Mary Reinke: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Mary Reinke, former owner of Honeywood Winery and covers topics such as how she got into the industry, how she took over the winery, and how she uniquely marketed the business. Mary Reinke was born in The Dalles, Oregon in the early 1920s and later moved to Salem, Oregon with her family. In 1943, Reinke started working at Honeywood Winery, Oregon’s oldest running fruit winery (established in 1934). Her job began with overseeing various business aspects of the winery, and she later became its owner, saving it from bankruptcy in the late 1950s. Reinke saved the winery with her skills with the press and keen business tactics. Her position as one of the few women in a male-dominated industry enabled her to stand out, which helped when marketing her business. In this interview, Reinke discusses her time in the industry and some of her specific business strategies, such as tourism, dinner hosting, newsletters, and advertising. Reinke also speaks to the transition of Honeywood Winery to new owners in the 1970s. Reinke ends the interview offering advice for people entering the wine industry. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody at the Reinke’s home on June 17, 2014.