Thank you for attending the 2017 Oregon Wine Symposium this week. The Oregon Wine Board relies on the constructive feedback and perspectives of attendees to build a valuable experience for all who participate year after year. The link to the post-Symposium survey has been emailed to all attendees. Everyone who attended the Symposium and completes the survey will gain access to the presentations. Links to materials will be sent by Mar. 3.
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.
The OWB has worked closely with SOURCE to streamline the census form to save you time. The questions asked represent the best balance between our wine community’s information needs and our commitment to reduce the time and effort it takes you to complete the form. Please support our industry by submitting information for your vineyard and/or winery. You may have received the form already by mail, but you can also complete a digital version. If you have questions about the census, please direct them to Rikki Pritzlaff or Marie Chambers.
MARKETING
Check out the Oregon Wine Month Toolkit
The 2017 Oregon Wine Month toolkit is now live on the OWB industry site, with resources to help you and your distributor partners get ready for May. The toolkit has two sections: one for direct to consumer sales and tasting rooms; and one for sales reps, restaurants and retailers. Each section contains information about the Oregon Wine Month activity plan, recommended actions you can take to get involved, and assets you can use in your own marketing and sales activities. For an overview of the plans for Oregon Wine Month 2017, see this blog post.
Order Oregon Wine Month Point of Sale Materials
The OWB is offering printed point of sale materials at no charge to tasting rooms upon request. The deadline to order a kit of materials for your tasting room is Mar. 15. For details and to place an order, please complete the form in the direct to consumer section of the Oregon Wine Month toolkit.
OWB will also print and ship point of sale materials to distributors in Oregon and Washington. To view available point of sale materials or for details on how your distributor can place an order, visit the distributed sales section of the Oregon Wine Month toolkit.
Order the 2017 Official Oregon Wine Touring Guide Now
The 2017 Oregon Wine Touring Guide was printed in mid-February. Now is your chance to order a box of this comprehensive 88-page magazine for your tasting room. This guide is full of compelling editorial, beautiful photography, six regional itineraries and – importantly – tasting room listings with maps that have been redesigned to improve the user experience. This publication not only helps people find their way, but it inspires them to travel throughout all of Oregon’s diverse winegrowing regions. Orders should arrive within 2-3 weeks. The digital version of the guide is available to view now. For questions about the guide, contact Kai McMurtry.
Call for International Success Stories
As always, OWB needs your 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, including inbound trade tours or outbound events that have resulted in securing representation or sales abroad, contact Margaret Bray with your success story details.
EDUCATION
Register for the 2017 Oregon Wine Month Webinar
Register now to attend the Oregon Wine Month 2017 webinar on Mar. 2 at 10 a.m. and learn how you can get involved with this year’s program. The OWB marketing team will present the elements of the 2017 activity plan, including consumer advertising and promotions, restaurant engagement, retailer programs, regional association activities and point of sale materials.
Attend this webinar and walk away with tools and ideas for taking advantage of the OWB-sponsored trade and consumer programs to drive sales and engagement with your Oregon wine brand, whether through direct-to-consumer or distributed sales channels. Click here to register. For questions, contact Carrie Hardison.
PSU Climate Adaptation Series: Climate, Grapes and Wine
Join the doctoral students from Portland State University’s National Science Foundation IGERT program to see experts from across the country present on a range of topics related to climate adaptation. On Mar. 9 at 4 p.m., Dr. Gregory V. Jones will present on understanding terroir influences and sustainability in a variable and changing climate. This presentation is free to attend. Click here to learn more.
Linfield College Wine Lecture Series: The Current State of International Wine Marketing with Alex Gambal
After graduating from UNC Chapel Hill in 1979, Alex Gambal quickly began a career in real estate in Washington D.C. With a passion for Burgundy, he left the world of real estate to explore the Côte D’Or. During his exploration, he attended viticulture school in Beaune and in 1997 founded Maison Alex Gambal, an estate-based, biodynamic producer in Burgundy. Following the creation of his winery, he continued to acquire vineyard land in Burgundy and became the first foreigner to purchase vineyards in the Grand Crus of Puligny and Chassagne.
