Oregon Wine Industry

Oregon is the third largest viniferous grape growing region in the U.S., with 463 wineries

Media Relations

Call for Wine: Decanter seeks Oregon Pinot noir and Chardonnay

Charles Curtis MW is conducting a tasting of Oregon Pinot noir and Chardonnay here in Oregon in early August for Decanter’s Oregon report and OWB is helping him gather up to 200 samples. Charles will contact wineries he’d like to meet with in person. Wines must be available internationally, and if you’d like to participate in this article, please send up to TWO bottles of your best showing newly released Pinot noir and/or Chardonnay (one Pinot noir, One Chardonnay for a total of two) to arrive by Monday, August 2, 2021 to.:

David Lowery/Jason Flaig
NW Wine Distribution
1745 Oxford St. SE, #150
Salem, OR  97302
503-362-2212

[email protected]

Mark Decanter on the box and please fill out this Google form so we can track what’s coming and what will be tasted. You can add tech sheets to the wine bag/box, or simply print out the completed Google form and place it in the package with the wine.

Once we reach the 200 threshold, we will post it here and on the Google form. Please email [email protected] with questions.

Call for Wine: James Suckling requests your wines for 2021 Oregon report

All Oregon wineries are invited to submit three different skus of Oregon wine, any variety of new release that has not yet been reviewed by JamesSuckling.com. One bottle apiece, and in their words: there is no limitation as far as varieties, they can submit their best wines / best sellers: open it up to send whatever variety they decide, but always specifying that the wines should be those currently in the market, or soon-to-be released, and not yet rated by JamesSuckling.com.

If you don’t know if your wine has yet been reviewed, please email Berenice Maulhardt [email protected]

These will be reviewed by James Suckling and his team in Hong Kong. The team at James Suckling will be facilitating shipping overseas and all we need to do is have the wines ready over the next month in Salem at Northwest Distribution & Storage. There they will stay climate controlled and be palletized and shipped to Hong Kong.

Finally, as an added assurance so we know what’s coming and going, we can track what’s submitted if you fill this form out for each wine: https://forms.gle/zzsF7t6o8EcgyJBj9

If you would like to submit your wines for review, please follow the instructions below:

Send or deliver your wines and technical sheets to Northwest Distribution & Storage to arrive by Monday, June 14, 2021. The address for shipping or drop off is:

Jason Flaig
Northwest Distribution & Storage
Oregon Wine Board/James Suckling
1745 Oxford St. SE #150
Salem, OR 97302

  1. Any wines, Pinot noir and Chardonnays and/or any other varieties from Oregon will be accepted and reviewed.
  2. Please submit no more than three wines per winery, and no barrel or tank samples will be accepted.
  3. Fill out this form so we can track and keep a list of all wines submitted: https://forms.gle/zzsF7t6o8EcgyJBj9
  4. All cases delivered to Northwest must be labeled “James Suckling” on all sides.
  5. Send one bottle of wine per sample.
  6. All samples must include technical information on the wines (see below). Wines without this information will not be reviewed.

Required Technical Information:

  • Contact Info, Winery Name
  • Vintage
  • AVA
  • Varietal/Blend
  • Vineyard Designate/Wine Name
  • Case Production
  • Retail Price
  • Release date

If you have any questions, please contact Sally Murdoch at 503-967-8978 ext 1 or [email protected]

About JamesSuckling.com:  James Suckling is one of the world’s most powerful wine critics, and his scores are widely popularized and used among consumers, collectors and wine trade worldwide, especially in Asia. Combining over three decades of tasting experience — 200,000 wines and counting — and extensive wine knowledge, his dedicated website JamesSuckling.com gives you premium access to more than 60,000 tasting notes and wine ratings. James and his team of tasters rate more than 18,000 wines a year from all the key wine regions of the world.

 

 

Call for Wine: Connoisseurs’ Guide seeks Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Zinfandel, Rosé, more

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine (CGCW) is a monthly wine review newsletter covering thousands of West Coast wines annually since 1974. While the publication sounds like it covers only CA wines, its readers are based in CA and are trade and avid consumers who buy and recommend Oregon wines. Oregon winemakers have found value in shipping wines to this publication as they say they appreciate the accurate, honest reviews.

