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Title
Oral history interview with Dick Erath [Sound Recording 06]
Date(s)
- 1999-03-09 (Creation)
Extent
Audiocassette; 00:30:34
Name of creator
Biographical history
Richard "Dick" Charles Erath was born in Alameda, California, in 1935. He grew up in Oakland, California, and in 1949, his family briefly relocated to Seattle, Washington, before returning to Oakland in 1951. After high school, he attended Oakland Junior College and joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he went through the Navy electronic technician training program. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley, but did not complete a degree. In 1961, he and Tina J. Butler were married; they later had two children. In 1965, he made his first barrel of wine in his backyard while living in Walnut Creek, California. He studied enology, the science of winemaking, at the University of California at Davis. In 1969, he planted his first grapes in in the Willamette Valley at Erath Winery in Dundee, Oregon. He focused on Pinot noir. He sold his winery, which still bears his name, in 2006.
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Tape 3, Side 2. This oral history with Dick Erath was conducted by Clark Hansen from March 4-12, 1999, at the Erath Winery in Dundee, Oregon. The interview was conducted as part of the Oregon Wine Archives Oral History Project, which collected interviews with notable figures in the wine growing industry, including vintners, vineyard growers, community members, and workers active in the development of Oregon’s wine industry. Also included is a photograph of Dick Erath taken by Clark Hansen at the time of the interview. The interview was conducted in three sessions. In the second interview session, conducted on March 9, 1999, Erath discusses his passion for Pinot noir; describes the variables that determine wine flavor, particularly the concept of terroir; and talks about some of the international wine tastings in which he has taken part. He discusses public perceptions of Oregon wines and how they have changed. He talks about the types of wine grapes that grow well in Oregon, the popularity of different varietals, and his hopes for the future of Oregon wine production. He discusses the logistics of wine distribution, the economics of winemaking, and collaboration among Oregon wineries. He talks about the Winegrowers Council of Oregon, the Oregon Winegrowers Association, and the Wine Advisory Board. He describes Oregon wine labeling laws, as well as other regulations for wineries, including land zoning laws. He talks about the development of his winery, Erath Vineyards, as well as the growth of the wine industry in Oregon and growing competition from other parts of the world.
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Copyright for the interview and photograph is held by the Oregon Historical Society. Use is allowed according to the following statement: Creative Commons - BY-NC-SA, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/.
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- eng
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- Hansen, Clark (Contributor)