Currently, Maison Alex Gambal produces approximately 6,000 cases of wine a year, 55% of which is white. The range of his appellations extends from Bourgogne Pinot noir and Bourgogne Chardonnay, Village, Premier Crus and Grand Crus; such as his Batard-Montrachet, Corton-Charlemagne Clos Vougeot and Latricières-Chambertin. Maison Alex Gambal now exports to 20 countries around the world.
At this upcoming Linfield Wine Lecture on Mar. 14 at 7:30 p.m., Alex Gambal will share his experience and global perspective of international wine marketing. This lecture is free to attend.
Wine Management Professional Series Now Available at Linfield College
The Oregon wine industry has grown exponentially in the past 20 years and is in need of employees who can contribute valuable expertise to enhance the growth and more importantly, the profitability of wineries that are struggling to compete in a highly competitive, global marketplace. To combat this, 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. A Certificate of Completion will be issued to individuals finishing all six modules, having demonstrated successful fulfillment of coursework and mastery of learning objectives for each module. In Module Six, participants will have the opportunity to develop a winery business and financial plan that incorporates the curriculum concepts from the previous five modules. These business plans will be reviewed by a panel of wine industry experts to provide valuable feedback for the participants. Click here to learn more or to register.
Participate in the Wine Industry Immersion Program at Linfield College
Every Tuesday and Thursday from Jun. 13 through Aug. 3, Linfield College will offer the Wine Industry Immersion Program. Each session will be taught by a diverse set of seasoned industry professionals, and will encompass the wine production process from vineyard to table. Click here for more information or to register. For questions, contact Aaron Williams.
Registration Now Open for the Third Annual Southern Oregon Grape Symposium
The third annual Southern Oregon Grape Symposium is scheduled for Mar. 14. The program will be held at Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center in Central Point. The cost to attend is $25 for members and $50 for non-members. Click here to view a list of speakers and topics or to register.
Attend the Climate Extremes Research Symposium
In the Pacific Northwest, recent warmer spring and summer temperatures have led to:
Earlier harvests
Early fall frosts before vines are fully dormant
Generally mild winters with several cold snaps
Sharp declines in temperature through early spring.
These heat and cold extremes can be damaging to grapevines, impact fruit quality and influence winemaking decisions. Attend the Climate Extremes Research Symposium to hear world-renowned researchers and wine industry leaders discuss climate trends, impacts of extreme weather, solutions for mitigating damage and resources available. This symposium, on Mar. 17 in the East Auditorium at Washington State University Tri-Cities, is hosted by the WSU viticulture and enology program. Registration is $100 and includes a social reception to follow. Click here for more information and to register. For questions, contact Kaury Balcom.
Register Now for 2017 Grape Day
Join the Oregon Wine Research Institute and its researchers on Apr. 6 at Oregon State University for its annual event highlighting research relevant to the Oregon wine industry. The speaker and topic lineup for Grape Day includes:
Dr. José Ramón Úrbez-Torres, research scientist, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will present his world-renowned research on trunk disease
Dr. Anita Oberholster, cooperative extension specialist in enology at UC Davis, will talk about her current red blotch research
Dr. Vaughn Walton, OSU extension entomologist, will discuss his current research on red blotch insect vectors
Dr. Laurent Deluc, OSU associate professor, will discuss genetic markers for grapevine leafroll associated virus
Brent Warneke, OSU department of botany and plant pathology grad student, will talk about powdery mildew fungicide resistance research
The cost to register is $65 and includes lunch plus a research abstract booklet. The full agenda will be available soon. Click here to register.
