Mordechai Kotler: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Mordechai Kotler of Averæn Wines. In this interview, Mordechai speaks about how he went from teaching to working harvest to working as Winemaker for Averæn Wines. He begins by describing his early life in Southern California and later his experience attending Linfield College. He goes on to share his initial interest in wine and what his first jobs were like. He also talks about his decision to pursue winemaking seriously and what steps he took to refine his skillset, which included hands on experience, learning from mentors, and studying abroad. Later, he discusses Averæn Wines and how his role as Winemaker has grown. Mark also talks about how he and the team at Averæn Wines adapted to the hurdles that 2020 set before them and what they are hoping for in the future of their business. At the end, he talks about the future for himself and the industry as a whole, including what changes he expects to see. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University in McMinnville on July 12, 2021.