Dick Erath
Person · 1935–2023 · Dundee, OR
California-born engineer who took classes at UC Davis in 1967, moved to the Willamette Valley in 1968 and planted his first vines near Newberg in 1969. Founded Erath Winery, which he sold to Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in 2006.
Ownership
- Erath Winery (founded, from 1972)
- Chehalem Mountain Vineyard (planted, from 1969)
- Chehalem Mountain Vineyard (owns, until 1986)
- Prince Hill Vineyard (planted, from 1983)
- Prince Hill Vineyard (owns, until 2017)
- Knudsen Erath Winery (co-founder, from 1975)
- Erath Family Foundation (founded)
Work
- Erath Winery (winemaker at, until 2003)
- Knudsen Erath Winery (winemaker at, 1975–1988)
- Knudsen Vineyards (vineyard crew, from 1971)
Family & mentorship
- Gregory Theim (mentored)
- Vivian Weber (mentored)
Affiliation
- Oregon Winegrowers Association (early member)
- UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology (studied at: took classes, from 1967)
Sources
- Dick Erath, Willamette Valley pioneer, passes away at 87 (Northwest Wine Report)
- Erath Winery Collection: historical note (Linfield / Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath (Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath, 2007 (Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath, 2010 (Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath, 2020 (Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath, 2021 (Oregon Wine History Archive)
- Oral history interview with Dick Erath (Oregon Wine History Archive)