Culinary and Agritourism Workshop Set for the Umpqua Valley
Are you interested in growing or developing the Umpqua Valley’s culinary scene? Have you considered adding a farm stand, farm tour, event venue or lodging option to your farm, ranch, or wine-related business? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, Travel Oregon encourages you to attend the Culinary and Agritourism workshop in Roseburg on Apr. 6. This workshop is one of three workshops being delivered between March and April as part of the Umpqua Valley Rural Tourism Studio program. Learn more and register for the workshops.
Wine Studies Workshops Offered at Chemeketa Community College
Chemeketa Community College is offering a variety of workshops about vineyard management and wine business from now through June. Some workshops are offered in Spanish. Click here for a full list of workshops, locations and costs. For questions, call 503.584.7255.
Attend a Wine Marketing Workshop in Southern Oregon
Capiche Wine Marketing is offering a workshop on Mar. 13 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Ashland Hills Hotel. Learn how to create loyal customers using a combination of branding, marketing and sales, how to capture and convey your unique brand and how to get recognized through targeted marketing. This workshop will provide detailed information on creating a strategic marketing plan that encompasses advertising, PR, internet and tasting room best practices. The presenters will share inspiring examples with proven results based on solid methodology, market insights and brand-driven identity. Attendees will learn new techniques to improve employee performance, increase per-transaction sales and dramatically grow wine club membership. This presentation is designed to help you increase your winery’s direct-to-consumer and retail sales. The cost to attend is $90. To register, complete this short form and send it along with payment to Chris Cook.
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 the educational seminars sponsored by the OWB, educational opportunities hosted by third-party organizations can also be promoted in the Grapevine and on the industry website. If your organization is hosting an industry educational event please contact Carrie Hardison so the OWB can help you spread the word to members of our community.
RESEARCH
Research Update: Integrative studies of vector-related field epidemiology for grapevine red blotch-associated virus
Grapevine virus diseases are of serious concern for vineyard managers and winemakers in all Western production regions. Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV) impacts grape berry quality. Growers and scientists alike have noticed a consistently lower °Brix at harvest of infected vines, resulting in removal of symptomatic vines from vineyards. What’s more concerning is that GRBaV is spreading. Ecological mapping of GRBaV-positive vines, as verified by qPCR during 2013-2016, showed a significant trend of virus increase in two of three areas studied in Oregon. Click here to read Vaughn Walton’s full update.
CALLS FOR WINE
Apply Now for Feast Portland 2017
Winery applications are being accepted for the 2017 Grand Tasting on Sept. 15-16 at Pioneer Courthouse Square. The Grand Tasting provides a terrific showcase for brands and attracts more than 4,000 culinary and wine enthusiasts, members of the trade and media. There are a limited number of winery spaces available at the Grand Tasting, so all interested wineries must fill out an application and submit a wine to the winery selection committee. Please note that this opportunity is only available to Oregon wineries and that Feast Portland strives to represent wines from around our state. Applications are due by Mar. 6. Feast Portland also has unique sponsorship packages tailored specifically to wineries. For more information, contact Feast Portland.
Submit Wines for the Drinks Business Global Masters Series
The Global Masters is a series of blind tasting competitions based on varieties of wine, drawing in entries from across the world. One of the key elements to its success is the quality and the dedication of the judges involved. Every wine is measured on the taste of its grape and the skill of its winemaker. For the first time all preconceived ideas about the importance of location are pushed to one side as wines from across the world are judged by style and price exclusively. All Global Masters are judged blind by the finest palates in the world – a panel of Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and senior buyers only. The best competing wines are awarded medals from Bronze through to Gold, and ultimately “Master” for exceptional examples. Upcoming Global Masters competitions include:
If you would like to participate in any of these events, contact Sophie Raichura.
Join the Oregon Malbec Association
A group of Malbec producers are forming the Oregon Malbec Association. The goal of the association is to promote Oregon Malbec in all aspects, from advancing vineyard management and winemaking techniques, to developing and nurturing production and sales in both domestic and international markets. If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member, contact JP Valot.
