Head Winemaker Heather Perkin Interview

Heather Perkin was interviewed by Linfield University's Oregon Wine History Archive as part of their oral history project to preserve the memories and voices of important figures in wine.

In this interview, Heather speaks about growing up in Australia and her early education in wine. After finishing school, she found an internship at Elk Cove with the intention of boosting her résumé to work in New Zealand or Australia. Instead, she worked her way from intern to assistant winemaker to recently being named head winemaker for Pike Road, Elk Cove's sister brand.

Heather talks about her favorite parts of the winemaking process, and about growing her skills in logistics, blending, and mentoring interns. She also talks about the challenges in her new position and what she's looking ahead to.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston on April 18, 2023.