Ed Lefferts: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Ed Lefferts, owner and winemaker for William Marie Wines. Ed grew up in the Bay Area with a love for sports, that was only strengthened by watching his uncle Craig Lefferts play baseball. He found himself in Arizona where he worked in restaurants while attending classes and playing baseball. Ed eventually met his wife and they decided to move to Oregon where they found jobs in restaurants working in hospitality. He described visiting his first winery, and how he was immediately impressed with Big Table Farm. His dream of becoming a winemaker continued to grow, and eventually Ed and his wife Monique started William Marie Wines. Ed described choosing the name for his brand, the support they have received from family and friends, and how he chooses which grapes to source. He spoke of the challenges of selling wines, and his growing confidence in winemaking. Ed looked to the future, and concluded the interview with his initial impressions of the Oregon wine industry. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Park Avenue Fine Wines in Portland on March 8, 2021.