June 30 marked the end of the OWB’s 2017-18 fiscal year. This provides us with an opportunity to evaluate what we have delivered to the Oregon wine industry over the past year, and offers you – our most important stakeholders – the chance to tell us how you think we’re doing, and what you’d like to see done differently in the future.
In the upcoming year, the OWB team and Directors will be reviewing and revising our three-year strategic plan to guide how we focus our efforts and how your tax dollars are allocated across our programming. It’s our goal to address the many diverse needs of the community we serve by undertaking activities for which we are uniquely positioned. Help us make sure we’re meeting those needs by spending five minutes giving us feedback in our annual industry satisfaction survey. At the end of the survey, you will also have the option to provide more specific input on viticulture and enology research to inform the strategic program review program we’ll be undertaking this year.
And while we hope that the opportunity to provide candid feedback is enough of a draw, we’re sweetening the offer by giving you a shot at some 2019 Symposium packages, which include a full-access pass and one night hotel stay in Portland. These packages will go to three randomly selected winners who complete the survey by July 20.
As you consider your survey answers, keep in mind this sample of what the OWB team delivered in the past 12 months:
We welcomed 242 members of the trade and media and 279 consumers to our Oregon Wine Trail educational and tasting event in Los Angeles in April, including a full-to-capacity Master Class exploring all of Oregon’s major wine regions.
We hosted 15 journalists and brought them to visit vineyards and meet winemakers from all of Oregon’s major wine-producing regions. These writers spanned the globe, hailing from Japan to New York to Denmark, and represented publications including The Wine Advocate, Wine Folly, Forbes Magazine, The Robb Report, The Seattle Times, Great Northwest Wines, SevenFifty Daily and more.
We launched the first version of the Grape and Wine Profit Calculator to help vineyard and winery owners develop better business plans and sponsored workshops around the state to introduce this new tool to the industry.
We sponsored an educational lunch and tasting for 150 wine professionals at the 2017 TEXSOM conference focused on white wines from around the state, and coordinated free shipping for wineries submitting to the 2018 TEXSOM International Wine Awards. This resulted in increased awareness of Southern Oregon among TEXSOM educators, who will devote a seminar to that region at their 2018 conference next month.
We allocated a record $437,500 to viticulture and enology research projects for the coming year, which includes a recurring portion of the industry’s grape tax money supplemented for the first time by an historic allocation for the Oregon wine industry from the Oregon General Fund.
We worked with GuildSomm to produce a video highlighting the diversity of winegrowing throughout Oregon, and shared that video and GuildSomm’s Oregon podcast with 2,000 trade members through our Trade Newsletter. With nearly 86,000 downloads, the podcast episode is currently the fourth most-downloaded podcast in GuildSomm’s library of over 60 podcasts.
We hosted 36international buyers in Oregon, organized opportunities for wineries to connect with importers and buyers in 4 countries in Asia and Europe, and repeated our wildly popular Taste Oregon event in Toronto.
We expanded Oregon Wine Month efforts this year, reaching more than 70 distributors in 35 states and growing our consumer contact list by an additional 9,100 contacts.
We conducted and released the first Salary and Labor Survey specific to the Oregon wine industry.
Finally, if you missed last week’s announcement, the preliminary 2017 Grape Pricing Report was released. The full 2017 Vineyard and Winery Report will be published later this summer.
Best wishes for a festive and safe Independence Day.
Cheers,
Jess Willey
Director of Strategic Insights & Industry Relations
Oregon Wine Board
The OWB marketing team works hard to put together an Oregon Wine Month program that gives wineries, distributors and accounts the tools and support needed to drive activations across direct-to-consumer and distributed channels alike. Each year, we carefully review your feedback and use it to make the program stronger. Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback on Oregon Wine Month 2018.
Announcing the 2018 Oregon Wine Month Reps of the Year
Oregon Wins Big at TEXSOM International Wine Awards
The Oregon wine industry made its mark among preeminent wine influencers this year at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards. Many wineries took advantage of the OWB’s complimentary shipping program, resulting in more Oregon wines evaluated and a 20% increase in award-winning Oregon wines. Read more about Oregon’s performance.
2018 Oregon Wine Touring Guide Available
In our recent survey of Touring Guide recipients, 92% agreed the guide was useful during their visit to Oregon’s wine regions. Take advantage of this strong resource in your tasting room. The 2018 Oregon Wine Touring Guide is available for complimentary order and delivery now. Order your case.
