Ron Acierto: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Ron Acierto of ōkta Restaurant in McMinnville. In this interview, Ron speaks about his journey from a village in the far north of the Philippines to ōkta, where he has served as the Wine and Beverage Director since its opening six months ago. Ron shared how Filipino culture shaped his approach to hospitality, and how his interest in fine dining and wine began in a retirement home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He also discussed how his approach to wine programs has evolved from his first California-name-heavy lists in Indianapolis to the up-and-coming Oregon-focused lists he now produces. Towards the end of our chat, he shared his observations regarding current and anticipated trends in the Oregon wine industry and personal hopes for the future. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at ōkta in McMinnville on December 19, 2022.