Michelle Kaufmann Interview

This interview is an oral history conducted by Linfield College archivist Rich Schmidt with Michelle Kaufmann of Stoller Wine Group. The interview took place at the Chehalem Winery Tasting Room in Newberg, Oregon on March 15, 2019. Michelle Kaufmann is the communications director for the Stoller Wine Group, where her portfolio covers the Chehalem, Stoller Family Estate Chemistry, Canned Oregon, and History wine brands. In this interview, Kaufmann discusses how her public relations background has informed her role in the wine industry, as well as her various roles in the wine industry (serving on the Oregon Wine Board, having a major role on the International Pinot Noir Celebration team, and being on the marketing committee for the Willamette Valley Wineries Association). Kaufmann discusses the lessons, challenges, and successes that come with her job, as well as why she believes it is important to capture oral histories within the wine industry. She also explains the role technology plays in marketing and the challenges she faces in addressing multiple audiences in the industry. Kaufmann concludes the interview by speaking about plans for the future, including the wine industry in Oregon as a whole