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NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2017

General Updates
U pcoming International Events
Recent International Events

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXPORT COMMITTEE

Dear colleagues,

In this message you will find our latest Oregon Wine International Newsletter. As our young industry continues to grow on the world stage we see great and increasing interest for our wines internationally. Oregon Agriculture across the board in fact, out punches its weight in global impact. Oregon wine takes a big lead in the international presence for our state, and the additional benefits from tourism to financial impact are significant.

2017 has seen our Oregon Wine Board, under the leadership of Marie Chambers and Margaret Bray, conduct successful activities from Asia to Canada to Europe. In May of this year the Oregon Wine industry hosted nearly 40 Masters of Wine from across the globe. In June and July Oregon opened its doors to enthusiasts, restaurateurs and retailers from across the globe at both OPC and IPNC. And in just a few weeks the Oregon Wine Board will host a group of more than a dozen sommeliers from Denmark.

The international interest that we have all worked tirelessly to cultivate over many years is helping us fuel the momentum, value, and security of our industry in a very big way.
In 2018 we will do it all over. Thanks to our outstanding partnership with the Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) via the Northwest Wine Coalition, and our legislative leaders in D.C., we have secured another substantial round of matching grants for export promotion. In collaboration with the WSWC, we are building a dazzling new display that will represent the spirit and soul of Oregon for our annual Prowein show in Germany next March. Also, this coming year we will again sponsor activities in Japan, Canada, the UK, Denmark and Germany.

I feel that it is a very smart strategy for Oregon wineries to be involved in export activities at some level large or small. The world is indeed becoming smaller, and increasingly customers from around the world are finding their way to our cellar doors, are buying our wines online, or are asking for us on wine lists from Australia to Sweden. The Oregon Wine Board and its export committee sponsor a very high level of expertise, hosting and hand-holding for our wineries who wish to participate in these activities. If you are not currently exporting, I hope that you will consider getting involved when you are developing your future business plan!

Cheers,

Steve Thomson
Cristom Vineyards

GENERAL UPDATES

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.

Update from the LCBO

The LCBO has undergone some personnel changes over the last few months. Colby Norrington has taken a leave of absence and 2016 OPC Alumni, Greg MacDonald will be taking her place as Category Manager for New World Wines. Greg’s previous role as Product Manager for USA Wines for Vintages will be filled by Vincent Filhol who had previously worked as an analyst for the LCBO. There is also a new Category Manager for New World Wines, Courtney Dawson. OWB has extended both Vincent and Courtney an invitation to the Oregon Pinot Camp Tour in 2018.

Call for 2018 Oregon Pinot Camp Tour Nominations

OWB is taking nominations for OPC Tour 2018. The requirements for participation are below:

All international candidates are required to arrive in Oregon on June 21^st and depart on June 27^th as they will participate in a tour of Oregon prior to OPC and a farewell dinner after OPC. Attendance at all parts of the tour is mandatory
All candidates must be fluent in English
Preference will be given to candidates who work in one of OWB’s international target markets (Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, and Hong Kong) but strong candidates from other markets will be considered
OWB will cover all expenses for the entire stay in Oregon including OPC participation fee, airfare, hotels, transportation and meals
OWB will make all travel arrangements and will determine the tour schedule
OWB requires a full bio of the candidate before final selection
OWB will be the point of contact for the international campers and all communication will go through them

If you are interested in submitting a candidate, please email the following information to Margaret Bray:

Name of Candidate
Title
Place of Employment
How many Oregon wines do they currently work with
Reason for nomination
A brief bio of the candidate

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Denmark

Multi-State Sommelier Tour

In 2016, OWB participated in the first ever multi-state sommelier tour with California, Washington and New York. This tour was funded through a special joint cooperator grant and due to the success last year the funding was renewed for 2017. OWB will be hosting 16 Danish sommeliers from October 1-3 during their visit to Oregon. While here they will taste wines from over 15 Oregon wineries before they depart for Washington and California. The group is made up of some of the most influential Danish sommeliers working in various markets in the country.

