Zach Mance: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Zach Mance of Sidereus Winery & Vineyard. In this interview, Zach discusses his journey into the wine industry and what led him to pursue a career in wine.Zach is originally from upstate New York and attended college at Ithaca College, where he studied film and cinema making. After graduating, Zach went wine tasting with friends, which sparked his interest in wine. He eventually moved back to Ithaca and got a job at a winery, beginning his career in the wine industry. Zach later moved to Oregon in 2011 and continued building his experience in the wine industry. He started at Cooper Mountain Vineyard, where he worked as a Tasting Room Associate, then continued his career at Ardiri Winery & Vineyards as a Tasting Room Manager before eventually joining Sidereus Vineyard & Winery, where he has worked as a Hospitality Manager for the last five years. Throughout his career, Zach has expanded his knowledge of wine, developed his palate, and became involved in wine education. He has also earned WSET certifications and developed wine education classes, including Wine 101 and Wine 102: A brief History of Wine. At Sidereus, Zach has helped build the wine club, create a welcoming tasting room experience with awesome monthly events and share his passion for Oregon wine with customers. This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Sidereus Winery & Vineyard in Cornelius on August 27, 2026.