Céline Fauveau Schaff: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Céline Fauveau Schaff of Fine Wine Circle PDX. In this interview, Céline talks about her background in science, food, and wine, and how her interests have evolved over time.Céline talks about being French-born and raised in Toulouse, France, where she studied biology, food science, and wine. She explains how she initially pursued wine analysis but found the work too practical, which led her to want to travel. After moving to London following her food science degree, she became involved in managing a wine exhibition.Next, Céline discusses her career path after graduating, including traveling and internships before moving to California for work while her sisters lived close by in Oregon. She explains that she visited Oregon on weekends to see them, during which, she became more connected to the wine industry, met her husband, and eventually decided to move to Oregon permanently.Céline also talks about her current work and future goals, including her involvement with the Oregon Wine Board, Fine Wine Circle PDX, and research connecting wine and artificial intelligence. She explains her interest in combining wine and AI—specifically carbon leap—and discusses both the opportunities and challenges of using the tool. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at  L’Echelle Bistro on December 10, 2025.