Japan

Annual Trade Tastings in Osaka and Tokyo – Registration Open

The Oregon Wine Board and the Washington State Wine Commission will be hosting annual trade tastings in Osaka and Tokyo in January 2018. This is an opportunity for wineries looking for representation in Japan to pour their wines for on premise buyers and importers. If you have representation in the market, you are encouraged to participate through your importer in. For more information and to register click here. If you have any questions, contact Margaret Bray or Marie Chambers.

Europe

Annual Tasting Tour and Prowein – Registration Open

In March 2018, OWB will be returning to Europe with stops in London, Copenhagen and Prowein Dusseldorf by hosting trade and consumer tastings, and master classes. All tastings will be hosted with Washington State and in Copenhagen, with California. Please see below for more information and to register. You can choose to register for all events or for individual events if you are unable to attend the entire schedule.

London
This is the first year that OWB will be hosting two days of events in London. Monday, March 12 will be a series of Oregon-focused master classes, followed by the popular Magnum Opus event in the evening. The Magnum Opus event is casual tasting with top trade featuring large format bottles, older vintages and special bottlings. Tuesday, March 13 will be the annual trade tasting at which tables will be set for importersand individual wineries to pour their wines. New to market wineries will be highlighted in order to attract top importers to the tasting. Additional details will be released as the event planning takes place. Click here to register.

Copenhagen
The annual Go West! Tasting with Washington and California will be on March 14 in Copenhagen. The day include the main trade tasting, a short consumer tasting and master classes. The top Danish trade including importers, sommeliers and media will be invited and it is expected that over 400 people will attend. Space is limited for this event, so register now to secure your spot.Click here to register.

Prowein, Dusseldorf
The Europe tour will finish in Dusseldorf for Prowein 2018. Prowein has now become the premier wine trade event in the world and is a great opportunity to have your wines tasted by the wine trade from not only Europe but all over the world over a three-day period, March 18-20. Prowein provides great exposure to the world wine market but success there relies upon doing work ahead of time and setting meetings to help secure representation. Click here to register.

Canada

Toronto Tasting and Events – Save The Date

After hosting one of OWB’s largest and most successful international events this year in Toronto, OWB is returning to build upon the hype and excitement for Oregon wines in that market. There will be two days of events and tasting on April 9-10, 2018. Scheduled for April 9 are master classes and tastings for select trade and media. The April 10 events will include a Northwest salmon bake and trade tasting, with a small consumer tasting to follow. Additional details will be released as the event planning takes place,
but please hold the date so that you can join one of the most exciting international events for Oregon this year.

RECENT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Global

Oregon Pinot Camp International Inbound Tour Recap

In June, OWB welcomed its annual international contingent to participate in a tour of Oregon and attend Oregon Pinot Camp. This year was the largest international group hosted, including 19 key sommeliers, importers and monopoly buyers from seven countries. These countries included Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Japan, China (Hong Kong), Korea, Canada (5 provinces) and the UK. The group visited many areas of the Willamette Valley and were also treated to an afternoon with a handful of Columbia Gorge wineries. During this tour they tasted wines from over 60 Oregon wineries. The attendees returned to their home countries as true Oregon ambassadors with one of the Canadian guests saying, ‘I came to Oregon as a big fan and I left as a fanatic. It really is the most exciting place in the world for wine!

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NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2017

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXPORT COMMITTEE

GENERAL UPDATES

Call for International Success Stories

Update from the LCBO

Call for 2018 Oregon Pinot Camp Tour Nominations

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Denmark

Multi-State Sommelier Tour

Japan

Annual Trade Tastings in Osaka and Tokyo – Registration Open

Europe

Annual Tasting Tour and Prowein – Registration Open

Canada

Toronto Tasting and Events – Save The Date

RECENT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Global

Oregon Pinot Camp International Inbound Tour Recap

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NEWS FOR SEPTEMBER 29, 2017

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND EXPORT COMMITTEE

GENERAL UPDATES

Call for International Success Stories

Update from the LCBO

Call for 2018 Oregon Pinot Camp Tour Nominations

UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Denmark

Multi-State Sommelier Tour

Japan

Annual Trade Tastings in Osaka and Tokyo – Registration Open

Europe

Annual Tasting Tour and Prowein – Registration Open

Canada

Toronto Tasting and Events – Save The Date

RECENT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Global

Oregon Pinot Camp International Inbound Tour Recap

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