Stephen Cary Steamboat Conference: Oral History Interview

Stephen Cary is the winemaker at Yamhill Valley Vineyards in McMinnville, Oregon. Cary has left many impressive marks on the wine industry during his time thus far, including the founding of the Steamboat Conference and organizing the Burgundy Challenge. He knew early on that a normal 9-5 job was not the right path for him and has since been involved in the industry as a wine seller, buyer and maker. Cary makes his wine with the philosophy that the grapes tell him how to deal with them. To Cary, a significant aspect that differs Oregon wines from other parts of the world is the terroir. In this interview, Cary goes into depth on the Steamboat Conference. He tells of the origin of the famous event, what it entails and how it has remained a symbol of the efforts of collaboration in the Oregon Wine Industry for over 30 years. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody on July 13, 2015.