Upcoming deadlines for submissions are as follows:
For the JUNE issue, deadline is April 30, 2021 and they are accepting Pinot noir, Pinot gris and Petite sirah

For the JULY issue, deadline is May 22, 2021 and they are accepting Zinfandel and Rosé

Future deadline submissions and varieties are here:
AUGUST June 26, 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
SEPTEMBER July 24, 2021 Riesling Gewürztraminer Chenin Blanc Albariño, Vermentino Grüner Veltliner Pinot Blanc Barbera
OCTOBER August 21, 2021 Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese
NOVEMBER September 25, 2021 Pinot Noir Chardonnay
DECEMBER October 23, 2021 Cab Sauv, Sparkling Wine (including pet-nat) Port-Style Dessert Wine (fortified)

CGCW tastes blind, peer-to-peer, with consistent methodology and “at the same table.” They do not write reviews based on casual walk-around or winery tastings.

Submission Guidelines:

There is no fee or specific form to fill out. Please send wines to: CGCW, 2691 Doidge Ave., Pinole, CA 94564
• Two bottles for each wine submitted
• Include contact name, email address and phone number for questions

Also submit:

• Suggested retail price (required)
• Case production (required)
• Cepage /blend, as appropriate
• Final analysis (pH, TA, etc.) if available

If you have any questions, please contact  (510) 417-2833 or [email protected]

 

Call for Wine: Wine & Spirits window for Sparkling wines from Oregon is open

For its domestic focus on Summer Wines, Wine & Spirits is now accepting Sparkling wines for its August 2021 issue.  The deadline to receive Oregon Sparkling wines is by Friday April 16, 2021. They ask that you please not ship to the office as the staff is working and tasting remotely.

Wine & Spirits requires a submission form for entry. The deadline has passed to submit this form, but the magazine has kindly offered for us to send the wine info manually. Please send an email on Sparkling wine specs and contact info to [email protected].

For submission history, please contact [email protected]

The Tasting Calendar lists the specific tastings that will be the focus of each upcoming issue for the next two years. Wineries and importers can submit wines that fall within these specific categories within our submission window for that issue without a processing fee.

Once you receive the go-ahead and mailing address,

1. PLEASE SEND TWO (2) BOTTLES OF EACH WINE.

2. PLEASE LIMIT SUBMISSIONS TO FOCUS TASTING CATEGORIES; W&S ONLY TASTES WINES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.

3. PLEASE DO NOT SEND WINES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED PREVIOUSLY (with the exception of new non-vintage blends).

Call for Wine: Vinous seeks wines for the annual Oregon report

You may remember the call for wines last March which resulted in two beautiful articles in Vinous; Oregon Pinot Noir: The Winning Streak Continues and Oregon Outside the Pinot Noir Box. Reviewer Josh Raynolds is again calling for wines and asks for winemakers to send samples to reach him by Monday March 15.

Please drop in tech sheets including suggested retail price, case production, and winemaker notes, and send two bottles of each wine if under cork.

Josh Raynolds
12 Valley Avenue
Locust Valley, NY 11560

Call for Wine: Wine & Spirits seeks Riesling for August 2021 issue

For its domestic focus on Riesling, Wine & Spirits is now accepting Riesling for its August 2021 issue. The window is open from March 1, 2021 until March 19, 2021 and they ask that winemakers use the online form to submit wines. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive a confirmation email with a PDF copy of your completed submission form. They ask that you please don’t ship to the office as the staff is working and tasting remotely.

Online form is linked above and here: https://form.jotform.com/form/200935110348144

For submission history, please contact [email protected]

The Tasting Calendar lists the specific tastings that will be the focus of each upcoming issue for the next two years. Wineries and importers can submit wines that fall within these specific categories within our submission window for that issue without a processing fee.

