Ed King III

With an authentic and life-long entrepreneurial spirit, Ed King III works to ensure that King Estate Winery will thrive for generations to come.

Ed founded King Estate in 1991 with his father, Ed King, Jr. (1921 – 2012). Their enterprising roots go back to Kansas City, Missouri, where his father’s mobile communications company, King Radio, was based. After earning a law degree from the University of Missouri in 1975, Ed practiced law in Alaska and then worked for King Radio. In 1982, Ed made his way to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he earned an MBA. He then went on to establish a groundbreaking cardiac care center at the region’s largest hospital and, in 1984 he founded Oak Hill School, a college preparatory school in Eugene.

Ed planted roots in Oregon, falling in love with the rugged landscape. By 1990 he owned timberland and farmland that included two small vineyards. A growing interest in wine and a simple search for hay led Ed to discover a spectacular piece of land on the outskirts of Eugene. The 600-acre property was a ranch at the time, but Ed envisioned a beautiful vineyard. With his father, Ed purchased the land and established King Estate Winery in 1991. Over the years other family members have joined the business — as owners and as staff. The winery continues to evolve, adding neighboring parcels, opening the restaurant in 2006, and becoming one of Oregon’s largest and most successful wineries, distributed across the country and around the world.