Michael Bathurst: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Michael Bathurst of Vin de Garde. In this interview, Michael talks about starting his own wine importing business and his travels through France to meet producers.Michael shares about growing up in Detroit before moving to the west coast as an adult. He worked many years as a CPA and later with mergers and acquisitions, both in Portland and San Francisco. It was in SF that he joined a wine tasting group and his interest was sparked.Michael talks about starting to work for another importer and beginning to travel to Europe to meet producers. When he felt like it was time to start his own business, Vin de Garde (“cellar-worthy”) was born. He speaks to the differences between US and European producers and the importance of knowing who you’re working with.Later in the interview, Michael shares what he sees for the future of the wine industry, both locally and internationally. He sees that many people now purchase wine online rather than in bottle shops and how that shift is changing the game for importers.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Michael's home in Portland on August 26, 2025.