Once you receive the go-ahead and mailing address,

1. PLEASE SEND TWO (2) BOTTLES OF EACH WINE.

2. PLEASE LIMIT SUBMISSIONS TO FOCUS TASTING CATEGORIES; W&S ONLY TASTES WINES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.

3. PLEASE DO NOT SEND WINES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED PREVIOUSLY (with the exception of new non-vintage blends).

OWB’s 2021 PR Outreach Plan

The 2021 PR Outreach Plan will work to keep Oregon wine top of mind  in seeding stories to press.. This plan supports these pillars of our strategy:

  1. Enhancing the Reputation of Oregon Wine: We support this with positive story generation to press, gathering thoughts and ideas from winemakers and pushing out story-starters in our electronic media kit, media tours and positive pitching.
  2. For Market Expansion, we focus on interaction with wine critics, helping to stimulate demand for growth of Oregon wine, as well as PR in and around events in different markers such as Explore Oregon Master Class and the Oregon Media Conference in Eugene summer of 2021
  3. For the pillar of Wine Tourism, we collaborate with our partners at Travel Oregon as well as Washington Wine Commission and WVWA and Rogue Valley Vintners among other partners while creating a sense of transparency in working together. For PR outreach, this means stories placed in travel publications, sharing resources such as talking points industry wine and across state lines, and well-conceived media tours such as the Cross Border AVA Tour we conduct annually with Washington Wine Commission.

With these goals in mind, we will work to place a diversity of positive stories in a variety of consumer, trade, industry, and critical reviews. We want more eyes on Oregon and more quality places for people to find these stories, sprinkled proportionately according to grape tonnage throughout the state.

Every month, OWB will ideate a media visit angle, create topical pitches and disseminate at least one press release. Below is our plan for the year, which is subject to change. If you have any ideas or stories you think we should be telling, please contact Sally Murdoch

January

  • Cellar Season for The Willamette Valley. This story angle is based on the resilience of Oregon tasting rooms and winemakers, namely the new and creative outdoor tasting offerings
  • Bend’s Wine Scene. A growing number of wineries are opening tasting rooms in Bend. Will the famous ale trail become the wine line?
  • National Plan for Vacation Day. Spotlight wine travel destinations for 2021, including Portland, Southern Oregon and Eastern Oregon.

February

  • Economic Impact Numbers. Press release will include 2019 updates.
  • Oregon Wine Trail virtual masterclass.
  • Oregon Wine Symposium media initiatives.
  • 24 Hours in Portland. Focus on new tasting rooms in the City of Roses, including Abbey Creek’s Crick, Erath, Battle Creek, Stem Wine Bar, and others.
  • Open That Bottle Night (February 27). Virtual tasting with wine writers who will be shipped an older bottle of Oregon wine (will need to be 2022)
  • Oregon Wine Board Rebrand. Design, branding and advertising media will receive a bottle of Oregon wine with the new branding so they can taste what Oregon is all about. Support this effort with a press release to all media.

March

  • Mulled Wine Day (March 3) sample campaign will include a canned wine from Oregon and a recipe for mulled wine.
  • International Riesling Day (March 13) is a great catalyst to pitch the variety to national media
  • International Agencies in Tokyo and London will be announced via a press release.

April

  • National Malbec Day (April 17th) media outreach will tie in the 60th anniversary of the Hillcrest Vineyard near Roseburg.
  • Oregon Rosé all over the state, pairings in recipes, craft cocktails, making the best Sangria.
  • Oregon Wine Month
  • Nielsen 2020 Trends and Data press release.

May

  • Oregon Wine Month!
  • Sauvignon Blanc Day (May 7th). Work with Wines of New Zealand and Drizly on New York City focused media initiative.
  • Chardonnay Day (May 27th) national pitching initiative will highlight pioneering wineries and up-and-comers across the state.
  • New Touring Guide

