Crawford-Beck Vineyard Collection

36 linear feet

This collection contains insight into the lives of David and Jeanne Beck who owned Crawford-Beck Vineyards from 2005-2023. Additionally, the Becks also enrolled in an agricultural business program in Chemeketa Community College for 3 years after the purchase of their vineyard. Outside of their business, the Becks were heavily involved in the Oregon wine and participated in several Oregon wine organizations. Documents from their business, extracurriculars, and personal life have all been sorted into this collection.

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• English

https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1049&context=lca_findingaids

Donated on January 23, 2024

Jereld R. Nicholson Library, Linfield University

Historical note: Prior to joining the wine industry in Oregon, David and Jeanne Beck both pursued careers in science. They both attended grad school at John Hopkins university, where they first met. And pursued Post Doctorate positions after graduation. They then began their respective careers in medical science. Jeanne secured a faculty position at John Hopkins and collaborated on multiple research projects that allowed her to travel to foreign countries. David Beck joined a research institute before later becoming an administrator and in charge of running research institutes in New York and New Jersey. They continued to work in their respective careers for the next forty years before transitioning to wine.

Despite their busy schedules during grad school, the two managed to make time for their shared love of wine. While living in Baltimore, they would take drives down to a little wine shop in D.C., getting the chance to try out different wines for a small price. This love of wine continued well into their married life.

In 2005, while attending a science conference in Portland, they decided to explore the many vineyards in Portland. While staying at Cherry Hill Vineyard, they spent the next few days learning about Vineyards, falling in love with the process. At this point in time, they had both had successful careers in science yet their shared love of wine never wavered. If anything, it grew. In August of 2005, they hired a real estate agent to help find a vineyard in Oregon and by December they purchased what was then known as Casa-Blanca Vineyard. They renamed it Crawford-Beck Vineyard and spent the next 3 years studying winemaking and agricultural business at Chemeketa college to better understand how to run a vineyard.

It didn’t stop there though. Along with running their own vineyard, the Becks were also very involved in other aspects of wine and agriculture. In 2009, David Beck was appointed to serve on the Oregon Wine Board and continued to serve until 2016. During this time, he attended board meetings, reviewed grant proposals, and was involved in other organizations such as Oregon Wine association, Eola-Amity Winegrowers Association, and TOWER. From there on they had a very lucrative and successful career in the wine industry before selling their vineyard in 2023.