David, Briana, John (Soren), & Lauren Rasmussen: Oral History Interview

This interview is with David, Briana, John (Soren), and Lauren Rasmussen of Kristin Hill Winery. In this interview, the family talks about the history of Kristin Hill and how they joined three brands under the same roof.David and Briana talk about their introductions to wine. David built pubs in the 80s and started drinking wine. His friend’s dad started making wine so he worked as an intern for him. After retiring, David decided to start making his own wine. Briana studied abroad in Europe and was able to taste a lot of wines. After returning to the U.S. and finding she had an expensive palate, she decided to get into the wine industry. Soren was born into the industry, doing work for his father while growing up, until he decided that wine was a passion for him as well, and later, he brought his wife, Lauren, into the mix.The group discusses the history of Kristin Hill and how they renovated the property. In the 80s, the Aberg family purchased Kristin Hill and started pursuing their dream of owning and operating a winery. After they decided to let the property go, along with their winery, the property sat for many years. Then in 2017, the Rasmussen family decided to purchase the property to join their brands together at the same location. While they did a lot of renovations, the family wanted to keep the legacy of Kristin Hill alive, keeping the name and selling their wines in the tasting room.Later in the interview, the family talks about running their brands and tasting rooms before purchasing the Kristin Hill property. The family lived in Newberg, but had tasting rooms in Forest Grove. They explained that they would often take two or three trips a day to get everything done for their brands while also balancing Soren’s wrestling schedule. They claim that ever since purchasing the property, their quality of life has improved immensely. Now, the family enjoys working together and creating their own legacy alongside the Kristin Hill legacy.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Kristin Hill Winery in Amity on July 21, 2026.