June

  • 48 Hours in Eugene. Partnering with Travel Lane County, media will experience the new Gordon Hotel and tour the South Willamette Valley Food Trail.
  • Thematic wine kits sent top media around the country will communicate our larger messages about what’s new and notable in Oregon wine.
  • Rosé Day (June 13th) pitching could include a tie-in to the Rose Festival in Portland.
  • June 12. Celebrate the coming back of this historic event with a pitch to local writers on Portland made Rosé.
  • Chenin Blanc Day (June 20th) will highlight Oregon producers making varietal wines most commonly associated with the Loire Valley and South Africa.
  • June 29: Fathers Day. spotlight on Father’s and daughters and sons making wine together in Oregon

July

  • Media Tour timed with IPNC, in collaboration with Travel Oregon and WVWA.
  • Women Winemakers: Dovetailing with Women in Wine (July 19th), the OWB will support the event with PR, and promote Oregon’s women winemakers to national writers.

August

  • Media Excursions during the Wine Media Conference in Eugene will help familiarize 105 wine bloggers from around the country with the breadth of Oregon’s wine offerings. Will include stops in Southern Oregon and in Walla Walla. OWB will collaborate with Travel Lane County on this initiative.

September

  • Portland Media Tour with OSU Food Innovation Center for BIPOC media tour to showcase how Oregon Food and wine work well together well.
  • Cross Border AVA Tour (virtual or in-person), in partnership with the Washington Wine Commission, will focus on Eastern Oregon.
  • Newest Oregon AVAs media itinerary. We will work in tandem with Visit Washington County and the Sake Brewers Association to inspire two travel writers to explore Oregon’s sake offerings, as well as explore the newest AVAs of Tualatin Valley AVA and Laurelwood District.
  • Cabernet Sauvignon Day (September 2nd) will highlight Oregon Cabs.
  • Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report press release will be sent to national media.

October (Harvest related PR activities; pro-active PR as time allows)

  • House/Hotel Wines success stories pitch with multiple examples from Oregon.

November

  • Taste of Umpqua in Eugene: PR will support the annual event highlighting wines from the Umpqua Valley by recruiting media from Portland and Eugene to attend.
  • Red Hill Douglas County AVA virtual media tasting.
  • Tempranillo Day (November 9th) will shine light on Southern Oregon and Willamette Valley Tempranillo.
  • Giving Season press release will focus on the return of the program and announce funds raised in 2020.

December 2021

  • Thematic wine kits sent top media around the country will communicate our larger messages about what’s new, notable and timely in Oregon wine.
  • Holiday Bubbles outreach will focus on the rise of sparkling wine production in the state.
  • Oregon Wine Symposium press release will announce that registration is open and give a sneak peek at the programming for 2022.

 

Call for Wine: Wine Enthusiast Spring 2021 issues

Paul Gregutt has sent a reminder to all Oregon wineries that he is currently reviewing new releases for the upcoming Spring 2021 issues of Wine Enthusiast. You’ll note a handful of Oregon’s wineries are mentioned in this article, 10 Vineyards Behind the World’s Most Famous Wines, published January 25.  Deadline is March 2, 2021.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected]

Ship to:

Van Duzer Vineyards by Carolyn Wells Kramer

Paul Gregutt
230 West Street
Waitsburg, WA   99361

Shipping Guidelines
NOTE:  Submission deadlines are emailed to you periodically, but these are not drop dead dates! ALWAYS EMAIL ME BEFORE YOU SHIP THE WINES to confirm that the weather is favorable and I am home to sign for the wine.

When shipping wines PLEASE – NO STYROFOAM! Please send two bottles if possible. Please do not re-send wines already reviewed.
Please Include a clean and legible copy of the W/E submission form in the box with your wines (link is below). You may also email them.

Any additional technical information you can provide will make your reviews more complete: tech sheets,  your notes on blends, barrels, vineyards, retail pricing, case quantities, release date(s), etc.

