We are just a couple of weeks away from the kickoff of our statewide listening tour to meet in person with all interested winemakers and growers about the best ways the OWB can invest the industry’s tax dollars for maximum impact over the next few years in Marketing and Communications. Please register to join us, or send a colleague to one of these seven sessions.
To ensure each session is as focused on your priority agenda items as possible, please help us by offering your input in advance via this quick survey. If you’re not able to join a listening session, that’s even more reason to make your thoughts known through the survey.
Oregon Wine Month is on the launch pad and nearly ready for liftoff on May 1. A couple final checklist items require attention before we ignite the engine. First, we don’t want your Oregon restaurant customers to miss out on the chance to be recognized by more than 310,000 readers of The Oregonian later in April. For the chance to be listed in the paper’s statewide Oregon Wine Month back cover print ad, a restaurant, cafe or bar need only commit to pouring a flight of at least three Oregon wines for the month of May. Here is the sign-up form allowing you to get your key accounts listed before the April 8 deadline. Second, you’re not too late to tell us about your consumer events scheduled for Oregon Wine Month so we can list them on our events calendar, which will be even more aggressively promoted than last year to generate increased visitor traffic.
Finally, save this date: July 8, 2019. Willamette Valley Vineyards will host Women in Wine: Fermenting Change in Oregon.It will be the first annual gathering of women and men dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the Oregon wine industry. Click here for more details or to register for the event, which will enrich your network and offer the chance to hear some extraordinary and inspiring speakers including Oregon’s own Cheryl Strayed, author of “Wild.”
Cheers,
Tom Danowski
President
NEWS FROM THE OREGON WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION
The OWA continues to invite and consider member perspectives while consulting with lawmakers, industry leaders and the OLCC about Senate Bill 111. It remains a work in progress and has prompted spirited dialogue among industry members up and down the West Coast. The OWA is working now on the next draft of the bill and has joined with others to re-focus SB 111 back on its original intent: ensuring that all wineries crushing Oregon grapes pay their fair share of the tonnage tax.
To bring you up to date, previous drafts of SB 111 had mandated prominent state-of-origin disclosures on labels.
That language has been removed.
In addition, earlier versions of the bill also introduced the idea of a new OLCC permit for out-of-state wineries, which would have assisted the Commission in collecting Oregon’s grape tax.
There appears to a better way to achieve that outcome, so we are working on amended bill language that no longer calls on OLCC to issue any new permits.
As we listen to members across Oregon and in neighboring states, we hear your demand that legislation and OLCC rulemaking work together to deliver equity and fairness in tonnage tax collections from all wineries buying Oregon grapes and working collectively to promote Brand Oregon.
We’ll continue to keep you updated as SB 111 develops further. The bill has been scheduled for a Senate work session on April 8. If you have not yet offered us your opinion or have a question about it, reply to the OWA.
MARKETING
Give Us Your Thoughts on OWB Marketing & Communications
If you’ve got opinions on the OWB’s marketing and communications program, now is the perfect time to share them. We’re in the process of writing a new strategic plan, and input from the industry will heavily inform what goes into it. There are two ways to give your input: complete this questionnaire or attend a listening session near you.
Sell More Wine at Local Restaurants in May | Deadline: April 8
Use Oregon Wine Month as an opportunity to increase your wine placements at local restaurants. The OWB is offering incentives for restaurants that sign up to feature a flight of three Oregon wines throughout May, including possible promotion through the Oregonian and social media coverage. Share the program with on-premise accounts and pitch a flight of your wines by April 8.
The Countdown is on to Oregon Wine Month in May
With about four weeks to go until Oregon Wine Month, be sure to visit the 2019 Oregon Wine Month toolkit for resources to help you and your partners get ready for May. Find information about the activity plan, recommendations for getting involved and assets you can use in your own marketing and sales activities.
RESEARCH
2018 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Survey | Deadline Extended to April 15
If you haven’t yet, please take the time to complete the 2018 Vineyard and Winery Survey. Broad participation in this annual study helps ensure accurate figures on industry growth and the ability to tell a compelling story about the wine industry in Oregon. Thank you.
OWB Market Insights Report: Oregon Wine Performance in Off-Premise Retail
The OWB has commissioned Nielsen data and compiled an overview of Oregon wine’s performance in off-premise retail accounts in 2018. Consider these trends in conjunction with other market intelligence to help develop your business plans.
