Garvin Family

Cliff Creek Cellars is owned by the Garvin Family LLC.  The Garvins grow all of their own fruit at the family’s vineyard in southern Oregon at Sam’s Valley Vineyard.  Family owned and operated has always been a motto for the Garvin’s.  Over the years they have had many different businesses ranging from the first cable company in their home town to radio communications, 24 hour answering services, radio stations, and the latest venture a vineyard, and two wine labels.

The LLC is made up of three generations of Garvin’s.  Vern and Dorothy Garvin are the founders of the LLC, Joined by their children Lee, Roy, and Ruth Garvin.  Lee and his wife Cristi Garvin have three children who are also part owners in the vineyard Kelly, Teri, and Cory Garvin.

Vern & Dorothy

Vern and Dorothy Garvin took full owner ship of the now vineyard property in the early 90’s.  At the age of 69 Vern decided to build one more business, Sam’s Valley Vineyard.  He and Dorothy have had a life full of excitement through the years.  The Couple was married in 1956 in Brookings, OR.  They had their first son Lee Garvin in February of 1959 followed by their second child Roy Garvin in May of 60, and their only daughter Ruth was born in July of 62.  The Children where always very involved in the family business and often could be found around the office lending a hand and building the success they have always found.

Vern was the vineyard manager supported by Dorothy from the ground break of the vineyard in 99.  In 2008 at the age of 77 Vern resigned from his full time duties at the vineyard to try retirement out and enjoy a little more freedom in life with Dorothy.  Vern passed away in the fall of 2009 leaving a legacy of love, entreprenuership and good stewardship.   Dorothy continues to actively participate in the vineyard and the wine label. She currently spend half of her time in a small coastal town on the Oregon, California border.

Roy Garvin

Roy is an academic and has made his way in the medical field.  He has studied overseas in London, England and is finishing up requirements for a Doctorates Degree.  He has started a test tube company Microstein LLC with a partner he met while living in London.  Roy lives in the Medford area and also helps with the family vineyard.

Ruth Garvin

Ruth received her bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and bought a neighborhood coffee shop in the Portland area not to long after.  The neighborhood coffee shop Papaccino’s grew in size and expanded.  Ruth owned and operated the coffee shops until 2008 when she sold her last two shops and began full time work for the family business.  Her latest adventure was opening a tasting room for the company in Carlton, Oregon and working with the wine label portion of the business.

Lee & Cristi

Lee Garvin is the first child of Vern and Dorothy Garvin.  Lee married his wife Cristi in 1983 and had their first child Kelly in 1985.  Their second daughter Teri was born in 1987 followed by the only son of the family Cory Garvin in 1993.  Lee and Cristi have also pursued many business opportunities through the years.  They owned a communications and answering service business for a period of time.  Lee has a love for flying and has found a profession within that love.  He currently is the corporate pilot for the local mill in Brookings, Oregon.  While Cristi opened up a Blockbuster Franchise in 2001 and still owns and operates that franchise in Brookings.

Kelly Garvin

Kelly is the first born child of Lee and Cristi Garvin.  She grew up in Brookings, OR and attended high school at Brookings Harbor High.  She went on to college at George Fox University, in Newberg, OR for two years.  Kelly finished her degree online through the American Military University and received a degree in History in 2008.  Kelly has a love for sports and played competitively in high school and college.  Kelly has coached at Brookings Harbor High for 3 years.  She started coaching softball but her real desire was to be a basketball coach.  Two years ago she was hired as the junior varsity and assistant girl’s basketball coach.  Kelly spent the last year in Alaska, receiving her Masters Degree in teaching while coaching both Girls Basketball and Softball.  To her credit she was part of a coaching staff in Sitka Alaska that was 3rd in state in basketball, and came home with a state championship with the Girls Softball Team.  Kelly has returned to Oregon, and is back at it coaching a Varsity Girls Basketball Team in Central Oregon.

Teri Garvin

Born in 1987 Teri grew up in Brookings, OR.  She was the second child born to Lee and Cristi Garvin.  She attended high school at Brookings Harbor High and graduated in 2005.  Teri entered college at Portland State University, Portland, OR in the fall of 2005.  In 2006 she changed schools for a year and continued her undergraduate education at Southern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, OR.  With two years of school under her belt she returned to Portland State University and graduated in winter of 2008 with her Bachelors degree in Business Administration and General management from the School of Business at Portland State University.  Upon graduation Teri moved back to her home town on the coast to be close to family and begin her career.

Cory Garvin

The third born child and only son of Lee and Cristi Garvin, Cory currently attends high school at Brookings Harbor High and is part of the Baseball program at the school.  Cory is involved in livestock 4-H and raises animals every year for the county fair.  He is set to graduate from high school in 2012, and is still undecided on what he would like to do after high school.