Peter Rosback: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Peter Rosback of Sineann Winery. In this interview, Peter discusses his long history within the Oregon wine industry. Peter talks about living in Europe as a teenager which set him on the winemaking path. With a lot of wine experience in Oregon, he has collected many stories over the years. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 2010s, Peter preferred to have the interviewer read some of his stories. An excellent writer, Peter’s stories were filled with color and his personality even with another voice reading them.Peter discusses what it was like to be in the industry when it was first getting started. He explained how the industry was so small that everyone used to get together in one room, something impossible today. Now, the number of wineries in Oregon has exploded and is a whole different animal than what he experienced in the early days.Later in the interview, Peter talks about the future of Sineann Winery and the Oregon wine industry. While Peter currently directs the production of his wines and picks during harvest, he plans to hand off the winery to someone else in the near future. As for the industry as a whole, Peter believes that a good Pinot Noir attracts money.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Peter’s home in Corvallis on June 25, 2026.