It has been an exciting start to the year for Oregon wine in international markets. In the past two months many of your industry colleagues have carried the flag for Oregon in seven different countries by participating in Oregon Wine Board-organized trade tastings and educational seminars. Our consistent presence in those markets is paying off with an uptick in importer activity and an elevation of general interest in our region. Here are a few highlights from the past two months:
With great success, Mike Coveny and Kate Sweet from Hilltop Wines organized tasting and evening events in London, which drew a great roster of media this year, including Oz Clarke, Jancis Robinson and Steven Spurrier.
London was followed by an effective Go West trade and consumer tasting in Stockholm, Sweden, highlighting Oregon, Washington and California wines.
The Europe tour concluded with participation in our most active ProWein yet in Dusseldorf, Germany. The New World hall was buzzing for all three days, drawing a lot of attention to our Oregon and Washington booth.
In Japan, trade tastings in Toyko and Osaka confirmed continued enthusiasm for Oregon wines, while our Seoul, South Korea tasting event was enhanced by a partnership with USDA to highlight the food friendliness of Oregon wines.
Today in Toronto, Ontario is Taste Oregon, one of the largest international events OWB has ever hosted, highlighting more than 40 Oregon wineries and 200 wines. You can follow the activity on Instagram at @tasteoregoncanada.
If you are interested in more details on our international events, you can email Margaret Bray to sign up to receive our international marketing newsletter. All of our international events are funded through USDA grants and conducted in partnership with the Washington State Wine Commission.
On a separate note, if you missed it earlier this month, you can watch a recording or view the slideshow from the Oregon Wine Month webinar, which is full of tips for making the most of the Oregon Wine Month campaign for your business. Don’t forget to submit your May events to our consumer calendar.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that Bree Boskov, MW is joining the OWB team as Education Manager. Bree hails from Australia and has an extensive background working in many facets of the wine industry including on-premise, distribution and education. Her hands-on experience in these areas, combined with her knowledge of curriculum development through working with WSET, will help her enhance and expand our educational programming. Please join us in welcoming her to our community!
Cheers,
Marie Chambers
VP Finance and Administration
OREGON VINEYARD & WINERY CENSUS REPORT
Support Our Industry by Completing Your Census
Every year the Oregon wine industry receives an important request for census information. The data is confidentially gathered and analyzed by the Southern Oregon University Research Center (SOURCE) and is essential for communicating industry grape pricing, economic impact, market growth and much more. Read more and complete your census survey.
MARKETING
Oregon Wine Month Less than Three Weeks Away
Oregon Wine Month starts May 1, and the OWB marketing team has been preparing campaign materials, presenting to distributors and connecting with regional associations, all in the name of making a big splash throughout the month. There’s still time to get involved! Read more and watch a brief video with ideas for participation.
Check out the Oregon Wine Month Toolkit
The 2017 Oregon Wine Month toolkit contains resources to help you and your distributor partners get ready for May. Access information about the activity plan, recommendations for getting involved and assets you can use in your own marketing and sales activities. Explore the toolkit.
Share the Oregon Wine Month Sweepstakes
The 2017 Oregon Wine Month consumer sweepstakes to win a four-day, three-night trip to Oregon wine country is open for entries until the end of May. Add value to your consumer fans and followers by sharing this opportunity on your social channels and in your newsletter. Find graphics, entry links and more details in the toolkit.
Order Oregon Wine Touring Guides for Your Tasting Room
The 2017 Oregon Wine Touring Guide is printed and shipping. With all new features, itineraries, photographs, listings and intuitive maps, it’s an 88-page love letter to Oregon wine and a strong tool for visit inspiration and realization. Boxes of 40 guides are now available to order for your tasting room or other hospitality business. Learn more and order guides.
Call for International Success Stories
Showing the USDA that Market Access Program funds are being used effectively and that activities are resulting in increased international sales and representation for Oregon wineries is essential for continued grant funding. If you have participated in any OWB-sponsored international activities that have resulted in securing representation or sales abroad, send the details of your success story to Margaret Bray.
Airbnb Seeking Wine Hosts for New Experience Feature
Airbnb recently announced a new experience feature that helps guests connect more deeply with local communities. They are looking for individuals interested in hosting a wine experience within 90 minutes of Portland. Learn more.
EDUCATION
Immigration Seminar and Webinar for OWA Members
In response to the need for guidance and information around changes in federal immigration policy enforcement, the Oregon Winegrowers Association has arranged two members-only educational opportunities in April. An in-person forum will be held in Newberg on Apr. 20 and a webinar will be hosted on Apr. 26. Learn more and find out how to register.
Save 15% on Upcoming WISE Academy DTC Classes
Popular Oregon Wine Symposium presenters WISE Academy are hosting a series of classes on DTC sales and marketing in the Willamette Valley during June. They are offering employees of Oregon wineries 15% off registration. See the class schedule and get the discount code.
