As I conclude my Oregon Wine Board service and send this final letter, a few thoughts are top of mind:
1. A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to all the growers and winemakers across the state who have expressed their appreciation over the last few months for my work since 2011. In your homes and association meetings, in emails, calls, and handwritten notes, your thoughtfulness confirms every good thing I have loved about being part of the Oregon wine story. And your generosity has stocked our wine cellar beyond what we deserve. ♥
2. Many of you have asked who the Wine Board will hire in my place to move the OWB into its third decade. Your Board of Directors took up that question yesterday and should have your answer soon.
One of the tasks a new Executive Director will probably be given is to re-examine, refresh, or rewrite the industry’s long-term Strategic Plan. As part of that exercise, a careful study of the Oregon Wine Board’s 2003 founding charter could be helpful in my opinion. It’s clear that the two-decades-old enabling statute establishing the OWB ought not be permanently hard-wired or enshrined forever free from modification or improvement. Section 7 in particular deserves your consideration since industry members have divergent ideas about “enological, viticultural and economic research to develop sustainable business practices for wine grape growing and winemaking within Oregon and supporting the promotion of Oregon’s wine grape growing and winemaking.“
For comparison, at least a couple of wine associations in California which also rely on producer assessments for income, allow stakeholders to periodically re-authorize their organizational charters and adjust funding calculations.
But wouldn’t any potential changes to OWB’s statute require legislative action?
Yes.
Wouldn’t that be difficult?
Most likely, yes.
Remember though that our industry has more lobbyists now than ever, walking the halls of the state capitol. If there is sufficient consensus for fine-tuning OWB’s mission and funding, you could be pretty sure lawmakers will try to find ways to support the 8-billion-dollar, 40,000-job treasure that our industry now represents.
Previous attempts at legislative changes to the number of OWB Directors, or to connect each Board seat to a particular segment or constituency, missed the mark. They were superficial, not substantive. Any Governor’s new appointees eventually confront the same underlying, structural tripwires their OWB predecessors faced. Better to allow the composition of future Wine Boards to conform to updated, refreshed mandates endorsed by taxpayers and arrived at through open, facilitated discussion.
3. As part of next year’s Strategic Planning, taxpayers should advocate for their Associations to proactively participate in a regular dialogue with the OWB. Three or four industry associations are currently active in the feedback loop that happens in the Industry Partnership Committee (IPC), but broader state-wide representation and nested AVAs voices are needed. In the days before C-19, taxpaying growers, and winemakers, along with nested AVAs, factored more prominently into OWB’s thinking and budgeting.
Finally, encourage your Wine Board Directors to take advantage of the training and process management assistance that will enable them to bring their best thinking, judgment, and experience to the OWB.
P.S. What holiday message is complete without a special offer for Oregon wine community members and their friends and family? Many of you may remember Marie Chambers who served you faithfully as a senior member of our OWB team for nearly ten years. After leaving us, Marie felt the entrepreneurial urge and stepped out on her own setting up a specialty retail storefront in Brookings along with a thriving online marketplace for fine yarns and craft products. If you have a knitter or an aspiring crochet artist on your shopping list, pass along this exclusive 10% off discount code, good only at Dots YarnDen, for Marie’s wine friends: ORWINE10.
Speaking for my OWB management colleagues, we send our warmest wishes for a safe and joyous holiday season along with our hopes that 2024 brings you all good health, increasing fortunes, and the gift of precious time with dear friends and family.
Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.
Tom Danowski
President
A note from the Board of Directors on the search for the Executive Director of the Oregon Wine Board
Yesterday the OWB Board of Directors met and had a truly substantive and valuable discussion on candidates for our next Executive Director. However, we did not come to a final decision as we had hoped and anticipated. We appreciate your patience and support as we continue to deliberate and carefully manage this important process.
It is possible that we will be meeting in executive session again as soon as this week, but depends on scheduling. Everyone is very mindful of our timeline.
We all want to make sure that this decision is made with great care and intention, and the OWB Board is truly doing its due diligence to ensure we secure the strongest leadership possible for the organization.
In Memoriam
Terry Casteel, co-founder of Bethel Heights Vineyardand a long-time leader in the Oregon wine industry, passed away on November 30, 2023, at the age of 81, after many years of valiant struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Webb, his twin brother Ted, his sons Ben and Jon Casteel, and five grandchildren.
