Joe Allan & Karen Saul: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Joe Allan and Karen Saul, owners of Andanté Vineyard. In this interview, the couple discuss why they got into wine with a desire to “come back to the land.” The couple realized that they wanted land in the countryside, found their vineyard, and decided to plant grapes. Joe calls the business “a labor of love,” discussing the difficulties with owning the vineyard and being in the industry. He then goes on to talk about how they came up with the name Andanté for their vineyard. Joe and Karen also talk about how they determined the roles they would play in conjunction with the other work they do. They go on to discuss why they chose sustainable farming: “there’s a certain love of the land surrounding Oregon.” Karen explains why and how Andanté became part of the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, and Joe talks about what it means to have their brand be a part of the Oregon Wine Industry. Toward the end, the couple talk about the future of Andanté and the Oregon Wine Industry. Karen ends with the statement: “It’s been hard but good… I would do it all over again.”This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Andanté Vineyard on January 12th, 2019.