Marjorie Vuylsteke: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Marjorie Vuylsteke. Topics included what it was like to be one of the early Oregon wine industry pioneers and Vuylsteke’s role in developing outreach and educational events for the winery. In the mid-1960s, amid a busy household with six children, a hobby of canning transitioned into homemade winemaking. After receiving accolades from family and friends for their berry wines, Marjorie and Rob Vuylsteke decided to pursue their interest and bought an old farm with a former dairy parlor they thought would be perfect for a winery. Many years and awards later (for their various berry fruit and vinifera wines), Oak Knoll Winery continues to operate in Hillsboro, Oregon. In this interview, Marjorie Vuylsteke discusses the early days of the wine industry and how Oak Knoll Winery began. She discusses winemaking philosophy, women in the industry, and what it was like being one of the pioneers. This interview was conducted by Rachael Woody and Camille Weber at the Vuylsteke home near Oak Knoll Winery on July 9, 2015.