Steven Thompson and Kris Fade: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Steven Thompson and Kris Fade of Analemma Wines. In this interview, Steven and Kris talk about their unique paths into the wine industry, from Kris’s background in the Pacific Northwest studying wildlife, geology, and GIS mapping, to Steven’s experiences with international biking tours and harvest work in Italy that sparked his passion for wine.Kris talks about her early interest in environmental law, her work in GIS mapping and vineyard analysis, and how her understanding of climate and landscape shaped her approach to winemaking.Steven discusses his upbringing in North Carolina, studying cultural geography at Montana State, and hoe travel and hands-on harvest experiences led him to pursue starting a winery.Later in the interview, Kris talks about their move to New Zealand for harvest work, their eventual return to the U.S., and how they built Analemma from a small farm into a biodynamic vineyard with 13 grape varieties, focused on community, regenerative agriculture, and natural winemaking practices.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Analemma Wines on March 11, 2026.