Jesse Skiles: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Jesse Skiles, owner of his wine brand Fausse Piste. He begins the interview with discussing how his passion for food led to a career in the wine industry. Jesse shares how he started in culinary school and began working in restaurants after graduation. He fell into wine after working for a winery as a harvest chef, but ended up discovering the appeal of winemaking. Later in the interview Jesse describes starting his own brand, Fausse Piste. He shares finding the name for his brand, and each of his wines. His winemaking style is minimally invasive, and Jesse explains the process of learning how to make wine, and his interest in native fermentation. Jesse later describes the Portland wine scene, and the benefits and challenges to working in an urban winery. This interview was concluded with Jesse’s experience dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and his outlook to the future for himself, Fausse Piste, and Oregon. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt on January 27, 2021 at Way Down Wines.