Wine Studies Workshops Offered at Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College is offering a variety of workshops for vineyard management and wine business from now through June. See the schedule and register.
Wine Management Professional Series at Linfield College
Linfield College has created a new Wine Management Professional Series, designed to provide individuals interested in entering the wine business, or those already working in it, with the core knowledge they need to effectively manage a successful winery operation. Learn more or register.
Participate in the Wine Industry Immersion Program at Linfield College
The Wine Industry Immersion program at Linfield College runs every Tuesday and Thursday from Jun. 13 through Aug. 3. Each session is taught by a diverse set of seasoned industry professionals, encompassing the wine production process from vineyard to table. Learn more or register.
Offering an Industry Educational Event?
The OWB is dedicated to providing members of our community with educational offerings as part of its mandate. In addition to OWB-sponsored educational seminars, educational opportunities hosted by third-party organizations can also be promoted. Learn more about promoting your educational offering.
RESEARCH
Read the Spring 2017 Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones of Southern Oregon University has published an updated Spring 2017 weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at the first quarter of 2017 and forward through the next 90 days. Read the report here.
Research Update: Grape Powdery Mildew Management
Walt Mahaffee, USDA, and Brent Warneke, Oregon State University, are researching how to improve the efficiency of grape production by optimizing fungicide selection and timing to manage powdery mildew of grape berries. This research will determine the most effective fungicide application timing with relation to grape inflorescence development / phenological stage and how fungicide mobility impacts disease development. Read more about this OWB-funded resesarch project.
Attend a Discussion on Glyphosate Impacts and Alternatives
Attend a presentation by Mimi Casteel of Hope Well Wine on glyphosate, how it works, pesticide modes of action and alternative practices. This event is presented by LIVE and will be hosted at Gran Moraine Winery from 4-6 p.m. on May 2. Learn more about this event.
Recruiting Industry Collaborators for Statewide Crop Load Project
Dr. Patty Skinkis, viticulture extension specialist at Oregon State University, is recruiting new vineyard and winery partners for the statewide crop load project during 2017. Dr. Skinkis is specifically looking for Pinot noir or Chardonnay producers in Oregon. The deadline to apply is Apr. 28. Read about the project and apply to participate.
CALLS FOR WINE
Submit Wines for Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition
The 2017 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition is now open for entries. The early bird deadline for submissions is May 5, with a final submission deadline of May 19. Get more information and details on how to enter.
Submit Rosé of Pinot Noir Samples for International Wine Review
The International Wine Review is soliciting samples of rosé made from Pinot noir for a special spring 2017 report on this style of wine. The deadline is Apr. 15. Get information on submitting samples.
OTHER NEWS
Come Share Your Winery’s Story with the OWB Team
The OWB team always likes getting to know the wineries and vineyards we represent. Wineries are invited to OWB’s office to share their wines and brand story with us at 3:30 p.m. on Fridays. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know our organization better, ask questions of us and share your suggestions. Learn more and sign up for a visit.
Attend “History of the Vineyards” Lecture at Linfield College
Join winegrower Ken Wright and author and journalist Jim Gullo for an evening lecture at Linfield College at 7:30 p.m. on May 1. The talk grows out of a series of reports that Wright commissioned Gullo to undertake that explore the histories and land usages of the 13 Willamette Valley vineyard properties that Wright farms and/or sources for his site-specific Pinot noir wines. Read more.
Attend the LIVE Annual Meeting
The LIVE annual meeting and 20th anniversary celebration will be held Tuesday, Apr. 18 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Chehalem Cultural Center in Newberg. The event will include a board meeting and awards ceremony, as well as guest speakers on various topics. Early bird pricing ends Apr. 1. Learn more and register for this event.
Support the Al MacDonald/LIVE Wine Studies Scholarship Fund
The Al MacDonald/LIVE Wine Studies Scholarship Fund has been created to assist first-generation students in pursuing an education through the Wine Studies Program at Chemeketa Community College, and to honor Al MacDonald’s work as an educator and pioneer of sustainable agriculture. Learn more and contribute to the fund.
Oregon Wins Big at TEXSOM International Wine Awards
The results of the 2017 TEXSOM International Wine Awards were announced on Mar. 20. Oregon wines earned more than twice as many medals as in 2016, accounting for 10% of the medals awarded to U.S. wines, despite accounting for only 1% of U.S. wine production. Read more about Oregon’s performance in the 2017 awards.
Industry Requests of the Oregon Wine Board for Funding
The Oregon Wine Board is committed to effectively investing the resources with which it is entrusted to support technical research, education and marketing programs consistent with its mission to advance the interests of all grapegrowing regions and grape varieties across the state. Learn about how OWB evaluates funding requests.
Items for Sale on the Industry Marketplace
Every day, new items are being listed on the Industry Marketplace. Located on the Oregon Wine Industry website, the Marketplace has been expanded to include listings for bulk wine, real estate, equipment and job opportunities. Submit a listing or browse the Marketplace.
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