Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As I begin my third week serving as your OWB Executive Director, I want to share with you what I’m working on and what you can expect. But first, I want to express my gratitude. I have been awed by the kind words and encouragement I’ve received from so many of you via email and at the Oregon Wine Symposium (OWS) last week. I have known the Oregon wine industry to be committed to uplifting one another, but I could not have imagined such a warm and enthusiastic welcome. For this, I am most thankful.
Those who attended the OWS heard me talk about my first priority. It is to the team! I am meeting regularly with them to get up to speed with the many projects they are working on and the potential for new opportunities to explore. What I ask of you during this period of discovery, is your patience with me as I spend time learning and getting acclimated to my new role.
From this process will emerge a set of goals and likely many questions that we will be bringing to you. There is no doubt that the global wine industry is facing headwinds, and we want to hear from you as we embark on our 2025 strategic planning process. To ensure our strategic plan represents you and serves the needs of the industry, we are committed to engaging with you and collaborating with your regional associations and the Industry Partnership Committee throughout. Your input is essential to helping us set a strategy for the next 5 years.
In the coming months, I look forward to meeting those of you I don’t know and working with all of you.
Warmest Regards,
Gina Bianco
Executive Director
PS: This year’s Oregon Wine Symposium saw record numbers in both attendance and trade show exhibitors. We are so appreciative for your participation and for the support of our sponsors, speakers, business partners, education committee members, and to our colleagues at Oregon Winegrowers Association for their collaboration in making this year’s event a record setting success. As always, we encourage your feedback on the event so we can make it even better next year. Please clickhereto complete the surveyby March 6 and we will send you a password to access all the recorded sessions from the 2024 OWS when they are available on our website.
Stay Current with Oregon Wine Month Planning, Place your Orders for Complimentary POS
In case you missed the Oregon Wine Month 2024 planning webinar on Jan.23, the recording is available here. This session covered programming for all sales channels. As we move closer to May check the OWM Toolkit for resources updates. The Oregon Wine Board is happy to print and ship complimentary promotional pieces to amplify your efforts. Orders are due by March 8 to ensure early April fulfillment. We are producing three formats: 8.5”x11” case cards, 4″x6″ table tents, and bottle neckers all available in various layouts. All pieces will have a QR code linking consumers to sweepstakes and educational content. Click HERE to order and feel free to reach out to David DeWitt (OWB Trade Relations) or Neil Ferguson (OWB Director of Marketing) with any questions as we look forward to partnering with the industry for another successful promotion.
Promote Your Events Through the Oregon Wine Board
Throughout the year, OWB promotes consumer-facing wine events through its website, Oregon Wine Insider consumer newsletter, and its social media channels. Wineries and organizers are reminded to take advantage of this promotional resource to receive maximum amplification for events. While wineries can submit individual events at any time on oregonwine.org, OWB seeks events that include multiple wineries and/or benefit a positive cause to promote on its consumer channels. Event organizers can reach out to [email protected].
Wine Industry Insights
Sovos DtC Report and Webinar Recordings
The Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping Report is an annual collaboration between Sovos ShipCompliant and WinesBusiness Analytics. It contains the latest representation of the American direct-to-consumer (DtC) channel while providing data on growth trends, price per bottle shipped, regional demand, varietal trends, and more.
Wine Business’s Outlook on 2024 DtC Regulatory Changes
2024 regulatory agenda for direct-to-consumer (DtC) wine shipping has begun to take shape. While there are only a few states that remain entirely closed to DtC wine shipping a great deal of activity still demands attention. From the need to resolve problematic laws recently adopted in a couple of states to the ongoing work to remove the lasting barriers to DtC wine shipping, here is a preview of what may (and hopefully will) come to fruition in 2024. Learn more.
Wine Industry Network Report on Experts’ Positive Predictions for DtC in 2024
SVB, Sovos, and other studies recently released seem to agree that Direct-to-consumer sales will be one of wine’s few bright spots in 2024. There is a sense that the relatively good news in the 2024 projection for DtC numbers has much to do with the typical DtC customer, who is among the most loyal and has more financial resources than most wine consumers. Learn more.
Wine Direct Shares Key Takeaways from 2024 DtC Conference
Wine Direct as a sponsor and eager attendant of the annual Direct-To-Consumer Wine Symposium is sharing their insightful takeaways, including staying current with technology, acting upon cart abandonment, making sure member onbording is exciting… Learn more.
ISWR New U.S. Sparkling Wine Market Report
Despite signs of slowing growth, the prospects for the U.S. sparkling wine market are largely positive, thanks to an expanding base of increasingly engaged consumers making more frequent purchases in the category. The marketplace has also witnessed a demographic shift over the past few years, with younger adult men now spearheading deeper engagement with the category – and consumers in general are increasingly looking beyond brands to explore new styles of sparkling wine. Learn more.
