally he performs stand-up comedy, travels the world, and jointly runs Resistance Wine Company in their hometown of Ashland, Oregon.

Bill Sanchez, Potter's Vineyard

Bill Sanchez combines science and art in the winegrowing business, leveraging 30 years as a PhD Nutritionist and 15 years as a professional potter. The winery intentionally limits production, making less than 1,000 cases annually. Varietals include estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, Sangiovese, and Syrah from single vineyard estates in Washington. The winery aims to offer “the very best tasting experience available anywhere in Oregon.”