Link to the W/E Submission form

2020 Oregon Wine Information Sharing Task Force (ISTF) Meeting Notes

OBJECTIVE STATEMENT FOR THIS MEETING:

  1. To share ideas with fellow regions (i.e. what’s worked and doesn’t work) that may be helpful to other regions in Oregon, thereby strengthening the statewide wine industry as a whole
  2. To meet once or twice yearly and provide a face-to-face forum to discuss high-priority topics
  3. To help regions on making use of OWB programs, such as grant info and grant writing, media opportunities

Recording here: https://zoom.us/rec/share/R9HjQ2tt-iuVk_k–wT_thAAaXNUOSKsVzT4uUryMgEkgqG6G6oVyC490X2N2GxB.alF7QH0IBYFVQXSR

Participants

Allison Keeney, Travel Oregon
Brad Mayer, Columbia Valley
Cathy Martin, Dundee Hills
Christina DeArment, Oregon Wine Board
Gina Bianco, Rogue Valley Vintners
Jennifer Kerrigan, SOWA and Rogue Valley
Jessica Willey, Oregon Wine Board
Kai McMurtry, Oregon Wine Board
Kate Norris, WVWA Marketing Committee
Kayt Mathers, Play Nice PR
Liz Knapke, Walla Walla Valley
Maria Ponzi, Laurelwood District AVA
Marie Chambers, Oregon Wine Board
Michelle Kaufmann, WVWA Marketing Committee
Raechel Sims, WVWA Marketing Committee
Robert Hansen, Walla Walla Valley
Stacey Kohler, Oregon Wine Board
Terry Brandborg, Brandborg, Umpqua Valley
Toby Turlay, The Rocks of Milton Freewater, OR
Tom Danowski, Oregon Wine Board
Jessica Thomas, South Willamette Valley
Jill Zarmowitz, Yamhill Carlton
Morgen McLaughlin, Willamette Valley
Craig Camp, Applegate Valley
Bryan Laing, Chehalem Mountains
Jamie O’Malley, Eola-Amity Hills
Katie McFall, WVVA
Alfredo Apolloni, Tualatin Hills AVA

Panelists
Sally Murdoch, Oregon Wine Board
Lauren Mowery, Journalist
Heather Bradshaw, Washington Wine Commission
Jorge Guzman and Marielle Cowden, Vive Northwest

Not in attendance but with stand-ins
Steve Robertson, The Rocks District, Dawnielle Tejama, WVVA, Andy Steinman, Eola-Amity Hills, Ariel Eberle, McMinnville AVA, Karolyn Wright, Chehalem Mountains, Laurie Lewis, Urban PDX

SUMMARY/OVERVIEW

Meeting Opening: Sally called meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. with an ice breaker.

OWB Matters for Discussion:

  • Jess Willey shared with the group the grants available for regional associations and updated on the Economic Impact study
  • Kai McMurtry shared information on The Giving Season promotion
  • Christina DeArment provided a wrap up of the Oregon Vine Perks program
  • Bree Stock updated the group on the format for Symposium 2021

Summary of AVA & Travel Oregon DISCUSSION

AVA updates:

Gina Bianco (Rogue Valley Vintners)

  • Despite COVID conditions the Rogue Valley has done fairly well with sales & tourism. Sporting events has helped bring in tourist
  • The fires were pretty devastating – especially to the city of Talent. Displaced workers
  • Launched fundraiser to support fire victims – “Rogue Valley Wine Country Cares”. Raised 57K
  • Focusing on developing the Rogue Valley wine country brand – building infrastructure of the website, building partner relationships. Trademark – “wine with everything”

Craig Camp (Applegate Valley)

  • Getting through harvest and have had very few reports of smoke issues
  • Lost both fundraiser events. (down 70K)
  • Updating website and are pushing social media presence
  • Tourism over the summer was strong. (tourists from Bay area)

Morgen McLaughlin (WVWA)

  • Appreciate the collaboration through COVID/Fire smoke response throughout the state.
  • Kudos to Kai on consumer site and Sally for the fire smoke messaging/PR
  • Charitable donation $100,000 to James Beard Foundation – “Foundations Open for Good” campaign
  • Auction moved to virtual – will always have an element of virtual going forward
  • Cancelled/postponed Pinot Camp
  • DEI efforts are important
  • Kudos to Kai for The Giving Season and developing creative that works for all regions

Kate Norris – (WVWA Marketing Committee, PDX Urban)

  • Portland wineries in hibernation mode due to COVID restrictions
  • Excited about the Giving Season brand messaging