Education
Please fill out the Oregon Wine Symposium Satisfaction Survey | Deadline March 6
We are so appreciative for your participation and for the support of our sponsors, speakers, business partners, education committee members, and our colleagues at Oregon Winegrowers Association for their collaboration in making this year’s event a record-setting success. As always, we encourage your feedback on the event so we can make it even better next year. Please clickhereto complete the surveyby March 6 and we will send you a password to access all the recorded sessions from the 2024 OWS when they are available on our website.
The Drinks Business reports on defining Regenerative Agriculture
Jess Baum senior director of regenerative impact’ at Bonterra Organic Estates commented, “Due to an absence of a global or government definition for what ‘regenerative’ means, it becomes essentially an adjective that anybody can apply to refer to a bunch of practices, so it becomes a claim that is not validated.” In Oregon Troon is one of the regenerative certified wineries. Read more.
Wine Searcher Names Oregon The Wine Collector’s New Darling
In the past several years, Oregon wines have garnered around six spots on the prestigious wine awards list, or snagging the equivalent 6 percent of the accolades, a not insignificant feat considering the state accounts for far less than 1 percent of global wine production. Oregon had seven wines on Wine Spectator magazine’s much-ballyhooed Top 100 Wines for 2023 list. Read more.
Forbes Presents the Willamette Valley as a Year-Round Tourist Attraction
John Mariani shares a non-exhaustive list of new and innovative tasting rooms as well as wine industry events. Read more.
For the James Suckling Oregon Report, producers are now invited to submit four skus (instead of two as earlier requested) of any variety of new releases that have not yet been reviewed by JamesSuckling.com. Learn more.
Wine Spectator Advertising Opportunity | Deadline Mar. 18
Wine Spectator is offering Oregon wineries the opportunity to be featured together in its June ’24 “Oregon Wine Report Issue.” The co-op page, designed by Wine Spectator, will encourage readers to visit Oregon and buy Oregon wines. This ad and digital amplification have the potential to reach an audience of nearly 3 million readers who are high-frequency wine consumers. View conditions here.
Research
Viticulture & Enology
February 2024 Weather and Climate Forecast
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 2024.
Save the Date: International Symposium on Grapevine Epidemic Diseases | May 17 -18
The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), jointly with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), will host the first “International Symposium on Grapevine Epidemic Diseases. Pierce’s Disease & Flavescence dorée” on May 17 -18 in Austin, Texas. This event will gather international academics and specialists from the viticultural sector. Information about registration fees and logistics will be published soon.
We will review OWB’s 2024-25 detailed draft budget at this public presentation. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input and ask questions. No advance registration is required, please save this link and passcode 105927 to join the presentation.
OWB Renews Partnership with Community Benchmark | Claim Your Account
On Nov. 30 2023, 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, in collaboration with Willamette Valley Wineries Association and Rogue Valley Vintners who are sharing in the cost to support Community Benchmark in their regions, 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.
Registrations are Open for the U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit | April 30 – May 1
Join the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and co-hosts from California, Washington, New York, and Oregon to learn about cutting-edge sustainable and climate-beneficial practices. Be inspired and gain ideas on how to share sustainable winegrowing stories with consumers and trade. Register at early bird prices until Feb. 29 here.
TTB Listening Sessions for Nutritional Information, Allergens, and Ingredients
For perspectives in favor of ingredient labeling, read Alder Yarrow’s blog post “Why I support Ingredients Labeling for Wine” and view press releases both Sokol Blosser and Troon Vineyard & Farm available along with industry resources on this page. TTB announced its intention to hold two virtual listening sessions this month to hear industry concerns regarding alcohol nutritional information, allergens, and ingredients. Learn more and register.
Other News
OWB Supports our industry’s Advocacy Associations in Defense of Oregon’s Craft Alcohol Beverage Industry
Following an article published in The Oregonian on Jan. 25 reporting that the Oregon Health Authority appeared to have intentionally withheld the findings of a taxpayer-funded study, the Oregon Winegrowers Association (OWA), the Oregon Wine Council (OWC), and the Oregon Beverage Alliance (OBA) expressed their position. The OBA release can be accessed here and the OWA and OWC joint press release can be accessed here. OWB stands by our advocacy associations and asks that our industry collectively support them in their efforts to defend the Oregon wine and grape growing industry. OWB will continue to work and support research to outline the strength and positive economic impact of the Oregon Wine industry.
Architectural Heritage Center Seeks Wine Donations for Annual Gala
The Architectural Heritage Center in Portland is seeking wine donations for their annual gala: the “Party for Preservation” taking place on April 26. The gala celebrates historic preservation efforts of the past, present, and future and is their largest fundraising event of the year. Your wine donation will support the AHC’s vision, programs, and advocacy efforts. Interested wineries can contact Tom Lane at [email protected]
Help Restore Nonstop Air Service From PDX | Take Survey by Feb. 28
The Port of Portland is seeking from input from small- and medium-sized businesses to assess the current state of business travel as it works to expand air service for the local business community and international travelers. The Port is working to bring back nonstop air service from PDX to Asia, recruit new service to Latin America, and grow service in Europe. Complete the survey.
Gina Bianco
Executive Director
