The Craigslist Winemaker

There’s a way you’re supposed to become a winemaker. You’re expected to apprentice in France or Italy, get a graduate degree in oenology, and find a millionaire investor.

Or, if you’re Corey Schuster, you answer an ad on Craigslist for a winery assistant to work on the harvest crew and pour wine in the tasting room.

It’s not as if Corey had nothing better to do. After all, he was making a good living as a civil engineer. But looking for a change, he promised himself that he’d try any job for one day.

When he answered that Craigslist ad, the winery manager asked him what he knew about wine. Corey’s answer: “Not much. But I like drinking it!” His honesty won him the job that day. And his hard work ensured he kept it.

This year Corey moved back to his roots in Portland and is sharing space with another one of our winery partners at their new winery in Southeast and he’s thrilled to be back in the urban wine mecca of Portland. Known for his experimental style, he’s winning fans in Oregon — and more than a few around the world.

The winemaker from Craigslist has found his place. Says Corey, “The wine industry is about community, and a love of the work, something I’d not experienced before.”