Dossier

Phillip DeVito Collection

• 1966-1999 (Création/Production)

7 linear feet

The collection is comprised of articles, letters, photos and other artifacts that feature attributes, reviews, events, celebrations and announcements pertaining to Mr. DeVito and Salishan Lodge. The majority of the collection is an account of Mr. DeVito’s success as
the maître d’ and cellar master at Salishan Lodge in Gleneden Beach, Oregon. There is documentation in the Phillip DeVito Collection illustrating how people would travel to Salishan primarily to have an encounter with Mr. DeVito and benefit from his wine expertise.

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https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=lca_findingaids

Janice DeVito, widow of Phillip DeVito, donated The Phillip DeVito Collection to the Linfield College Archives on June 21, 2013.

Jereld R. Nicholson Library, Linfield University

Summary: The Phillip DeVito Collection contains documentation in the form of articles, letters, photos, awards and other artifacts to Mr. DeVito’s career and his contribution to development of the wine and hospitality industries of Oregon.

Biographical Note: Phillip DeVito worked in Oregon’s restaurant and hospitality industry for over 60 years. His career began in the late 1940’s when he began working as a waiter in private clubs and fine dining restaurants in Portland to pay for college expenses and to support his family. Part way toward a master’s degree in clinical psychology, he changed his focus to pleasing and entertaining guests through showman-style food preparation and excellent service. Soon, DeVito turned toward restaurant management responsibilities, eventually becoming a successful maitre d’hotel, sommelier (caviste) and cellarmaster. By the late 1950’s, he discovered a passion for learning to pair wine and food flavors. DeVito shared his growing sommelier knowledge with the dining public as well as those he supervised.

During his long career, Phillip DeVito received many commendations for his wine expertise. His first distinguished award was from the Oregon Chefs de Cuisine Society in 1967 – the “Al C. Giusti Caviste Award for Meritorious Service.” This recognition as a “Caviste” (Sommelier) led to DeVito embarking on a 1969 wine study tour throughout many of the famous wine regions of Europe.

In 1972, Phillip DeVito became maître d’hôtel and cellar master for the fine dining and wine program at Salishan Lodge. During DeVito’s 22 years at Salishan, and through the support of Salishan owners John and Betty Gray, he developed a world-famous wine collection that received numerous prestigious awards. Under DeVito’s management, The Dining Room at Salishan received the highest hospitality industry awards from Mobil and Triple A. In 1988, Salishan received an award at the World of Wine Festival as “the greatest international wine list in America.” The Salishan wine list program received the top industry Wine Spectator Grand Award every year from 1983 to 1992 – for quality of a collection that eventually totaled 32,000 bottles.

Initially an expert in international wines, as the Oregon wine industry developed, Phillip DeVito became committed to its promotion. He is credited with supporting the emerging Oregon wine industry by selecting the best quality Oregon wines for the award-winning wine program he created at Salishan. He developed many friendships and business ties with early Oregon winemakers, and educated the dining public and his staff about quality Oregon wines – especially world-recognized Oregon Pinot Noir.

• Citation: Phillip DeVito Collection. Jereld R. Nicholson Library. Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. Gift of Janice DeVito.
• Information en traitement: Input into Access to Memory by Elizabeth Arnold, 2024

Processed by archives technician Kathie Byers, with the assistance of archivist Rachael Cristine Woody.