PORTLAND – Sept. 12, 2016 – Registration is now open for the 2017 Oregon Wine Symposium, Feb. 21-22 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. Presented by the Oregon Wine Board, Oregon Winegrowers Association and Pihl Excavating, the Symposium comprises two full days of industry thought leaders and experts covering the most relevant topics in viticulture, enology and wine business plus the Northwest’s biggest wine industry trade show, with more than 170 exhibitors.
“This is the marquee educational event and trade show in the Pacific Northwest for wine industry professionals, delivering cutting-edge technical and business intelligence trends across all aspects of the wine business,” said David Beck, chairman of the Oregon Wine Board. “Attendees can learn from innovators, connect with colleagues, and grow their business with new products and services showcased at the trade show.”
The 2017 viticulture and enology tracks will focus on “Adapting to Climate Change,” presenting new insights on water usage in the winery, different winemaking techniques for cool and hot vintages and strategies for irrigation and canopy management in a warmer climate. Due to popular demand, the experimental wine tasting has been expanded. Taking place over both days on the trade show floor, attendees will have dedicated time to learn from vineyard and winery experiments their peers are conducting across Oregon. Closing out the Symposium, attendees can taste the results of Dr. Patty Skinkis’ crop load research, as she discusses the relationship between yield and quality as well as early insights into metrics by which producers may be able to make better decisions in yield and canopy management.
New for the Symposium in 2017, there will be two business tracks, distinguished by sales channel focus: one for direct-to-consumer and one for selling through the three-tier system. Sessions will explore successful strategies for building winery businesses, including managing and educating distributors and increasing direct-to-consumer traffic through creating unique tasting room experiences and digital marketing strategies.
Immediately following the first day’s sessions, be sure to stop by the trade show floor for the Oregon Wine Soirée, a social and networking celebration of our community’s hard work and shared passion for Oregon wines. The Soirée provides an opportunity for attendees to network with speakers and peers while enjoying delicious appetizers and outstanding wines from around the state. This event is included in attendees’ full Symposium ticket.
For additional information on the preliminary program, speakers and special events, visit symposium.oregonwine.org.
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About the Oregon Wine Board
The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent state agency managing marketing, research and education initiatives that support and advance Oregon’s wine and wine grape industries. The Board works on behalf of all Oregon wineries and independent growers throughout the state’s 18 recognized winegrowing regions. For more information, visit industry.oregonwine.org.