Participate in Volcanic Wines Seminar Led by John Szabo MS
John Szabo MS, author of Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power, winner of the André Simon 2016 drink book award, is offering Volcanic Wine events for the top trade and media in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Toronto in 2017. These events will be formal (presentation, slide show, panelists, 12 wines, 30-40 attendees) and informal (walk-around trade tasting with stations, 30-40 wines, 30-60 attendees) depending on the market.
These events are a great opportunity to have your wines poured alongside other great volcanic wines from around the world in a seminar led by an acknowledged expert in the field.
San Francisco – Mar. 24 at the San Francisco Wine School. The cost to participate for individual wineries is $500 for the trade master class, or $600 if you would also like to have your wines featured in a consumer walk around tasting to follow the seminar.
New York – Mar. 26 at Rouge Tomate in Chelsea. The cost to participate for individual wineries is $300 for the trade master class.
All events are restricted to 12 wines total; regional maximum is four wines. If you are interested in participating in one or all of these events, contact Alexandra Szabo to confirm participation and availability.
OTHER NEWS
OregonSaves is a New Way for Oregonians to Save for Retirement
Starting in July 2017, workers in Oregon will have a new, easy way to save for retirement. OregonSaves is for all workers who do not have a retirement savings option at work. It allows employees to save part of their paycheck in their own personally-managed accounts that go with them from one job to the next. The plan will also benefit employers, who won’t need to offer a retirement plan of their own. For more information about this program, contact Joel Melten.
Attend the USA Trade Tasting and Conference
USA Trade Tasting (USATT) will be held May 16-17 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. This annual trade event helps producers connect with importers, distributors, retailers and the U.S. press. The event is thematic so that all participants in the trade are open to business. The event is B2B ONLY with the sole purpose of exposing brands to connect with new buyers and vice versa. Click here to learn more or to register.
An Update Regarding 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.
The Board and its Research Committee have a proven RFA process for soliciting and evaluating submissions that deal with viticultural and enological research projects. The Board does not publish or administer an RFA process outside of the industry’s Research Committee.
However, the Board has found that various groups are sometimes interested in making formal requests for support or funding of projects unrelated to technical research. If your non-profit organization plans to submit such a proposal to the OWB, click here for some important background information and a summary of the Board’s position on considering such proposals.
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. To list items for sale, complete this short form. For questions, contact Michelle Kaufmann.
UPCOMING EVENTS
MARCH 3
OREGON WINE SEMINAR
Shanghai, China
MARCH 4
GREATEST OF THE GRAPE
Seven Feathers Casino Resort in Canyonville
MARCH 13
LONDON SELF-POUR
London, England
MARCH 14
SOUTHERN OREGON GRAPE SYMPOSIUM
Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center in Central Point
MARCH 15
GO WEST TASTING
Stockholm, Sweden
MARCH 19 – 21
PROWEIN
Dusseldorf, Germany
MARCH 31 – APRIL 1
SECOND ANNUAL WILLAMETTE: THE PINOT NOIR BARREL AUCTION
The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg
APRIL 6
CULINARY AND AGRITOURISM WORKSHOP
Roseburg
APRIL 9 – 10
REVEAL WALLA WALLA VALLEY WINE
Throughout the Walla Walla Valley
MAY 1 – 31
OREGON WINE MONTH
Throughout Oregon
MAY 4 – 6
MW TOUR
Throughout Oregon
MAY 5 – 7
SPRING RELEASE
Throughout the Walla Walla Valley
JUNE 24 – 27
OREGON PINOT CAMP
Throughout the Willamette Valley
JULY 28 – 30
IPNC
Linfield College in McMinnville
AUGUST 21 – 27
OREGON WINE EXPERIENCE
Throughout Jacksonville
Thank you to our 2017 Oregon Wine Symposium Sponsors
The Oregon Wine Board’s Grapevine newsletter is a great way to make members of the wine community aware of relevant opportunities, programs and events. However, OWB does not endorse or profit from any third party supplier, materials, events, programs or institutions mentioned here.
Order the 2017 Official Oregon Wine Touring Guide Now
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