Tim and Kathy O'Leary: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Tim and Kathy O’Leary of Long Walk Vineyard. Tim is originally from Palo Alto, California, and Kathy is from Sacramento, California. Although their careers began far from the wine industry, both eventually found themselves building a life centered around farming, community, and wine.Kathy talks about attending Stanford, where she met her husband, Tim; switching to an engineering major from a math and science major; and spending years traveling internationally for consulting work. She reflects on reaching a point where constant travel no longer fit the life she wanted, leading her toward buying a farm, raising a family with Tim, and eventually helping build Long Walk Vineyard. She also discusses learning through trial and error, managing projects, and planting multiple grape varieties while balancing life remotely.Tim talks about his path from Stanford to law school, working in corporate law and tech-related fields, and his unexpected shift toward wine. He shares how experiences abroad and a growing appreciation for wine influences the decision to leave behind traditional career expectations.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Linfield University’s Nicholson Library on April 2, 2026.