Dear Friends,
I have recently had the pleasure of joining the Oregon Wine Board as the new Insights & Industry Relations Manager. During my first two months in the role, I’ve been able to soak up tons of knowledge about the Oregon wine industry. I have also had the pleasure of meeting the members of the Board as well as a handful of folks in this industry and other partners. They have all made me feel welcome with their willingness to share valuable insights alongside their personal perspective on what makes Oregon such a special place for winegrowing.
For those of you who I have not had a chance to meet, I would like to provide a little bit about my personal and professional background. Around six years ago, I moved to Portland from Austin, Texas with my wife. During that time, we have fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest. I enjoy exploring wineries, breweries, and restaurants while also catching lots of live music and spending as much time on my bike as I possibly can. My primary experience is in communications, marketing, and journalism. Most recently, I worked in the world of Pacific Northwest agriculture and commodity promotion for Pear Bureau Northwest. It was here that I discovered a passion for telling the stories of growers through creative and results-driven initiatives while also serving as a resourceful and responsive point of contact for the industry in a range of different areas. My diverse skill set, flexibility, and open-minded approach allow me to serve a constantly evolving industry, and I am beyond excited to apply my experience to my role at OWB.
In my new role, I am responsible for managing and administering OWB’s research, including our V&E investments and annual Winery and Vineyard Report, sending the Grapevine newsletter along with other industry-related communications, toolkits, and more. To date, you may have seen my work in the Community Benchmark Toolkit and our Annual Business Plan Toolkit, as well as in OWB’s various industry communications. Going forward, I am looking forward to working closely with members of the industry while learning as much as I can. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions, needs, or just to introduce yourself and say hello.
Happy holidays from the staff of OWB and we look forward to working with you in the new year. Cheers!
Neil Ferguson
Insights & Industry Relations Manager
Marketing
Oregon Wine Month Trade Form
Please invite your trade contacts to complete the OWM 2022 Trade Partner Participation form. This will allow us to contact them directly about Oregon Wine Month resources and planning. Your support in widening our outreach funnel is critical.
Education
Register for the 2022 Oregon Wine Symposium: Coming to You Virtually in February Then In-person in March
The annual premier education event and trade show for the Northwest wine industry, the Oregon Wine Symposium, will once again unite experts from the scientific and wine business communities to share the latest research, best practices, and industry expertise in a virtual format Feb. 15-17, 2022. The Early Bird price of $79 per person is available through Jan. 14. Groups of four or more receive an additional 20% off Full Access tickets per registrant, and there are other discount opportunities for educators, students, and Spanish language speakers. Learn more about the educational program details and register.
In addition to the virtual event, Oregon Wine Symposium LIVE will take place in-person March 8-9, 2022 at the Oregon Convention Center. The event will explore the theme of climate, business and workforce resiliency, and provide practical, actionable takeaways to help manage your business in these uncertain times. The in-person Symposium will include six main sessions and mini seminars, a trade show featuring valued industry partners, technical tastings, continuing education and certification opportunities, networking, and socializing. This will include a reimagined Soiree featuring Oregon’s diverse winegrowing regions and more. Early bird pricing ends on Jan. 31, 2022. Register to attend.
Research
December 2021 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, and January and February 2022.
Join the OWB Vit & Eno Research Committee
With the request for applications for 2022-23 research projects now open, OWB is still looking for reviewers and members to join the Research Committee. Learn more about the criteria to join here.
Wine Spectator is once again offering Oregon wineries the opportunity to be featured together in the March 2022 issue featuring their annual Oregon Wine Report. This co-op page will be designed by Wine Spectator and encourages readers to visit Oregon and buy Oregon wines. Learn more about print and digital advertising opportunities.
Other News
Oregon Wine Industry Forum | Next meeting: Jan. 11
The monthly Oregon Wine Industry Forum continues Jan. 11, 2022 at 11 a.m. Register for the meeting to stay current on industry trends, connect with industry members across the state, and keep informed on OWB programming and opportunities. Register here for the series of meetings.
Governor’s Conference on Tourism Takes Place in 2022
Travel Oregon’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism returns in 2022 on March 14-16, in Sunriver, Oregon. Registration and room block information will open in Jan. 2022. Save the conference dates on your calendar and look for more information to come. Please direct all questions to [email protected].
OLCC Requests Data for Oregon Privilege Tax Online (OPTO)
OLCC is requesting our industry’s help with the following survey, which should take less than 5 minutes.
As OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks mentioned in his remarks to the OWB’s all-industry forum last month, OLCC will soon begin their 2022 conversion to an online tax reporting and payment system for wineries and grape growers. This includes both the privilege tax and the grape tonnage tax. In an effort to help make the process as smooth as possible for wineries, OLCC is looking to gather additional information through the survey. The survey results will assist the Commission in segmenting winery licensees into the correct training groups. Please complete the survey by Jan. 14, 2022.
I have recently had the pleasure of joining the Oregon Wine Board as the new Insights & Industry Relations Manager. During my first two months in the role, I’ve been able to soak up tons of knowledge about the Oregon wine industry. I have also had the pleasure of meeting the members of the Board as well as a handful of folks in this industry and other partners. They have all made me feel welcome with their willingness to share valuable insights alongside their personal perspective on what makes Oregon such a special place for winegrowing.
For those of you who I have not had a chance to meet, I would like to provide a little bit about my personal and professional background. Around six years ago, I moved to Portland from Austin, Texas with my wife. During that time, we have fallen in love with the Pacific Northwest. I enjoy exploring wineries, breweries, and restaurants while also catching lots of live music and spending as much time on my bike as I possibly can. My primary experience is in communications, marketing, and journalism. Most recently, I worked in the world of Pacific Northwest agriculture and commodity promotion for Pear Bureau Northwest. It was here that I discovered a passion for telling the stories of growers through creative and results-driven initiatives while also serving as a resourceful and responsive point of contact for the industry in a range of different areas. My diverse skill set, flexibility, and open-minded approach allow me to serve a constantly evolving industry, and I am beyond excited to apply my experience to my role at OWB.
In my new role, I am responsible for managing and administering OWB’s research, including our V&E investments and annual Winery and Vineyard Report, sending the Grapevine newsletter along with other industry-related communications, toolkits, and more. To date, you may have seen my work in the 
Neil Ferguson
Insights & Industry Relations Manager
