Josh Kimball: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Josh Kimball of Kimball’s Artisan Wines. In this interview, Josh talks about growing up in Coos Bay and attending Southern Oregon University in Ashland, where he studied political science. He tells about his first real exposure to wine his senior year, which sparked his interest in the industry.Josh describes getting his start in wine at Weisinger Family Winery starting in the cellar, and later moving to King Estate where he took on responsibilities in the tasting room, wine club, and compliance. During this time, he also became interested in organic and biodynamic wines, which would later influence his business.He talks about transitioning into the sales side of the industry, helping with wholesale in Salem and eventually woking distribution, including time in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Later in the interview, Josh talks about the personal challenges he faced during this time, including family hardships that led him away from his dream job, taking a break and then eventually leading him back to Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden as a national sales manager prior to the winery being sold a few years later.Josh talks about founding Kimball’s Artisan Wines in Jacksonville, opening in 2019, and focusing on sourcing organic and biodynamically farmed wines. He emphasizes creating access to unique wines and building a sense of community, while intentionally keeping the business small and personal rather than expanding or moving online.This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at Kimball’s Artisan Wines in Jacksonville on March 15, 2026.Thank you to the Oregon Wine Board for generously supporting this interview as part of our Southern Oregon 2026 tour!