Michelle Kaufmann (WVWA Marketing Committee, Dundee Hills)

  • Leaned into digital & community matters and pulled on those themes
    • Digital push – increasing social engagement & followers, increasing website traffic, and increasing the # of people who are on the mailing list – has been successful so far this year
  • The House that Wine Country Built – Habitat for Humanity– WVWA is postponing any further Habitat for Humanity donations until 2021

Brian Laing (Chehalem Mountains)

  • DTC sales and tourism remained strong throughout the summer
  • Saw boost in local support – especially from Portland travelers
  • Half of wineries still in phase 1 (Washington Co. vs. metro)
  • Chehalem wildfires hit really hard
  • Biggest fundraiser “Magic in the Mountains” was canceled
  • Short term focus is rebuilding the website for Chehalem
  • Long term focus on positioning as a nested AVA with consumers around the world

Raechel Sims (WVWA Marketing Committee, Eola-Amity Hills)

  • Looking forward to revisiting the House that Wine Built project
  • Concerned about possible shutdowns in winter
  • Using properties and tasting rooms in creative ways
  • Gratitude to iSalud! for providing testing when necessary to crews, flu vaccines, etc.

Jamie O’Malley (Eola-Amity Hills)

  • Focus has been on sharing vast information with members
  • Sharing positive fire smoke messaging tips
  • Following up with writers, showing them new Chardonnays – piquing new interest in area

Sally – send her virtual tasting tips and tricks

Maria Ponzi (Laurelwood District)

  • Still working under Chehalem mntns. AVA – no big plans to have a new website or create a lot of marketing materials
  • Several wines will be released shortly with new AVA designation
  • Big thank you to iSalud! – important part of community
  • OWA – approval for health care program

Liz Knapke (Walla Walla Valley)

  • Focus on consistent messaging in both Oregon & Washington – proper resources & info for consumers that are visiting
  • Participated in Wise Academy reopening forums – very helpful
  • Postponed big summer events
  • Virtual trade auction – met budget expectation
  • Process of brand refresh, website updates, winery guide update

Robert Hansen (Walla Walla Valley)

  • Fortunate they were able to conduct their February tasting events in Seattle & Portland
  • Big marketing was being recognized as America’s best wine region by USA Today’s 10 best lists
  • Not much smoke effects
  • People are traveling/touring – fairly open at a 50% rate

Toby Turlay (The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Oregon)

  • Launching technical event group with Patty Skinkis – it will be a great resource to learn what is working and what is new in technology

Toby – to share the technical group info

Brad Mayer (Columbia Valley)

  • Columbia Valley overall has had a good harvest – not a lot of smoke related issues
  • Banded together as a community

Allison Keeney (Travel Oregon)

  • On pause of not being able to promote travel
  • Focusing on travel safe messages and recovery messages for wildfire
  • Creating a lot of relevant content that is educational and inspiring for future
  • Virtual trainings and webinars to industry channels
  • Give the Gift of Oregon campaign – will be launched Nov. 18 through Dec. 31 – promoting Oregon small businesses, local businesses
  • Call out to DMO’s & RDMO for information – new content the regions are creating
  • Will be promoting Built Oregon and their new online marketplace & Small Business Saturday
  • New content to be rolled out on social channels
  • Working with Maxwell PR
  • Industry toolkit available soon
  • Consumer PR push – creating a media mailer box for all 7 regions – first virtual event was in Pendleton, next one will be WV on Nov. 16

Katie McFall (WVVA)

  • Launched today – food box/farm box – wine incorporated
  • Yamhill County received good traffic from Portlanders, lots of website traffic
  • Focusing on farm & food trails
  • Discussing producing a brochure for the whole I-5 corridor

Jill Zarnowitz (Yamhill-Carlton)

  • Had to cancel spring event – big moneymaker as well as provided money for Yamhill-Carlton High School scholarships
  • Kayt Mathers helping with marketing and updated info on website
  • Raised $10,000 for local food pantry
  • Working on how they may do next spring tasting event

