LETTER FROM TOM DANOWSKI

• Last week the OWB hosted a four-part series of hour-long webinars detailing ways in which you can get the most out of the free Oregon Wine Profit Planner workbooks. These expense analysis and forecasting modules help vineyard and winery managers identify opportunities in each business’s unique cost centers and revenue streams. One of your industry colleagues offered this assessment after a workbook session: “It’s a great example of helping us tiny wineries better manage our businesses.” If you missed the webinars, or want a co-worker to view them, they have been recorded and archived here;
• The OWB also kicked off the 2019 edition of our annual Oregon Wine Month promotion with an industry webinar on Nov. 15. Visit the Oregon Wine Month Toolkit to review the presentation files developed for your use along with a look at the free merchandising material available for your wholesalers and details on OWB-sponsored sales incentives;
• With more wineries than ever asking for fresh insights and best practices to improve the productivity of their D-to-C efforts, the OWB is sponsoring two educational seminars in Portland featuring faculty from the WISE Academy. “Tasting Room Management Training” will take place Feb. 11, with a “DTC Metrics Intensive” training scheduled for Feb. 14. Seats are limited, and OWB negotiated a cost of $55 per person per workshop compared to the regular price of about $700;
• The year-end issue of Wine Spectator includes a two-page spread featuring Oregon wineries that jumped on the chance to reach the magazine’s 300,000 fine wine consumers and trade members. These opportunities have been announced to all industry members in this newsletter during the year and provide broad national exposure to brands that in many cases could not afford a fractional page in the Spectator on their own, even if the publication were to offer them. The OWB’s investment results in deep discounts for participating wineries but the spots have to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. We will continue to work with Wine Spectator to make these available in 2019.

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NEWS FROM THE OREGON WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION

Widespread media coverage, both locally and nationally, has focused lately on federal regulations and state rules governing wine labeling and production. It’s somewhat unusual that a technical topic like that would attract such attention. However, marketplace developments involving an out-of-state winery purchasing Oregon grapes and crushing them in California demanded a response that has captured the attention of customers and consumers as well as wine business owners, regulators and lawmakers.
 
Since August the OWA has worked in concert with member wineries, Oregon’s regional industry associations, Wine America and state lawmakers, including Rep. David Gomberg, to urge fact-finding and the appropriate enforcement of regulations and rules dictating how a winery presents what is made from Oregon’s treasured, and future, AVAs.
 
OWA’s actions so far have been focused on ensuring compliance with current rules and regulations. OWA’s objectives are distinct and separate from those of other regional interests seeking expanded varietal content and fruit sourcing requirements.
 
The OWA Board is taking these steps on behalf of every Oregon winemaker and grape grower to protect our shared geographic equities and winemaking standards. The benefits of this campaign for compliance will extend beyond the fractional subset of Oregon’s wine businesses that count themselves as OWA members.
 
Working cooperatively, this alliance has seen the TTB take a first step by ordering that label corrections be made by a winery found to be misleading consumers. And for the first time ever, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission is now in the process of enforcing Oregon’s 41-year-old labeling rules in action related to that same winery.
 
We will keep you informed as this continues to play out.

OREGON WINE SYMPOSIUM

Enology Track Focuses on Mitigating Threats to Wine Quality

DTC Business Track Focuses on Sales Growth Strategies for Small Wineries

MARKETING

Add the 2018 Oregon Wine Touring Guide to Your Holiday Shipments

Register for Oregon Wine Trail Toronto: April 9, 2019

EDUCATION

OWB Webinar Recordings: Oregon Wine Profit Planner

OWB Webinar Recording: Pitching Oregon Wine Month to Your Distributors

OWB Workshops: WISE Academy DTC Workshops | Feb. 11 & 14

RESEARCH

Travel Oregon Releases Tourism Engagement Survey Results

November 2018 Weather and Climate Forecast

CALLS FOR WINE

The Drunken Cyclist Seeks Oregon Brut and Brut Rosé  | Deadline: Dec. 7

Esquire Magazine Seeking Oregon Pinot noir  | Deadline: Jan. 15

Enter TEXSOM International Wine Awards with Free Shipping | Deadline: Dec. 31

OPPORTUNITIES

2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant Cycle Open | Deadline: Jan. 31 

Grand Prix of Portland 2019 Sponsorship Opportunities

Culinary Institute of America 2019 Event Sponsorship Opportunities

OTHER NEWS

Results Are In for The Wine Advocate and James Suckling

Find or List Grapes for Sale on the OWB’s Marketplace

UPCOMING EVENTS