Mark Royer: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Mark Royer of Royer Vineyards. In this interview, Mark speaks about his journey in the wine industry, which includes his time spent as a wine banker, part-owner of a wine merchant business, and most recently a vineyard owner. He talks about Royer Vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills and what it was like finding and purchasing the land. He goes on to describe his grape growing philosophy, why he planted Chardonnay and Riesling, and why he eventually ended up making wine. He also discusses earning the WSET, originally looking for land in Italy, and what he was originally looking for when buying a vineyard. Later, Mark talks about his learning process concerning the wine and vineyard industry. He speaks about his vineyard management style, which involves inclusive habitats, minimal interference, and doing what’s best for the vineyard. He also discusses building his team and community, sharing stories of the people he has worked with in the industry. At the end, Mark talks about the future for himself and Royer Vineyards, as well as what effect COVID-19 and the 2020 fires may have on his work. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Royer Vineyards in Salem on July 13, 2021.