Dear Friends,
At the Oregon Wine Board’s meeting last month, Directors approved additional money for awards available to wine industry associations for local or regional marketing, research, and education programs. See the OWB website for further information on these enhanced grants which can be made to eligible applicants in any amount up to $2,000 per year. For requests in excess of $500, a cash contribution is required, but that amount can be determined by the applicant based on their available resources.
Another new source of funding was announced by Travel Oregon last week. Here’s more on the commission’s latest round of competitive grants.
No matching dollars are needed for these, and the minimum amount of each grant will be $20,000. Interested parties need to submit a letter of intent to Travel Oregon no later than Friday, Aug. 18.
Now if you haven’t yet ordered the newest Oregon Wine Touring Guide for your tasting room, you haven’t missed out. Consumers are snapping them up at a record pace. Orders are up 73% versus the same point in the life cycle of the previous edition and industry orders are up an impressive 566%. We printed thousands of copies since it’s one of our primary vehicles for stimulating wine country visits, and it was produced at a significant discount versus our budgeted amount. You can also mention this free digital version of the guide in your newsletters to wine club members.
This final announcement is for those who would consider joining the nine-member Oregon Wine Board of Directors. Every fall, the Governor appoints up to three new Directors for three-year terms. Her Executive Appointments team in Salem reviews application packets in October with the hope of having new Directors named as soon as possible after the harvest so they are in place by Jan. 1. Learn more about OWB service and submit your application directly to Salem by Friday, Sept. 29. Questions about the process and the deadline can be directed to the Executive Appointments Office.
P.S. While the 2024 Oregon Wine Symposium may seem like a distant marker on the horizon, it’s rarely far from our minds at the OWB. Remember to save the dates: Feb. 13-14, 2024, when the industry will reassemble at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. In the meantime, don’t forget that the viticulture, enology, business, and general sessions from OWS 2023 are available on our site now for anyone to view anytime.
Tom Danowski
President
Marketing
OWB Marketing
Register Now for Oregon Wine Month ’23 Recap and ’24 Planning Meeting | Aug. 15 at 11 a.m.
Join us as we recap promotional efforts from Oregon Wine Month 2023. We will look at robust national business results from this year’s campaign for all trade channels including DtC, on and off premise depletion data, scan data, and more. Additionally, we will look at results from digital marketing and our social media efforts. We will discuss 2024 planning in an open forum. Register here.
Wine Industry Insights
Sustainability Concerns Drive Interest in Organic Wines, a study by IWSR
Sustainability concerns have generally become more elevated amongst wine drinkers over the past year, which has translated into a growing consumer interest in alternative wines, especially in the US and UK. Learn more.
Education
Oregon Statewide Summer DtC Townhall | Recording Available
On June 13, winery owners, tasting room, and wine club managers gathered online for a statewide townhall to review the spring DtC and tasting room data and share insights to prepare for the busy summer months. This townhall co-hosted by OWB and regional associations included presentations from Community Benchmark and WISE Academy. Watch the recording or read the presentation deck. To reacquaint yourself with this program, visit the Community Benchmark Toolkit.
Biodynamic Masterclass Open to Oregon Industry Members I July 27-29
Join international and domestic (including Oregon) wine producers and leaders in biodynamic viticulture for three days of masterclasses and tastings at the Quintessa estate in Napa Valley, California. Large and small biodynamic producers from around the world will share insights and knowledge. Biodiversity and terroir specialists will offer a perspective on viticulture in today’s changing environment. With a focus on practices and principles that build vineyard health and resilience, this immersive and conversational symposium is ideal for wine producers, consultants, viticulturists, sommeliers, and wine educators. Register here.
Press and Media
Press Highlights
The New York Times Magazine Praises Maggie Harrison’s Wine Artistry
In this article, Alex Halberstadt tells Antica Terra’s success story and its unique approach to hospitality in what could be the least frivolous Willamette Valley winery and tasting room.
Oregon makes the Robb Report’s list of 50 Best Wine Tourism Destinations
The Robb Report of world’s best vineyards highlights wine tourism destinations around the globe. Representing Oregon, Brooks Wine is a new entry among the 50 top vineyards to make the selection. Coming in 28th position as one of only two U.S. vineyards in the highly exalted list.
Huffpost Covers the Diversification of Portland’s Food Scene
In this article, Portland is described as a destination for chefs and restaurateurs of color to experiment and reshape the scene to be more flavor- and culture-inclusive. Abbey Creek founder and winemaker Bertony Faustin is interviewed as part of the change that is most evident in the pop-up culture. This article was syndicated across dozens of articles as far-reaching as New Zealand.
VinePair Requests Pinot gris and Merlot | Deadline August 8 and 22
Vinepair seeks Oregon’s expressions of Pinot gris and Merlot for their upcoming Buy this Booze column. Learn more.
Oregon Wine Press Seeks White Varieties for October Cellar Selects
Oregon Wine Press would like to sample Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, White Pinot, Vermentino, and Albariño. Please send one submission per category. Learn more.
Research
Viticulture & Enology
July 2023 Weather and Climate Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at June conditions and forecasts conditions for July, August, and September.
This online app (https://uspest.org/risk/grape_powdery_app) funded in part by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Crop Protection, and Pest Management, Extension Implementation Program (USDA-NIFA-CPPM-EIP) offers a newer, streamlined interface for the existing model, which is also available through MyPest Page. It determines the 7-14 day risk forecast for powdery mildew based on vineyard location.
Industry Research
Preliminary Grape Pricing Report Now Available
The preliminary grape pricing report from the 2022 Oregon Vineyard & Winery Census is now available. The report includes median, weighted average, minimum and maximum prices per ton by variety at the state level. Regional prices by variety are reported where enough data points were provided. View Report.
The University of Oregon is keeping the census link open a little longer. If you wish you had participated, you still can enter your data now.
Opportunities
The Roots Fund Meet and Greet | July 27, 3 – 5 p.m.
The Roots Fund is a non-profit organization focused on securing the pathway for communities of color in wine. They are looking for harvest internship opportunities in hospitality and wine production: Request a Roots Fund Intern. Join The Roots Fund CEO Ikimi Dubose-Woodson and board directors for a meet and greet in Dundee at Artist Block Wines to learn more about their harvest and hospitality internships for Oregon wineries. RSVP to [email protected] or [email protected]
Birds & Bees: a LIVE and Pollinator Partnership Field Day | Aug. 1
Learn key strategies for establishing and maintaining pollinator habitat in/around an agricultural landscape at Willamette Valley Vineyards (Turner location). Executive Director of the Cascades Raptor Center, Julie Collins, and Willamette Valley Vineyards’, Randy Hillyer and Joe Perez, will lead discussion on birds of prey as an ecological measure to reduce rodent pest populations and to preserve ground nesting pollinator habitat. Jana Lee and Dalila Rendon with the USDA Agricultural Research Service will discuss biological control agents as means of pest management. Register here.
Uncork the Potential of Our Marketplace
Do you have a job to offer? Are you looking for grapes? The Oregon Wine Board Marketplace is a useful tool for getting the word out. Don’t miss out on this free resource. Let’s connect the industry by trading and thriving together!
Other News
Oregon Wine Experience Tickets available | Aug. 16-20
This five-day event is one of the country’s top wine and culinary events benefiting charity. This distinct experience located just outside of historic Jacksonville, celebrates the state’s unrivaled wines, paired with artisan cheese and charcuterie. Check out this year’s program and get tickets for the Oregon Wine Experience and University series.
Tom Danowski
President
