Jon Larson & Boyd Pearson: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Jon Larson & Boyd Pearson of Redolent Wine Company. In this interview, the two discuss bonding over wine and starting their own brand.

Jon & Boyd talk about first meeting in 2008 when Boyd and his wife moved to Portland. Boyd moved across the street from Jon and Jon noticed they disposed of a lot of wine bottles. With a huge interest in fermentation, Jon became friends with Boyd and they started talking about wine. Jon knew the fermentation and Boyd knew wine and sales. After a friend had some extra fruit, the neighbors decided they were going to make some wine, something they had many conversations about on Jon’s porch.

The friends discuss the development of Redolent and their unique style of wine. Jon & Boyd picked the name “Redolent” because it essentially means a smell or taste that brings back a memory. Jon describes it as “tater tots are redolent of grandma’s house.” Although they were originally worried people wouldn’t be able to pronounce it, the name reflects how they want their wines to be redolent of the fruit it was made with. Redolent wines are made with fruit that was picked early. The two enjoy the delicate nature of these wines and the ability to drink more of it. Redolent released its first vintage in 2015 as a small project between friends who would be happy even if the wine didn’t sell because that meant they could drink it themselves.

Later in the interview, Jon & Boyd talk about their plans and aspirations for the future. As of this interview, Jon & Boyd still have day jobs and Redolent is their side project. The dream is to make Redolent their full-time gig and have their wines age well over time. Even if that doesn’t happen, the two would be happy to just simply keep hanging out and drinking wine together.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Jon’s house in Portland on August 7, 2026.