Danie Lafayette And Drew White: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Danie Lafayette and Drew White of Lafayette & White Cellars. In this interview, the two speak about the new wine brand they are starting together. Danie also discusses her current work at Wine by Joe and Dobbes Family Estate, while Drew speaks about his role at Walnut City Wineworks. The duo describe the process so far, the “hopeful terror” they feel when people try their wine, and the lessons they’ve learned about running a small business. They also talk about about their favorite mentors in the industry and what it was like harvesting their second vintage in 2020 when the skies were orange. Fun fact: their label design is inspired by wine’s relationship with terroir and Danie’s love of dinosaurs! This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Rocky Hill Vineyard in McMinnville on July 15th, 2022.