Spencer Spetnagel: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Spencer Spetnagel of Durant Vineyards. In this interview, Spencer speaks about his childhood in Tennessee, his college education in Atlanta, Georgia, and his eventual career in wine. He tells us that, while completing his undergrad, he waited tables in fine dining and quickly realized the impact wine has on consumers and the environment. He talks about his time working in Sonoma, California where he learned the ins and outs of winemaking. From there, Spencer shares that he traveled to New Zealand to pursue an organic chemistry education. Later, he also discusses his move to Oregon and his current role as Winemaker for Durant Vineyards. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Durant Vineyards in Dayton on July 12, 2022.