Dear Friends,
Your Oregon Wine Board of Directors met in Milton-Freewater on June 9 and approved the final slate of 2022-23 scientific research applications as recommended by the Research Committee. Totaling just under $360,000, the list includes the following scientists and projects:
Dr. Walter Mahaffee: botrytis bunch rot
Josh Vlach: Oregon vine mealybug
Dr. Achala KC: grapevine trunk disease management
Dr. Patricia Skinkis: rootstock performance in Oregon
Dr. Elizabeth Tomasino: Oregon fire smoke baselines
Dr. James Osborne: malolactic fermentation timing and color
Dr. Alexander Levin: determining optimal irrigation initiation time.
In addition to the industry’s support for these Oregon researchers, funding agencies in California have supplemented OWB’s investment of your tax dollars with an additional $286,000 for work to be done by Oregon State Drs. Elizabeth Tomasino, Laurent DeLuc, and Michael Qian. Congratulations to all of the awardees and Thank You to the growers and winemakers who offered their time and experience in service to the Research Committee. To learn more about the committee or apply to be a part of it, see OWB’s website. We’re always glad to welcome another volunteer.
More excitement at Oregon State University comes from the shiny, new on-campus research winery in Withycombe Hall. A $55 million renovation is in process and it will increase the space for the winery from approximately 800 square feet now to over 2,000. Dr. James Osborne, a faculty member at the Oregon Wine Research Institute, and Amy Crumley with the OSU Foundation, have championed the fundraising to equip the expanded winery. They remind us it’s not too late to contribute and even name a fermentation tank for someone special (see photo below) in exchange for a contribution at the $10,000 level. The Erath Family Foundation, NW Farm Credit Services and industry members Cheryl Francis and Sam Tannahill have each stepped forward with generous, six-figure gifts to nudge OSU closer to its campaign’s goal. Contact Amy directly for additional information about the continuing funding effort.
I want to be sure to mention an upcoming OWB meeting of possible interest. International Marketing Committee Chair Bob Morus, along with Vice Chair Steve Thomson, will gather us in the Zoom room on Thursday, July 28 at 10 a.m. to share ideas and insights related to Oregon’s USDA-grant-funded Export program. Just let us know if you would like to participate. Any industry member is welcome.
I also can’t forget the updated grape pricing report published by the research team at the University of Oregon. It’s complete now and includes tonnage prices from 2021 by variety and region.
Finally, thanks to those who Zoomed in for our most recent all-industry open forum last Tuesday morning. Mike McNally offered some updated information on the implementation of the conjunctive labeling rules that go into effect in the Willamette Valley on January 1, 2023. That’s at the 5-minute point in this recording of the meeting. Mike also provided this summary guidance about the new rule from OLCC. Dr. Jeff Peterson took the mic at minute 21 with the updated Oregon Wine Industry Labor & Salary Survey. Then Jeremy Hart (49:00) wrapped it up with a guided tour of an on-premise placement tracking technology from somm.ai. See the dates for future all-industry forums on our site and feel free to suggest topics and guest speakers.
P.S. Oregon Wine Board Director Tiquette Bramlett, President of Compris Vineyard in Newberg, gave an informative and illuminating interview to OPB radio earlier this month about her work founding Our Legacy Harvested. It’s worth your time.
Tom Danowski
President
Marketing
Update Your Winery and Event Listings on the New OregonWine.org
In April, OWB soft-launched its new consumer website centered around the True Character brand identity. We received excellent feedback from our industry members that has allowed us to continue to refine the site, and additional feedback can be submitted any time via our website toolkit. With tourism season kicking off, we encourage you to access your winery listing and make sure that all information is current and up to date. You can also submit events. Any technical questions or issues can be sent to [email protected].
Alaska Airlines Relaunches Promotion of Wine Flies Free Program
As we come out of the pandemic, Alaska Airlines has restarted the promotion of their Wine Flies Free program. As promotion of Wine Flies Free starts to ramp up, we ask that you:
Remind your tasting room staff about the Oregon Wine Flies Free program and how it works
Check your listing in the tasting room directory to make sure your status as a participating winery is correct
Wine Flies Free is a great sales tool for wine tourists and also provides an opportunity to educate customers on proper packaging of wine for air travel. If you have questions about the program, reach out to Jean Carlon at Alaska Airlines at [email protected].
Education
Biodynamic Viticulture 2.0 Seminar Taking Place Aug. 5
The Montinore Estate is hosting an all-day seminar that will offer practical information on effectively implementing Biodynamic practices to achieve results in our vineyards and wineries. Presentations from local and international speakers, panel discussions, and wine tasting will provide attendees insights into the “how to” of Biodynamic practices to produce better grapes and wine. The $100 attendance fee includes lunch, and the event is limited to 50 attendees. Please send inquiries to [email protected].
Press and Media
Media Opportunities: Calls for Wine
VinePair
VinePair’s Buy This Booze column has sent an open call for late-June/early-July wine submissions and standalone wine reviews specifically focused on Oregon Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec. Learn more
Research
June 2022 Weather and Climate Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at May conditions and forecasts conditions for June, July, and August.
USDA-NIFA Funded Smoke Impact Research Project I June 27 at 1 p.m.
Project leads Drs. Tom Collins (WSU), Anita Oberholster (UC Davis), and Elizabeth Tomasino (OSU) will talk about the logistics, progress to date, and what’s next for the multi-year, grant-funded research project focusing on wildfire smoke-exposed wine grapes in CA, OR, and WA. Register for the webinar.
OSU Vineyard Scouting Workshop I June 29
The OSU Extension Service is hosting a hands-on workshop on vineyard health monitoring at Coles Valley Vineyard in Umpqua on Wednesday, June 29. The event includes five modules designed to give you practical information to hone your vineyard scouting and monitoring skills and to increase your knowledge of plant health, protection, and management from economically important vineyard-based issues including, pests, nutrition, drought, and wildfires. The modules will include new and regionally important information based on research findings from Oregon State University, the US Department of Agriculture, and Oregon Department of Agriculture. Register by June 24.
Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research’s Annual Conference Taking Place Nov. 14-16
Save the date! The NCSFR’s Annual Conference will be held from Monday, Nov. 14 to Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Red Lion Columbia Center in Kennewick, WA. A room block is open for hotel reservations now, and more details will be posted later this month. Attendees can call (509) 783-0611, mention the conference, and get the room block rate.
Opportunities
Oregon Wine Board Seeking to Fill Position
OWB is currently looking for a Communications Manager to join our team. See more details below and please share the job posting with anyone you know who might be qualified and interested.
Communications Manager
This position builds relationships and maintains contact with key media influencers across all platforms providing focused content that builds “Brand Oregon” in support of OWB’s strategic plan, among other responsibilities. Job posting
Other News
OLCC Rulemaking on Senate Bill #829: Conjunctive Labeling
The OLCC has recently issued Wine Label Guidance for Willamette Valley wines that utilize a “Nested AVA” designation. The guidance is associated with Senate Bill 829 on Conjunctive Labeling that was passed in the 2019 legislature. A link to the OLCC Wine Label Guidance is available here. A recording of a Webinar on Conjunctive Labeling and the OLCC Wine Label Guidance is available here.
Tom Danowski
President
