Family owned near Gaston, with estate grown vineyards across northern Willamette Valley and a dry Estate Riesling from three sites.
The producer
Elk Cove Vineyards is a family owned producer near Gaston, Oregon, founded by Pat and Joe Campbell in 1974. Adam Campbell joined in 1995, became head winemaker in 1999, and now owns and makes the wines. Its six estate grown, sustainably farmed vineyard sites spread across northern Willamette Valley. The wines include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and sparkling wines. The Estate Riesling uses hand picked fruit from Winery Estate, Five Mountain and Windhill, with Estate and Windhill Riesling vines dating from 1975.
Known for
Estate grown Willamette Valley Riesling
Notable facts
Pat and Joe Campbell founded Elk Cove Vineyards in 1974.
Adam Campbell joined the family operation in 1995 and became head winemaker in 1999.
Elk Cove farms six estate grown, sustainably farmed vineyard sites across northern Willamette Valley.
The 2023 Estate Riesling was produced in 779 cases.
The story
The First Winter
In the winter of 1974, Pat and Joe Campbell were living in a trailer beside an abandoned, overgrown homestead in the foothills of the Coast Range while establishing their vineyard. A herd of 40 Roosevelt elk bedded down in the clearing beside the family's trailer. The animals supplied the first half of the name Elk Cove. The second half came from the property's protective bowl shape. Pat and Joe kept both details in the name of the vineyard they were building, and Elk Cove Vineyards became the estate's name.
From the atlas
Elk Cove Vineyards
Elk Cove Vineyards near Gaston, Oregon, farms estate vineyards across northern Willamette Valley and makes Pinot Noir, aromatic white wines and sparkling wines.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Northern Willamette Valley, Oregon
Base
Near Gaston, Oregon
Main grapes
Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling
Signature wine
Estate Riesling
Defining feature
Family owned estate farming across varied soil types and microclimates
The Producer
Shallow soils and steep hilly terrain drew Pat and Joe Campbell to the original property, where they founded Elk Cove Vineyards in 1974. The winery remains family owned. Adam Campbell joined the family operation in 1995 to make Elk Cove's wines and became head winemaker in 1999. He is the owner and winemaker today, a second generation winemaker and fifth generation Oregon farmer.
Heather Perkin studied winemaking in Australia and began at Elk Cove as a seasonal winemaking intern. She is now associate winemaker. The house combines Campbell family succession with a current winemaking team formed through different routes into the cellar.
Place
Elk Cove is headquartered near Gaston, Oregon, with six estate grown, sustainably farmed vineyard sites spread across northern Willamette Valley. The sites represent the region's three primary soil types and a variety of microclimates, placing several growing conditions within one estate farming model.
Wines
Elk Cove's wines span Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling and sparkling wines. Pinot Noir is the red wine in the range, while Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling provide crisp, aromatic white wines. Sparkling wines extend the portfolio beyond still bottles.
The 2023 Estate Riesling is made from three Elk Cove estate vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Hand picked fruit comes from Winery Estate, Five Mountain and Windhill. The Estate and Windhill Riesling vines date from 1975, and production totaled 779 cases. The grapes are whole cluster pressed and cold fermented in small stainless steel tanks. Orange oil, Key lime pie, honey, forest rain and green apple lead into a juicy, linear palate with lemon, yuzu, dried thyme and lime leaf.
Final Word
The 2023 Estate Riesling has about eight grams per liter of residual sugar, balanced by linear acidity and a long, textural finish.