OWB-Funded Research Update: Determination of Pre- and Postveraison Water Status Targets for Deficit Irrigation of Pinot noir in a Warm Climate
Dr. Alex Levin of OSU has prepared an update about research he is conducting to determine early- and late-season vine water status targets to optimize irrigation scheduling in warm climate Pinot noir vineyards.
OWB-Funded Research Update: Microscopy of Red Blotch
Dr. Bhaskar Bondada of Washington State University has prepared an update about research he is leading to understand the mechanisms by which Grapevine Red Blotch-associated Virus causes infection.
EDUCATION
Workshop: DTC Wine Workshop in McMinnville | April 9
DTC Wine Workshops is conducting a half-day workshop that covers how to effectively engage with consumers between visits and how to expand brand awareness with digital marketing tools. A group discount of 20% is available when registering four or more people from your winery.
Seminar: WAVEx Seminar on Smoke Indicators | April 17
Washington State University’s Dr. Tom Collins, one of the nation’s leading smoke exposure scientists, will present findings from his latest research at a WAVEx seminar in Richland, Wash. He has studied the timing of exposure and the role of fuel source in smoke indicators. He is also working to develop analytical methods to accurately predict the potential for smoke indicators in wines and identify mitigating winemaking practices.
CALLS FOR WINE
Wine & Spirits Accepting Oregon Sparkling and Rosé Wines | Deadline: April 5
Wines for Pairing and Photos in PNW-focused Cookbook | Deadline: April 5
Wine and travel writer Mary Cressler is putting the finishing touches on a cookbook called Fire and Wine: 75 wood-fired recipes and wine pairings inspired by the Pacific Northwest. She is looking for wine samples to be used as pairings in the recipe photos. Wines must be received by April 5.
Sip Northwest Magazine Seeks Local Wine Stories for Summer | Deadline: April 8
Sip Northwest Magazine is seeking editorial ideas for its summer issue, and they want to hear from Oregon winemakers. Sip NW has shared story angles and instructions on how to contact them with your pitch.
James Suckling to Review 2017 Pinot noirs and Chardonnays | Deadline: April 12
James Suckling contributing editor Nick Stock will return to Oregon the week of April 29 and hopes to taste 400 of Oregon’s best 2017 Pinot noirs and Chardonnays. The first deadline in the two-step submission process is April 12, so move quickly if you’d like to have your wines reviewed.
International Wine Report | Deadline: April 18
Reviewer Owen Bargreen is looking for current release Oregon wines of all varieties to review for the International Wine Report’s Oregon Report, and will be running a PNW Rosé Report as well. Some wines will also be included in the Washington Wine Blog.
OPPORTUNITIES
Apply to Be Part of Feast Portland 2019 | Deadline: April 8
Applications are now open for wineries and other makers to activate and exhibit at Feast Portland in September. In 2018, this four-day event attracted more than 18,000 culinary and drink enthusiasts.
“Vintage” Podcasts with Brian Bushlach | Deadline: April 30
Brian Bushlach is offering a discount in the run up to Oregon Wine Month for wineries interested in recording a 20-minute podcast to share their story and wines. These podcasts will be published through a variety of channels and can be shared on the winery’s own networks. Limited to 100 wineries, sign up by April 30.
Chemeketa Wine Studies Experimental Wine Tastings | June 5
Join Chemeketa’s Wine Studies students for an experimental wine tasting open to Oregon wine industry members. Taste a variety of experimental wines, provide feedback and discuss current industry topics. You can also present wines from your own trial for feedback. This tasting is possible thanks to support from the Oregon Wine Brotherhood.
Oregon Wine Competition Call for Entries | Deadline: June 7
The annual Oregon Wine Competition is accepting entries from all Oregon producers until June 7. Judging will take place late July and awards will be announced at the Oregon Wine Experience on Aug. 22.
OTHER NEWS
Inaugural TASTE Event: Those Already Standing Together for Equity | May 31
TASTE, a premier event that showcases the diversity of the Oregon food and wine industry, will take place May 31. Tickets are now available and the organizers appreciate any help in spreading the word about this event that supports the important equity work happening in Greater Portland.
Oregon Wins Big at TEXSOM International Wine Awards
The Oregon wine industry made its mark among preeminent wine influencers this year at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards. Many wineries took advantage of the OWB’s complimentary shipping program, resulting in more Oregon wines evaluated and a 13% increase in award-winning Oregon wines.
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