Dear Friends,With the weather warming up around Oregon and the feeling of spring beginning to set in, we are looking forward to a season filled with exciting initiatives for consumers, trade, and industry. During my first six months working for the Oregon Wine Board (OWB), I have had the pleasure of managing a number of these initiatives, as well as providing collaborative support to my OWB colleagues and our various industry partners. It has been a true thrill to dive headfirst into Oregon’s dynamic and vibrant winegrowing community, and I have already soaked up so much valuable knowledge.
These are several of the major items that the OWB team is currently working on:
As you may have seen in our email announcement sent out last week, OWB has quietly launched the newly branded and redesigned OregonWine.org consumer website. Funded through the support of a Wine Country License Plate grant, the website aligns with OWB’s authentic and comprehensive brand identity that can be used to connect with consumers around the world. Industry members are encouraged to explore the website. As with any website launch, we can expect small changes and fixes that may need to be made. Please review your winery information in the Tasting Room Directory for accuracy. We also welcome feedback on the website as a whole but ask that any feedback be submitted through a designated form. We have received some very constructive feedback so far and appreciate those of you who have taken the time to provide us with your observations and suggestions. You can view the feedback form, a website overview, downloadable assets, and instructions on updating tasting room listings in the OregonWine.org Consumer Website Toolkit. Following a short period of review from our industry, we are announcing the official launch of the website to consumers just in time for the kick-off of Oregon Wine Month.
Speaking of Wine Month, this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the best yet as it marks the first time since 2019 that Oregon wineries can truly celebrate live and in-person. To supplement those celebrations taking place throughout the month, OWB will host a series of sweepstakes as a collaboration with our regional partners. Wineries can also add OWM events on our new consumer site. OWB’s Bree Stock and David Dewitt have also been generating early excitement for Wine Month with their six-part webinar series, which highlights regions around the state and has been offered as a free experience for tasting room staff, customers, retailers, and wholesalers. The first session took place last Monday and you can view it here if you were unable to attend.
As a reminder, University of Oregon’s Bob Parker is still accepting responses to the annual vineyard and winery census, with the deadline being extended to April 30. Currently, we are around 50% of the way towards our goal of receiving 600 responses If you haven’t filled out the questionnaire, please do so here. Your responses make the report possible and it supports a range of state and federal grant funding applications among many other benefits.
Lastly, the OWB Research Committee held their full meeting to review proposals on April 7. It is worth pointing out that the 2022-23 V&E Research budget has been approved at a level 16% higher than in the original Research budget for this year. This year, there were 22 applications reviewed by a total of 55 reviewers from across the state, all of whom graciously volunteered their time. Visit the OWB V&E Research page to view the Strategic Plan as well as progress reports for currently funded research projects.
Cheers!
Neil Ferguson
Insights & Industry Relations Manager
As we move towards the next fiscal year, we are gauging interest from our industry members in the next edition of the Touring Guide, whether print or digital. Please take a moment and respond to the survey questions below:
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Education
Assemblage Symposium Returns May 3-4
The Oregon wine industry’s first diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) event returns in-person for two days of keynote addresses, panel discussions, and breakout sessions May 3-4 at Abbey Road Farm in Carlton. Featuring 20+ industry innovators from across the country leading the future of food, wine, and hospitality, the event is open to all, though proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 48 hours of the event is required. Get tickets
Press and Media
Media Opportunities: Calls for Wine
Winerabble.com
Winerabble’s Michele Francisco is seeking your new releases (and soon to be released wines) to highlight on her freshly redesigned website. Deadline is April 30. Learn more
Research
April 2022 Weather and Climate Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at March conditions and forecasts conditions for April, May, and June.
New Study Focuses on Climate Model Projects in Willamette Valley AVA
The Northwest Wine Studies Center has released research that optimizes the application of climate model projections for viticulture throughout the Willamette Valley AVA from 1950 – 2100. The results predict long-term changes in average growing season temperatures and sugar ripeness windows for Pinot noir. Furthermore, a comparison of two methodologies for evaluating cultivar suitability suggests an updated average growing season temperature range for Pinot noir in the Willamette Valley AVA.
Registration Open for Oregon Wine Research Institute’s Grape Day
Grape Day takes place on campus at Oregon State University on Tuesday, April 26, in Corvallis, Oregon. The annual event highlights research that impacts the Oregon winegrape industries with a goal to provide industry members with an opportunity to network and discuss research with our researchers. For registration information and agenda, visit owri.oregonstate.edu.
Opportunities
TEXSOM International Wine Awards Accepting Entries I April 24 Deadline
TEXSOM International Wine Awards (TIWA) is now accepting entry submissions for wine. With over 170 wines submitted in 2020, Oregon has garnered numerous awards and we look forward to continuing this momentum. OWB has partnered with Fed Ex to support this opportunity and can cover ground shipping of your wine entries. Please contact Trade Relations Manager David DeWitt or visit the OWB trade site for shipping details and instructions.
Other News
OLCC Invites Wineries to Use Online Privilege Tax Portal
As the result of House Bill 2150, which was requested during the 2017 legislative session, OLCC’s Oregon Privilege Tax Online (OPTO) is a way for businesses who are required to file privilege taxes to submit their documentation and pay their fees through a web-based portal. Some license types are already reporting in the new system. OLCC will be onboarding wineries in the coming months. OLCC wants to work with the wine industry to make sure our partners are trained and prepared when the time comes to start reporting in the new online system. Learn more
With the weather warming up around Oregon and the feeling of spring beginning to set in, we are looking forward to a season filled with exciting initiatives for consumers, trade, and industry. During my first six months working for the Oregon Wine Board (OWB), I have had the pleasure of managing a number of these initiatives, as well as providing collaborative support to my OWB colleagues and our various industry partners. It has been a true thrill to dive headfirst into Oregon’s dynamic and vibrant winegrowing community, and I have already soaked up so much valuable knowledge.
These are several of the major items that the OWB team is currently working on:
Neil Ferguson
Insights & Industry Relations Manager
