Oregon Wine Board 2021-22 Annual Report
DOWNLOAD THE ANNUAL REPORT (PDF)
A letter from the president.
Dear Friends,
The past year was characterized by profoundly historic global events and the continuation of an uneven economic recovery as Covid-19 presented ongoing pressures on supply and demand.
The Oregon Wine Board management team remained focused on the needs of growers, winemakers, and other partners as, together, we further strengthened the state’s wine economy. We’re pleased, but not fully satisfied, with the outcomes achieved during the year as we overcame some unexpected circumstances and the occasional headwinds.
Silicon Valley Bank’s industry expert Rob McMillan acknowledged our work in his remarks during the 2022 OR Wine Symposium:
“One thing that’s really valuable for Oregon is the Oregon Wine Board. It’s done a tremendous job, people in the Oregon Wine Board, of promoting Oregon and I think you would all agree when you see the results.”
Looking back, Oregon’s 2021 harvest was generally free of the extraordinary conditions that characterized the prior vintage. And winemakers around the state were consistent in their enthusiasm about the distinctiveness and character evident in the young wines.
On the demand side, we encountered more wine adventurers eager to return to tasting rooms and restaurants. Those same consumers propelled Oregon’s Direct-to-Consumer volume and off-premise sales to growth rates envied by those in neighboring states.
The year was punctuated by some important milestones for the industry consistent with OWB’s three primary areas of strategic focus in the 2020-25 business plan.
Provide Leadership & Partnership
Deliver Knowledge and Insights
Enhance the Reputation of Oregon Wine
Several of those key accomplishments are documented in the following pages.
In closing, and on behalf of OWB’s managers, let me thank the many, many industry members who have become trusted friends and have offered their support, encouragement, inspiration and constructive criticism to help ensure that our stewardship of your treasure yields results to be proud of.
Tom Danowski
President