The July Grapevine includes Oregon Wine Month recap meeting details, Oregon Wine Country license plate Grant Program updates, new OLCC licensing system information and more.
Letter from Gina Bianco
Dear Colleagues,
It’s hard to believe that it has been six months since I joined OWB and I’m so pleased to be reporting on some significant accomplishments we have achieved over the past month.
Our restructuring plan is fully underway, and the Board of Directors and I have been working closely to set goals and expectations as we shift to our multi-year strategic planning work.
We signed a lease agreement on a new office space at 5550 Macadam Street, Suite 100 in Portland. The team and I are looking forward to the permits being approved and the fit-out getting underway on our new home. Once we have a move-in date, we’ll be inviting you to join us for a grand opening and we look forward to having you stop by when you’re in the area.
Interviews for the new Director of Marketing & Insights position have begun and we will begin interviews for the new Director of Research & Education position in early August. Once these positions are filled, we will be introducing our new team members and providing more information about their roles and ways they will be reaching out to learn from and collaborate with you.
Bree Stock, MW, our long-time Director of Education, will be moving to a contracted relationship with OWB starting in August. We have the greatest respect and gratitude for Bree’s contribution to OWB over the past 7 years. Please join me in congratulating her on her success in growing her consulting business. Bree’s consulting role with OWB will be focused on developing the curriculum for the 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium and conducting educational sessions both domestically and internationally to increase trade and consumer awareness of and enthusiasm for Oregon wines.
Over the coming months, you will begin to see changes to the OWB Grapevine newsletter as we adapt to the needs and interests of our industry. These changes will include a new look and feel, a less frequent release schedule, and succinct and timely content. Moving forward, the newsletter will be published once monthly to summarize the current month’s news and information, with a look ahead to the coming month(s) so you can plan for upcoming programs, meetings, calls for wines and more. In the meantime, any items requiring immediate attention or calls to action will be communicated in special edition industry emails outside of the monthly cadence. If there are items that you would like to be considered for inclusion in an upcoming newsletter, please contact Katie von Bargen, Communications Director, [email protected].
I will continue to provide updates on our progress. In the meantime, your thoughts and feedback are always welcome by email to [email protected].
Gina Bianco
Executive Director
Marketing
OWB Marketing
Oregon Wine Month Recap Webinar
Thank you to all of you who attended the Oregon Wine Month comprehensive recap meeting on July 17, which included an overview from Trade Relations Manager David DeWitt and a detailed presentation from beverage industry consultant Danny Brager. To view the webinar recording, click here and to view Danny Brager’s presentation, click here. We look forward to working with you to build an even stronger Oregon Wine Month campaign in 2025!
Wine Industry Marketing
National Pinot Noir Day August 18
Sunday, August 18 is National Pinot Noir Day! If your winery is planning any special celebrations or promotions, please add them to our events calendars, or if you’re getting in on the fun by simply posting on social, feel free to tag us @oregonwineboard.
Education
Save the Date! 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium
The 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium returns to the Oregon Convention Center on February 3-4, 2025. The second half of day two will feature a listening session with the Oregon Wine Board team, topics will include strategic planning, budget and other areas of interest. This session will be free to attend for all industry members, regardless of attendance at the rest of the Symposium sessions. Please Save The Date and we look forward to sharing more information about 2025 programming in the months ahead!
Last month, Oregon Pinot Camp hosted its latest incarnation, featuring 52 wineries, 268 campers from around the world and altogether nearly 400 participants (including winery staff, chefs, cooks, volunteers and staff). Read more.
Wine Industry Advisor Highlights Women in Wine Oregon Conference
The 2024 Women in Wine Conference, themed “RISE,” provided attendees with valuable insights from leading female wine professionals, business leaders, journalists, entrepreneurs, and industry trailblazers. Read more.
Media Opportunities & Calls for Wine
Reminder: Oregon Wine Press Call for Good Deeds – Submit by July 31!
