Gary Fuqua: Oral History Interview

This interview is with Gary Fuqua, of Fuqua Vineyards. In this interview, Gary discusses how he got into wine grapes, his various roles in the wine industry, as well as how he managed his grapes. Gary also speaks about the education he received at UC Davis, as well as his grape growing philosophy as he was interested in the farming and economic aspects of the industry. Towards the end of the interview, Gary discusses how his life still revolves around the wine business— having to go to weekly meetings and tastings. He then goes on to speak about the “mystique” that makes wine so great and diverse, the Fuqua terroir (Red Hills, Jory soil, volcanic), and his perspective of the future of Oregon wine.

This interview was conducted by Rich Schmidt at the Nicholson Library at Linfield College on May 6, 2019.

What is The Oregon Wine History Archive Podcast?

The Oregon Wine History Archive at Linfield University was created to collect, preserve, share, and continue the narrative of Oregon wine.

The growth of the Oregon wine industry extends from the farmers and winemakers to the marketers, scientists, innovators, and dreamers of the enterprise — all of whom are vital to the industry’s success. It is our aim to link the past, present, and future of the industry in hopes of sharing the story of Oregon wine.

Some oral history interviews are conducted on site and may contain background noise from nature, winery, or tasting room operations.