Layne Witherell

Layne V. Witherell (born March 20, 1945) is an American wine writer. He has worked in the wine industry since the late 1970s, including as a wine importer, owning a retail wine store and as a wine salesperson. Awarded Master Knight of the Vine (KOV) for his work in promoting Pinot noir wine in Oregon, in 2010 he published his memoir, Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz.

Witherell was born in 1945 in Los Angeles, California;^[1] his father died when Witherell was young.^[2] Growing up in the 1960s, Witherell was a regular patron of the Ash Grove music club on Melrose Avenue.^[2] Between 1965 and 1970, he served in the United States Navy in Rota, Spain,^[1] when he became interested in wine after visiting a bodega. In 1970, he worked at Holmes Book Company in San Francisco.^[2]

In 1975, Witherell wrote his San Francisco State University undergraduate history thesis on the origins of wine in California between 1830 and 1870.^[3] In 1979,^[4] he moved to Portland, Oregon,^[1] and remained there until the mid-1980s. He also spent some time in Missoula, Montana.^[5]

Witherell became vice-president of Oregon's Lemma Wine Company, owned by Greg Lemma.^[3]

In 1984, Witherell established Montdomaine Cellars^[6] winery in Charlottesville, Virginia.^[7] His winemaker was Shepard Rouse.^[8] Witherell wrote a weekly wine column for the Richmond Times-Dispatch ,^[9] and it was during his time in Richmond, Virginia, that Witherell was invited to interview noted winemaker Angelo Gaja.^[3] He also taught wine classes at the University of Virginia.^[10]

In 2010, Witherell published his memoir, Wine Maniacs: Life in the Wine Biz,^[1] having been inspired by Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential (2000) and Anatomy of the Wine Trade (1985) by British writer Simon Loftus.^{[11] [4]} A revised version of Witherell's book was issued in 2020.

Witherell has been awarded the Master Knight of the Vine (KOV)^[12] for his work in promoting Oregon wines, specifically pairing it with salmon.^{[3] [13]} He had arrived in Portland, Oregon, when there were only ten wineries in the state. He put the first Pinot noir on Portland's first wine list,^[1] at Jake's Famous Crawfish.^[2]

He retired from his final full-time role, as general manager of Maine Beverage, in 2011.^{[1] [5]} He worked a part-time role as "the wine guy"^[1] for Portland's Trader Joe's between 2012 and 2024.^[3]

As of 2026^[update] , Witherell writes a wine column for West End News in Portland, Maine,^[3] where he has lived since the 1990s.^[5] He also wrote for the Portland Phoenix until it ceased publication in 2023.^[3]

In 1996, Witherell married Judy, a native of Burnham, Maine, whom he met in Richmond. They live in the Bramhall neighborhood of Portland.^[3] He has a son from his first marriage.

• Official website