In this episode of the Barrels and Roots podcast, I sit down with Oregon winemaker Jessica West of Approachment Wines in the Willamette Valley to talk about wine without the gatekeeping.

We get into how she went from coffee to crush pad, why she makes young, energetic wines that do not need fancy food pairings, and how wine can be as simple as pairing a bottle with Ritz crackers or your favorite comfort food. We laugh about comparing wine to Harry Potter houses, adding ice cubes to Pinot Gris, and drinking out of mason jars or mugs instead of crystal, while still respecting the craft, organic farming, and letting the vineyard “tell” the wine what it wants to be. We dig into why wine is not just for rich old people, how it can be a real social lubricant for younger drinkers dealing with anxiety and screen culture, and why sharing a bottle is still one of the best ways to connect IRL.

If you are a curious Gen Z or millennial who wants to get into wine, discover Oregon Pinot Noir and Champagne recs, and drop the pressure of doing it “right,” this winemaker interview is for you.