Doc Wilson: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Doc (James) Wilson, a Portland, Oregon culinary icon who worked as a sommelier at Jake’s Famous Crawfish for 32 years. Wilson discusses how making wine accessible to the public was key to the popularity of Oregon wines within the state and, eventually, around the globe. Wilson also talks about his involvement teaching classes and writing articles about wine, and he discusses the five “S”s used to analyze the quality of wine. The interview concludes with his optimistic view on the second generation of Oregon wine enthusiasts and his opinion on how Oregon can continue to shape and develop its identity in the world of wine. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody on January 13, 2015.