Dear Friends,
Here’s a round-up of items we want to make sure we get on your radar this week:
The 2022 virtual Oregon Wine Symposium gets underway today, and even if you are not signed up yet you can still view a number of sessions for free. Register for Industry Access to the presentations focused on Oregon Wine Board (OWB)-funded research and the unveiling of the new grant-funded consumer website with expanded AVA-specific content.
Oregon Wine Month 2022 is approaching fast. We heard the industry’s call last year asking OWB to provide more point-of-sale (POS) merchandising material, so despite continuing budget pressure resulting from the 2020 tonnage shortfall, we’ve budgeted to make free collateral available for those ordering before Tuesday, March 1. And don’t miss OWB’s webinar with more direct-to-consumer (DtC) program details, also on March 1.
Recent media coverage about ongoing acquisition activity in Oregon is a good reminder about our place in the global winescape. Stephen Rannekleiv of Rabobank, quoted on winesearcher.com last week, said “Oregon has a solid reputation, and the region continues to build awareness among consumers by leaps and bounds. Oregon DtC sales growth outperformed all other major wine regions last year.” 2017 OWB Chairman Steve Thomson, now CEO of Cristom Vineyards and Vice Chairman of our International Marketing Committee, added “Oregon has really finally burst onto the world stage and is quickly catching up to California as a global wine brand. The wine industry is an increasingly global playing field. Oregon has 1, pull; 2, very strong margins; and 3, the limits to volume that should keep margins high for the long run.”
An important reason for the “pull” Thomson refers to is an increasingly widely-recognized reputation for exceptional wine quality. While many wine-producing regions of the world talk about it, the statistics continue to articulate Oregon’s case convincingly.
The seventh Southern Oregon Wine Symposium is back one month from today on March 15 at 8 a.m. Register to join live and in-person at the OSU Research and Extension Center in Central Point or watch via Zoom. Be advised that in-person seating may be limited and registration for it ends on Feb. 28.
Finally, if you’re interested in how OWB’s budget is shaping up for the new year starting July 1, it was reviewed in detail with industry members who Zoomed in with us last week. Here’s the presentation recording and the link to our planning toolkit with a form allowing anyone to submit questions or thoughts about OWB’s proposed spending and priorities.
P.S. Thanks again to Dr. Jeff Peterson for jumping in to field the next version of the wine industry’s labor survey. Jeff needs all the data points he can gather for this Oregon-centric report. The survey input you provide goes directly to him. OWB will not see any of the raw data provided by business owners and managers. Please reply by this coming Sunday, Feb. 20.
Tom Danowski
President
Marketing
Oregon Wine Month POS Available for Order
Printed POS is available for order now through March 1 on the Oregon Wine Month toolkit. Wineries, retailers, distributors, and any promotional partners are invited to place an order for complimentary printing and delivery in early April. Share with your trade contacts today.
Oregon Wine Month 2022 Webinar #2 I March 1
Registration is now open for the second of two Oregon Wine Month 2022 webinars on Tuesday, March 1 at 10 a.m. Join us to learn about the program’s DTC tactics, tools, and more. Register now.
Education
Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum x Change Cadet Presents Do the Work Series (Pt. 1)
As the Oregon wine industry looks toward expanding teams in the new year, a relevant article relating to diversity and inclusion appeared from Elaine Chukan Brown on JancisRobinson.com entitled Widening the wine world that is well worth a read. There is an opportunity to engage in a three-part workshop coming up in April with Dr. Akilah Cadet. The workshop is specifically for leaders working on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives in the wine industry who want to do the work of becoming accomplices and learn how to integrate anti-racism work into every aspect of their personal and professional lives. Sign up now to secure your spot.
Press and Media
JancisRobinson.com Gets “in the Oregon Groove”
For her Feb. 11 edition of ‘Wines of the Week,’ Jancis Robinson personally selected Hundred Suns, Old Eight Cut Pinot Noir 2019 Willamette Valley. Kicking off by boldly stating that she is “fired up with the enthusiasm for the Pinots and Chardonnays from this Pacific Northwest state,” Robinson proceeds to go into flattering detail about what makes her selection so special before broadly concluding that it “would be an admirable introduction to the value on offer in Oregon.” Robinson recently placed Elaine Chukan Brown, a friend to Oregon wine, as Executive Editor U.S. and Oregon-based Samantha Cole Johnson to cover wines, especially those from the Pacific Northwest.
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at January conditions and forecasts conditions for February, March, and April.
Participate in the NCSFR Annual Survey
To improve communications for the Northwest Center for Smalls Fruits Research (NCSFR), the Northwest Berry Foundation is conducting an annual survey to gauge awareness about NCSFR. The deadline to submit the completed survey is Friday, Feb. 18th.
Southern Oregon Grape Symposium Returns March 15
This year’s program will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium at SOREC as well as via Zoom, and registration is now open. This year’s programming will feature a broad range of topics from drought to IPM to sprayer calibration.
Opportunities
Oregon Wine Industry Forum | Next meeting: March 15
Due to the Oregon Wine Symposium, the next monthly Oregon Wine Industry Forum will take place March 15 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 for the series of meetings.
Nonprofit Announces Launch of National Applications for Flagship Internship Program
Our Legacy Harvested, a nonprofit founded in 2020 dedicated to educating, advancing, and empowering the BIPOC community at any career level within the wine industry, has opened its inaugural internship applications nationally for six interns beginning this fall. The internships will be four months long, with a specialty focused on either direct-to-consumer or wine production, and will be hired and paid for by a partnering winery. Scholarships will be provided by Our Legacy Harvested to cover housing, transportation, training, and Sunday Suppers.
Take the 2022 Oregon Wine Industry Labor Survey
Jeff D. Peterson, Ph.D. of Linfield University, is once again inviting Oregon wine industry members to participate in the yearly salary and labor survey. The study is specific to Oregon wine businesses and gathers information from 2021. It takes about 15 minutes to complete. Take the survey by Feb. 20.
Other News
Registration Now Open for Governor’s Conference on Tourism
Registration is now open for Travel Oregon’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism, taking place March 14-16, in Sunriver, Oregon.
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.
Travel Oregon’s Draft Strategic Plan Open for Comment
Travel Oregon’s 2022-2031 Draft Transformational Strategic Plan is currently open for public comment. Comments must be submitted by Feb. 21 at 5 p.m. The transformational plan is designed to be a high-level, 10-year strategy that is a crucial response to adapt their mission to meet the most timely and significant opportunities and needs of residents, industry, and visitors.
P.S. Thanks again to Dr. Jeff Peterson for jumping in to field the next version of the 
Tom Danowski
President
