Akiko Shiba: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Akiko Shiba of Shiba Wichern Cellars. In this interview, Akiko speaks about her life before wine in Japan and her initial interest in the alcohol industry. She describes her education in Germany at Hochschule Geisenheim University and goes over what her first work in the vineyard was like. Akiko also talks about her decision to move to Oregon and pursue winemaking there, comparing the Oregon Wine Industry to the others she’s explored. Later, Akiko talks about different jobs she’s had in the industry and what her role was like in each. She speaks about selling wine and what it was like dealing with buyers. At the end, Akiko goes over COVID-19 and the 2020 fires, and what effects they had on her work. She also shares some of her current projects and talks about her hopes for the future of Shiba Wichern Cellars. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Medici Vineyards in Newberg on May 11, 2021.