Terry came to the Willamette Valley together with his family partners in 1977 and established one of the earliest vineyards in the Eola Hills, followed by the estate winery in 1984. As a winemaker at Bethel Heights Terry became an integral member of the Oregon wine community. He served on the founding Board of the International Pinot Noir Celebration, and in keeping with his commitment to social justice, Terry also provided many years of leadership and guidance for the Service Program of¡Salud!
In 2005 the impacts of Parkinson’s Disease forced Terry’s retirement as winemaker at Bethel Heights and the baton was passed to his son Ben. Terry and Marilyn went on to help build a network of support for patients and families at the Parkinson’s Center at OHSU.
A celebration of Terry’s life for friends and colleagues will be announced after the first of the year.
In Memoriam
The Henry family would like to inform the industry of a change of venue for Scott Henry’s Memorial service. The service will be held at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI) 1140 Umpqua College Rd. in Roseburg on Dec. 31 from 2:00 to 5:00 P.M.
Marketing
OWB Marketing
Register for the Oregon Wine Month Webinar | Jan. 23 at 10 a.m.
Oregon Wine Month provides the opportunity for producers, wholesalers, and retailers to get involved in the promotion and celebration of Oregon wines before and during the month of May. The upcoming webinar will focus on resources made available by the Oregon Wine Board to create and amplify promotional efforts across all regions and sales channels, including 3-tier and DtC. While plans are still developing, we want to get this meeting on your calendar with plenty of advance notice. Register here.
Wine Industry Insights
WSET Industry Talks Dives into Sustainability of the Wine Industry
In collaboration with the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR), WSET launched its new Industry Talks series, focusing on the impact of climate change across the global beverage industry. In the latest webinar, a panel of experts discussed the need for collective action from the drinks industry to combat climate change. The webinar covered the realities across the supply chain and how their organizations have taken action, as well as practical advice for making more sustainable choices. Learn more.
OIV Report on Wine Production and Consumption by Color
This report prepared by the Statistics Department of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) provides an overview of the evolution of the world wine production and consumption by color over the 2000-2021 period. White and Rose now account for more than half of Global consumption. Click here to read Decanter’s Rudy Ruitenberg’s cover of the OIV report. Read the full OIV report.
New Wine Market Council Study Reveals High-End Wine Consumers Motivations
Who are the U.S. consumers who regularly spend $20 or more on a bottle of wine; what motivates them to do so, and for which occasions? These were some of the core questions explored in a new Wine Market Council (WMC) research study just released to WMC members this month. Read more.
Education
Access OWB’s New Industry Website Page on Labeling and Packaging
In response to the many regulation changes on the topic of labeling and trends in pacjaging, OWB has created a web page where all packaging regulations and trends are centralized. This is where you will find the link to the recording of the Nov. 17 OIV Webinar on the New EU labeling Regulation as well as Cal Recycle updates and webinar recordings. This page will be regularly updated as new policies are created and new packaging trends emerge. Please contact Celine at OWB if you have any specific feedback or input. View labeling resources.
Oregon Wine Symposium Early Bird Registration
The Oregon Wine Growers Association (OWA) and the Oregon Wine Board (OWB) are proud to announce that registration has opened for the largest in-person wine industry trade show and education seminar in the Northwest. On Feb. 13 and 14, the Oregon Wine Symposium will unite experts from the scientific and wine business communities to share the latest learnings, best practices, and industry expertise in a new condensed one day-and-a-half format. Register at the Early Bird rate.
Register to Attend the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium I Jan. 23 – 25.
Since the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and the California Association of Winegrape Growers joined forces to create the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in 1995, it has become the largest wine and grape conference in the nation. As one of the industry’s premier gatherings, the Unified Symposium presents a vital platform to focus on the issues shaping today, while interfacing the topics and trends shaping the future of grape-growing and winemaking. Visit the event website.
Press and Media
Media Highlights
The Vintner Project Tells Oregon Sauvignon Blanc Success Story
Tamara Turner reports, “According to the OWB, as of 2018, only 69 acres of Sauvignon Blanc were planted in Oregon. Just five years later, there are an estimated 150 acres. According to Nielsen, Sauvignon Blanc achieved 3% in dollar sales growth in 2021 overall, more than any other variety. It can now be tasted at 107 different tasting rooms around the state.” Read more.