Oregon’s wineries generously support their communities, from complimentary tastings, bottles of wine or vineyard tours, to funds raised in elaborate dinners.This fall, Oregon Wine Press is shining a light on the heroic wineries and vineyards that support organizations, including schools, wildlife, health care, watersheds, employees, nonprofits and community groups, large and small.
Do your donations come from a special place in your heart? Share examples of your winery’s generosity. We’d love to hear from you! Please email Gail Oberst, [email protected] by July 31.
The Drinks Business seeks Chardonnay submissions
The Drinks Business magazine (published in the UK) is now accepting entries for its Global Chardonnay Masters 2024 and invites Oregon wineries of all sizes to participate. The deadline to submit entries is September 23 and wines must be received by September 30. Entries must be duty paid. For any questions, please contact the Global Masters Team. Full submission details can be found here.
With funding provided through sales of the Oregon Wine Country license plate, Travel Oregon administers a program to make grant awards available to “tourism promotion agencies” for projects that promote wine and culinary tourism.
There is $540,000 made available for the current funding cycle, applicants may apply for grants of up to $50,000 per project and may apply for no more than two projects in the same cycle. Each project requires its own application. Applicants must demonstrate a 1-to-1 match with at least 50% of matching funds being cash. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 22-Sept. 20. For full details about this program, including eligibility and guidelines, please click here. Questions may be directed to [email protected].Lunchtime Q&A sessions will be held on July 31 and August 15. Registration is required.
Call for Nominations to the Oregon Wine Board of Directors | Oct. 5
Every fall, the Governor appoints new Oregon Wine Board Directors for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1 of the following year. Per ORS 576.856, the Governor shall consider nominations or recommendations made by organizations with nominating committees representative of all major wine industry regions of the state.
The two statewide advocacy organizations – the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Oregon Wine Council – have convened a Joint Oregon Wine Board Nominating Committee (“Committee”) to develop a common slate of nominees to present to the Governor for consideration. The Committee is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to ensure a transparent and collaborative process.
While Oregon statute does not include official quotas to be filled or specifications for any of the nine seats on the Oregon Wine Board, the MOU outlines qualifications and target composition for the board to ensure a diversity of regions, business sizes and models to reflect the makeup of the industry. For the 2024-26 term, there are 5 positions available with 3 current directors eligible for reappointment.
If you or an industry colleague is interested in being considered for recommendation by the Joint OWB Nominating Committee, please complete this interest form by October 5. You may also submit your application directly to Salem by October 5 without the endorsement of the Joint OWB Nominating Committee. Learn more about Oregon Wine Board service.
Other News
OLCC CAMP Online System
The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) has launched a new on-line licensing system, the Cannabis and Alcohol Management program: CAMP. Beginning August 12, alcohol licensees will transition into this system. Going forward, OLCC alcohol licensees will use CAMP to manage their licensing activity, eliminating most paper requirements needed for existing or new alcohol licenses.
Key points for wineries to be aware of include:
Alcohol licensees will be phased into CAMP based on their regular renewal cycle.
CAMP is mostly digital – no more paper to mail in.
New applicants and licensees can track their license applications online.
Licensees can renew their licenses online.
A licensee can view all their licenses and licensing activity in one dashboard.
Applicants and licensees can make online payments for license fees, permit fees, and fines.
Payments can be made using credit cards, debit cards or ACH electronic funds transfers.
Cash payments can still be scheduled with OLCC’s Financial Services team.
Sign up for updates regarding CAMP Alcohol Licensing here.
August 7
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Hampton Inn, Hood River
The Oregon Wine Board and Staff will hold
the August board meeting and all members of the industry are invited and welcome to attend. To learn more contact [email protected].
Public Presentation FY24-25 Proposed Budget Revisions
July 30
10 a.m.
Zoom: Register here
The Oregon Wine Board team will update the industry on its revised proposed budget for FY24-25. The meeting is open to the public and all members of the industry are invited to attend.
