Elk Cove Vineyards
Oregon's pioneering family winery, farming six estate sites in the Willamette Valley since 1974.
Elk Cove Vineyards is one of Oregon's oldest producers, founded in 1974 as the first winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Pat and Joe Campbell established the estate, named for a herd of Roosevelt elk that sheltered on the property. Second-generation winemaker Adam Campbell now leads the sustainably farmed, 380 to 400-acre operation.
- Founded in 1974 by Pat and Joe Campbell; one of Oregon's oldest wine producers
- First vineyard and winery established in what is now the Yamhill-Carlton AVA
- Farms six estate vineyard sites totaling approximately 380 to 400 acres across northern Willamette Valley
- Elevations reach up to 800 feet; soils include Jory, Laurelwood, and Willakenzie
- Adam Campbell, second generation, joined as owner/winemaker in 1995
- Produces single-vineyard Pinot Noirs including La Bohème and Mount Richmond
- Certified Oregon Benefit Company and member of 1% For The Planet
History and Founding
Pat and Joe Campbell founded Elk Cove Vineyards in 1974, making it one of the earliest wine estates in Oregon. The property sits in what is now the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and Elk Cove holds the distinction of being the first vineyard and winery in that appellation. The name comes from the herd of Roosevelt elk that bedded down on the land, combined with the protective bowl shape of the terrain that gives the site its natural shelter. Adam Campbell, the second-generation owner and winemaker, joined the family business in 1995 and continues to lead the estate today.
- Founded 1974 by Pat and Joe Campbell
- First vineyard and winery in Yamhill-Carlton AVA
- Named for a resident herd of Roosevelt elk and the bowl-shaped topography
- Adam Campbell joined as second-generation winemaker in 1995
Estate Vineyards and Terroir
Elk Cove farms six estate vineyard sites across northern Willamette Valley, totaling approximately 380 to 400 acres. Elevations climb to 800 feet, situating the vines in the cool foothills of the Coast Range Mountains. The soils across the estate vary meaningfully: Jory soils are the iron-rich volcanic basalt typical of the Chehalem Mountains, Laurelwood soils are wind-deposited loess, and Willakenzie soils are of marine sedimentary origin. This diversity of terroir underpins the estate's single-vineyard program.
- Six estate vineyard sites, approximately 380 to 400 total acres
- Elevations up to 800 feet in the Coast Range foothills
- Jory (volcanic), Laurelwood (loess), and Willakenzie (marine sedimentary) soil types
- Cool climate conditions across all sites
Wines and Style
Elk Cove produces estate-grown, hand-crafted wines focused on cool-climate varieties. Pinot Noir is the flagship, with single-vineyard bottlings including La Bohème and Mount Richmond representing the estate's top tier. The winery also produces Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling. A standout specialty is Ultima, an ice-wine style dessert wine. The Pinot Noirs have earned 90-plus point scores consistently. All farming is done sustainably, reflecting the estate's status as an Oregon Benefit Company and its membership in 1% For The Planet.
- Flagship variety is Pinot Noir; single-vineyard labels include La Bohème and Mount Richmond
- White wines include Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Riesling
- Ultima is a distinctive ice-wine style dessert wine
- Sustainably farmed across all six estate sites
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Look it up →Location and Appellation
Elk Cove sits within the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, itself nested within the broader Willamette Valley appellation in Oregon. The tasting room is located in the foothills of the Coast Range Mountains and offers panoramic views across the estate. The Yamhill-Carlton AVA is defined largely by its marine sedimentary Willakenzie soils and its position in a rain-shadow that moderates the cool Willamette Valley climate.
- Located in Yamhill-Carlton AVA within Willamette Valley, Oregon
- Tasting room in the Coast Range foothills with panoramic vineyard views
- Yamhill-Carlton AVA is notable for Willakenzie marine sedimentary soils
- Cool climate conditions typical of northern Willamette Valley
Elk Cove Pinot Noirs reflect cool-climate northern Willamette Valley character: red cherry, cranberry, and forest floor aromatics with earthy complexity drawn from volcanic Jory and marine sedimentary Willakenzie soils. The whites, particularly Riesling and Pinot Gris, show crisp acidity and aromatic precision suited to the cool growing conditions.
- Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley$18-22Entry-level estate Pinot Gris showing cool-climate aromatic character from six Willamette Valley sites.Find →
- Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Willamette Valley$30-38Estate Pinot Noir blending fruit from six sites; consistently earns 90-plus point scores.Find →
- Elk Cove Vineyards La Bohème Pinot Noir$55-65Single-vineyard flagship showcasing the distinct terroir of one of Elk Cove's six estate sites.Find →
- Elk Cove Vineyards Mount Richmond Pinot Noir$55-65Single-vineyard Pinot Noir from a high-elevation Yamhill-Carlton site with Jory and Willakenzie soils.Find →
- Founded 1974; one of Oregon's oldest producers and the first winery in Yamhill-Carlton AVA
- Six estate sites, 380 to 400 acres, elevations to 800 feet; soils are Jory, Laurelwood, and Willakenzie
- Grapes grown: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling
- Single-vineyard Pinot Noirs include La Bohème and Mount Richmond; Ultima is an ice-wine style dessert wine
- Classified as an Oregon Benefit Company; member of 1% For The Planet; sustainably farmed