Wine Bulletin Highlights a Legacy of Exceptional Wines
Joe Campbell tells the story of Ponzi Vineyards: “a living testament to the transformative power of time and passion. For generations, the Ponzi family has crafted wines that embody the unique spirit of the Willamette Valley. Their story is one of unwavering dedication to sustainable practices and a deep respect for the land, propelling them to the forefront of Oregon’s winemaking scene.” Read more.
In May, Decanter is doing a U.S.-focused issue that will include a panel tasting of Merlot. The wines will be tasted blind in London by UK-based experts. Wines need to arrive by Jan. 31 to be considered. Learn more.
Register for TEXSOM Awards | Deadline Feb. 2
TEXSOM Awards is now accepting wine submissions. Judging will take place at the Irving Convention Center, Feb. 17 -20, 2024. Wineries do not need to have distribution in Texas to submit entries. The OWB has partnered with FedEx to support this opportunity and can cover ground shipping of your wine entries. Please contact Trade Relations Manager David DeWitt or click here for shipping details and instructions.
Research
Viticulture & Enology
December 2023 Weather and Climate Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at November conditions and forecasts conditions for December, January, and February 2024.
Subscribe to the Oregon Wine Research Institute Newsletter
As we head towards the end of 2023, this is a great time to reflect on some of the highlights of what has been another busy and productive year for the faculty and staff of the Oregon Wine Research Institute. Read here to learn more. Join their mailing list for news and information regarding programs, events, advances in research, resources in your area, and much more. Subscribe here.
Opportunities
OWB Renews Partnership with Community Benchmark | Claim your account
On Nov. 30 Community Benchmark hosted a webinar about their DtC data dashboard and presented their new AI-powered tool designed to automate how wineries monitor and boost sales. View recording. OWB has extended its partnership with Community Benchmark for another two years. Any Oregon winery not yet registered can still claim their account for just $199 for the two-year program. Claim an account.
Participate in Industry Talent Needs Survey | Deadline Dec. 20
The Oregon Wine Brotherhood is working with the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights at Oregon State University to conduct a brief survey to understand our industry’s talent needs better. We all face critical challenges in attracting and retaining talented people to operate our businesses. To help mitigate those challenges, we ask for your help by completing a brief (10-minute) Talent Needs Survey to help focus scholarship giving and wine industry community support. Respond to the survey.
Provide Suggestions and Planning Ideas for Next Fiscal Year | Feb.1
OWB is interested in your budget planning input for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Visit the Annual Business Plan Toolkit for a detailed list of dates, meetings, budget postings, and the idea submission form. Input will be accepted through Feb.1, 2024. If you would like to have a more in-depth discussion regarding your feedback or learn about other feedback we have received, please email [email protected] or reach out to Sally Crawford at [email protected].
Other News
Register for CabFranc-A-Palooza Wine Festival I Deadline Jan. 24
The 2nd Annual CabFranc-A-Palooza Wine Festival is a 3-day event that takes place in Livermore, CA on May 3-5 2024. Last year, wineries from 7 states and 5 countries were featured, and over 500 guests attended. The event organizers are seeking Oregon producers to participate at no registration cost. Interested wineries should confirm participation by Jan. 2024 by emailing Matt Toomey at [email protected].
World of Pinot Noir | Feb. 29 – March 2
The event returns to the seaside Ritz-Carlton Bacara resort in Santa Barbara. The program includes tasting seminars, pairing dinners, and tastings showcasing more than 200 premier Pinot Noir producers from around the globe. Winery registration information and marketing opportunities are available here.
Register for PSP Free Waste Pesticide Collection | Jan. 13
The Pesticide Stewardship Partnership (PSP) Program is a multi-agency program funded equally by pesticide registration fees collected by ODA, and general funding from the Oregon legislature. Its primary focus is to reduce the concentration of pesticides in surface waters through voluntary educational and technical support efforts. To register for the disposal event, complete an application and inventory sheets, available on the ODA website. For general registration questions, eligibility and a list of accepted products call or email: Kathryn Rifenburg, (971) 600 5073 or [email protected].
Tom Danowski
President