EDUCATION
New Viticulture “Bootcamp” from Linfield College’s Center for Wine Education
The Center for Wine Education at Linfield College is launching a five-day intensive field course titled “Introduction to Viticulture,” taking place Aug. 18-22. The course is open to current Linfield students as well as non-degree students. Learn more and register.
OWB Webinar Recording Available: 2017 Oregon Wine Industry Salary Survey
Linfield College’s Professor Jeff D. Peterson shared the results of the first-ever salary survey specific to the Oregon wine industry in this webinar, held on June 13. The survey results provide a framework within which small Oregon-based growers and producers can plan for hiring in an increasingly crowded marketplace. This study was conducted by Linfield College with the support of the OWB Education Committee, and includes data from 188 growers and producers. View the webinar and presentation.
OWB Workshop Recording Available: Oregon Grape and Wine Profit Calculator
In March 2018, the OWB proudly released the Oregon Grape and Wine Profit Calculator. This web-based tool is designed to give Oregon’s wine businesses accurate forecasting and a complete financial snapshot of their production, sales, marketing and distribution divisions. Two workshops were held to introduce the Calculator, the first edition of which provides a calculation of wine cost of goods and gross margins. Learn more and view the workshop recordings.
RESEARCH
OWB Research Listening Tour Coming to You in August – Register Now
The OWB Research Committee is inviting interested industry members to attend one of a series of listening sessions to be held around the state in late August. The purpose is to invite your candid comments, ideas and suggestions for making the OWB’s viticulture and enology research program as responsive as possible to the industry’s present and emerging needs. These are important sessions at which your opinions and guidance will help the OWB dial in the research initiatives our industry must undertake to grow and thrive in the decades ahead. See the schedule and register for a session near you.
Research Update: Impact of Pre-Fermentation Cold Soak Conditions on Microbial Populations and Consequences for Wine Aroma
Dr. James Osborne, associate professor and extension enologist in the Department of Food Science and Technology at Oregon State University, has prepared an update on the research he is leading on cold soak techniques to avoid spoilage. This project receives funding from the Oregon Wine Board as part of its viticulture and enology research grant program.Read Dr. Osborne’s update.
June 2018 Weather and Climate Forecast
On June 5, Dr. Greg Jones of Linfield College published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at May conditions, provides an updated drought watch, and forecasts conditions for June, July and August. Read the report.
CALLS FOR WINE
Sip Northwest’s Best of the Northwest 2018 | Deadline: July 13
Sip Northwest magazine is accepting submissions for its seventh annual Best of the Northwest issue, due out in October. Entries are due by July 13. Get more details and submission guidelines.
OPPORTUNITIES
Wine Spectator Fall Advertising Opportunities
Wine Spectator is offering cooperative advertising opportunities in November’s Holiday Planning issue and December’s Top 100 Wines of the Year issue, providing exposure in the magazine at a more affordable price than standalone advertising. Up to 18 first-come, first-served spaces are available per issue. Read more and secure your participation.
Apply Now to be Considered for the Oregon Wine Board of Directors in 2019
Deadline: July 31
There are expected to be two openings on the nine-member Oregon Wine Board starting in January 2019. Applications for these positions are being accepted until July 31. The Governor’s Oregon Wine Board appointees are also invited to stand for ratification by members of the Oregon Winegrowers Association to serve concurrently on both Boards of Directors. Read more and learn how to apply.
OTHER NEWS
2017 Preliminary Grape Pricing Report Now Available
The preliminary pricing report for grapes from the 2017 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Survey is now available. The report includes weighted average prices and median prices by region and variety, as well as minimum and maximum prices per ton to provide a more comprehensive picture of pricing around the state. Learn more and download the report.
ODA Announces Funding to Help Offset Organic Certification Costs
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of cost-share rebate funds for certified organic farmers and processors. The funds will reimburse up to 75 percent of certification costs, or up to $750 per year per certification scope. The rebates are available to cover certification expenses paid between Oct. 1, 2016 and Sept. 30, 2017, or for the period of Oct. 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2018. Learn more.
Join the Oregon Wine Industry Collaboration Space on Facebook
The OWB recently introduced a closed Facebook group called the Oregon Wine Industry Collaboration Space. This online community is open to all employees of Oregon wineries, vineyards and regional associations across the state and is an informal platform to discuss issues, ask questions, collaborate and stay apprised of updates and time-sensitive action items from the OWB. Whether you work in sales, marketing, grapegrowing, production – or wear many of those hats – you are encouraged to join the 400+ existing members of this group to get connected with your colleagues around Oregon. Learn more or join now.