Oral history interview with Dick Erath, 1999 March 4-12

This oral history interview with Dick Erath was conducted by Clark Hansen from March 4-12, 1999, at the Erath Winery in Dundee, Oregon. Along with the interview recordings, the collection includes a photograph of Erath taken by Hansen at the time of the interview. 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.

The interview was conducted in three sessions. In the first interview session, conducted on March 4, 1999, Erath discusses his family background, including his grandfather's experience in the German Army during World War I, and his parents' experience as German immigrants in the United States. He talks about his early life in Oakland, California, including his recreational activities. He then discusses his education at Oakland Junior College, in the Navy electronic technician training program, and at the University of California at Berkeley. He talks about working for the Shell Development Company while attending college. He also talks about his interest in photography and car racing. He then briefly discusses his marriage to Tina J. Butler in 1961. He describes his early interest in winemaking, taking enology classes at University of California at Davis, and the history of winemaking in California. He discusses his interest in Pinot noir; the similarities between the climates of Oregon and Burgundy, France; and how he chose the site for his winery in Dundee. He also talks about the history of winemaking in Oregon. He describes his early years as a winemaker, his grape-growing experiments, and his early successes and failures. He talks about ideal grape-growing conditions, his first vintage in 1972, and merchandising his wines in the early Oregon wine market.

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.

In the third and final interview session, conducted on March 12, 1999, Erath discusses some of the awards his Pinot noir has won. He reflects on his best vintages; talks about how the flavor of wine can vary from year to year; and defines some of the terms he uses in his wine labeling. He discusses his vineyard and winery staff, including migrant laborers. He also talks briefly about his children and their careers. He describes the growth cycle of grapevines, the winemaking process, and long-term maintenance of vineyards. He talks about the development of tasting rooms and Oregon's various wine and food festivals, the growth of the wine industry in the Pacific Northwest, and the increasing cost of wine production. He discusses the varieties of grapes he grows, as well as his grape-growing research and experiments; talks about the Oregon wine market and his place in it; and speaks about the health benefits of red wine. He closes the interview by describing his daily activities at the winery and his plans for the winery's future.