Brian and Jill O’Donnell: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Brian and Jill O’Donnell of Belle Pente Winery. In this interview, the O’Donnells discuss how they decided to get into winemaking, their first impressions of the Oregon wine industry (a very supportive, inclusive environment), as well as the learning curves/challenges that came with their jobs. They also go on to speak about how they came up with Belle Pente— the couple wanted a name that was strongly connected to its place with an old world feel that accurately reflected their wine. Brian speaks about his winemaking philosophy and how it has evolved over time, while Jill talks about her business philosophy. The couple acknowledge that they love to do business with people who want to have a personal relationship with them since they are a small operation. Towards the end of the interview, both touch upon the future of Belle Pente, as well as the Oregon Wine industry as it continues to change and evolve.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Nicholson Library at Linfield College on April 6, 2019.