Terry Brandborg (Elkton, Oregon and Umpqua Valley)

  • Most people remain open for bottle sales. And when allowed, started resuming tasting – mostly outdoor settings. Putting up tents to be able to continue doing that during the winter
  • Big thing for the org. is new branding/strategic planning process that began in winter of last year
    • One goal is to hire Exec. Director
  • Cancelled spring barrel tour & greatest of grape event
  • Postponed roadshow that was planned for Nov. in Eugene
  • Region is involved in the Douglas County Food bank charity
  • Board met last night and talked about smoke issues
  • Carrying on a budget deficit – put on hold hiring an Exec. Director for now
  • Talking about a self-guided barrel tour for the spring

Cathy Martin (Dundee Hills)

  • Adapting to current state of affairs and trying to share information with members
  • Michelle Kaufman helping handle social media programs and putting together a strategy on sharing information
  • Some new branding rolling out – re-introducing this holiday season/digital program, “Deck the Hills” annual program
  • “Fueled by Fine Wine” half marathon event went virtual
  • Working on a media kit

Jennifer Kerrigan (SOWA, Rogue Valley)

  • Reiterated that SOWA relinquished marketing campaigns over to the RVV a year ago
  • Regulatory arm for the Southern Oregon wineries

Scott Shull (Laurelwood District)

  • Underscored the collaboration with winemakers and winegrowers all over WV
  • Could be worth a future story

Jessica Thomas (South Willamette Valley)

  • King Estate and Iris did not open for onsite consumption and don’t have a plan to in the near future
  • Allowed to re-focus – Food Trail, Built Oregon, E-commerce, local delivery

Lunch discussion with Heather Bradshaw, spokesperson for Washington Wines. Smoke; the similarities and differences in tactics we took

  • The balance of negative and positive. Our messaging we wrote started very positive, which we then needed to temper with more balanced messaging
  • Changing of the tide: at one point, right about mid-October, journalists began looking for and accepting positive stories
  • The relationships that we have in place allowed us to share talking points with WA, Napa Valley Vintners, WVWA, OWA, OWC. For Washington specifically we were getting comparative questions of WA vs OR
  • We also had to keep plates spinning with positive PR as far as Wine Advocate samples shipping, Wine&Spirits, Suckling.

Vive NW: Jorge Guzman and Marielle Cowden discussed reaching the Hispanic wine consumer

Media guest presentation, Q and A with Lauren Mowery – top notch national writer whose work appears in Forbes, USA Today, and Wine Enthusiast. Her words and photos are published in myriad outlets including The Independent, Saveur, SevenFifty Daily, Punch, Wine & Spirits, TimeOut, Eater, Tasting Panel, Somm Journal, Fodor’s.com, Voyeur (Virgin Australia’s inflight), Alquimie, Men’s Journal, Palate Press, Lonely Planet, The Wine Merchant, Sommelier, Private Clubs. Lauren also spent four years writing the wine and coffee columns for New York City paper Village Voice.

Items discussed:

  • Lauren is currently writing a book on intentional travel and will include a section on Oregon
  • Winemaking regions and case studies of wineries really doing things right: Burgundy.
  • Regions in Oregon she would like to explore more
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • Truths about working as a freelancer writer that many may not know
  • Do’s and Don’ts in submitting samples (i.e. no unsolicited wines) and pitching stories

 

2:15 meeting adjourned.

 

 

 

Call for Wine: Wine & Spirits seeks Syrah, Rhône-Style Red Blends for its February 2021 issue

Wine & Spirits October 2020

Wine & Spirits is now accepting Syrah and Rhône-Style blends for its February 2021 issue with a submission window open until October 9, 2020, and again from Oct. 12-30, 2020, according to its submissions calendar. The feature is called Warming Winter Reds.

Please following the new tasting protocol on the Wine & Spirits website.

  1. Submit Domestic Wine Submission Form here: https://www.wineandspiritsmagazine.com/domestic-submission-form
  2. Once you have submitted your form, you will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
    For submission history, please contact [email protected]
  3.  The confirmation will contain shipping details for your wines