Joe, Pat, Anna, and Adam Campbell: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Joe, Pat, Anna, and Adam Campbell, of Elk Cove Vineyards.  The Campbell family are one of Oregon’s earliest winemaking families. In 1973, Pat and Joe Campbell moved their young family from Parkdale, Oregon to Gaston, Oregon to establish Elk Cove Vineyards. What happens after is what Joe and Pat describe as a “year of discovery,” as they teach themselves how to farm and become winegrowers.The first half of the interview focuses on Pat and Joe Campbell’s origins in the wine industry, the formation of the early wine industry organization, and stories of their struggles and successes in the early days of the Oregon wine industry. In the second half of the interview, Pat and Joe are joined by two of their children, Adam and Anna, who are now involved in the winemaking and marketing aspects of Elk Cove. Together the family discusses what makes great wine, how the industry has changed from one generation to the next, and they share their thoughts on where the Oregon wine industry may be headed in the future.This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody and Camille Weber at Elk Cove Vineyards on December 2, 2015.