Every so often we hope it’s helpful to bring some of the Oregon Wine Board’s free programs and business support tools back into the spotlight. While they hold value for any Oregon wine business owner, they are often designed with the needs of mid-sized or early-stage growers and winemakers in mind.
Here are reminders about a few of them:
Copies of the newest Oregon Wine Touring Guide have so far been ordered by fewer than 200 of our state’s 770 wineries and can be requested right here (complimentary order in boxes of 40). There’s an online version too to share with friends and club members;
The Oregon Wines Fly Free program, designed in partnership with Travel Oregon and Alaska Airlines, can be an effective way to plus up tasting room sales this summer. Your guests can avoid the checked bag fee when they take a case of Oregon wine home on Alaska or Horizon Air flights. 350 wineries are enrolled right now and we hope you’ll consider jumping on the bandwagon if you’re not yet one of them. Order your free promotional materials here;
The “Learn Oregon” series of online seminars was viewed this spring by 336 wine professionals from 45 states and 27 countries. However, just 80 Oregon wineries have accessed the material, which is still a great way to engage your staff members and your distributor, restaurant or retail partners who can browse the curriculum at their own pace any time;
While we have well over a thousand winemaking and grape growing businesses in our extended community, just 344 of them were represented at our most recent annual Oregon Wine Symposium. We understand it’s not always convenient to attend the Symposium or possible to sit in on every session even if you’re there, so click here to review the list of video recordings covering all 22 viticulture, enology and business seminars. Make sure to look for the acclaimed Climatology update from Linfield’s Dr. Greg Jones;
Winemakers won’t want to miss the chance to get wines in front of Erin Brooks next month as she prepares her annual Oregon report for The Wine Advocate. Last year half of the Oregon wines reviewed were scored 90 points or higher. Be aware though, that Erin has a limit this year on the total number of wines she can taste during her time here and unfortunately cannot review more than four wines from any single producer. For an insider’s perspective on the way reviewers like Erin often work, read this Oregon winemaker’s post on how to approach wine submissions strategically so they work to strengthen your brand;
Finally, it is never too late to join the 458 Oregon wineries that have provided us with updated information about their tasting room location, hours and guest policies. You can do that here so we can keep your winery profile current on the OWB’s website and can also in Travel Oregon’s tourism information system for consumers and trade members planning visits to Oregon wine country.
Tom Danowski
President
NEWS FROM THE OREGON WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION
We’ll have a review of the 2019 legislative session in Salem after it’s gaveled to a close in the next week or so.
This week though, to help ensure no one runs afoul of the law and incurs penalties or possible winery license suspensions, it’s time for that friendly reminder about grape taxes. They are due to the OLCC by this Sunday, June 30, for those who might still have a balance payable from the 2018 harvest. As many growers are already aware, state law holds the vineyard owner responsible when selling fruit to winemakers outside Oregon. $12.50 per ton is due on grapes sold to out-of-state customers. See column E on this OLCC form.
MARKETING
Give Us Your Thoughts on Oregon Wine Month
Another Oregon Wine Month is in the books! Thanks to all of you who came out in force to help make May a great success. Please answer 3 quick questions to provide us with the insight we need to continue to improve the Oregon Wine Month program.
Oregon Wine Trail New York City: Event Recap
On May 6, the OWB hosted more than 60 wineries from around the state at our Oregon Wine Trail event in New York City. We welcomed more than 300 members of the trade to a walk-around tasting, distributor VIP reception and Master Class, and 300 consumers to the ticketed evening tasting event. Oregon Wine Trail 2020 dates and locations will be announced later this summer.
Wines From the Edge – An Oregon and New Zealand Collaboration: Recap
On May 7 in New York City, the OWB and New Zealand Winegrowers co-hosted Wines From the Edge, a trade event exploring the similarities and differences between the two regions. Two master classes and a lunch were attended by dozens of buyers as well as key New York-based media. The presentations are available to watch online.
RESEARCH
OWB-Funded Research Update: Persistence of Fungicide Resistance in Grape Powdery Mildew
Dr. Walt Mahaffee, research plant pathologist with USDA-ARS, has prepared an update about research he is conducting to understand how fungicide resistance persists among grape powdery mildew and how development of resistance can be mitigated.
OWB-Funded Research Update: Nitrogen Management in the Vineyard and in the Winery
Dr. Paul Schreiner of USDA-ARS has prepared an update about research he is conducting in collaboration with OSU researchers to understand the impact of nitrogen applications in the vineyard and during the winemaking process.
2019 Oregon Grapevine Nutrition Guidelines
Dr. Paul Schreiner of USDA-ARS has put together vine nutrition guidelines for Oregon wine grape vineyards. Figures for both petiole and leaf blade nutrient levels are included.
June 2019 Weather and Climate Forecast
On June 3, Dr. Greg Jones of Linfield College published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at May conditions and forecasts conditions for June, July and August.
EDUCATION
2019 Oregon Wine Symposium Content Now Open to All
For the first few months following Symposium, session recordings and presentation materials are only available to attendees completing the post-event survey. The password protection has now been removed from 2019 Symposium content online, meaning you can view recordings and download presentations covering wine business, viticulture and enology.
Seminar: Pre-Harvest Technical Meeting with Oenofrance USA | June 26
Oenofrance USA will conduct a pre-harvest seminar at Linfield College covering a variety of winemaking topics, including volatile acidity management, microorganism management, use of oak and alternatives during fermentation, and more.
Webinar: How to Comply with the Latest Sales Tax Regulations | June 27
Join ShipCompliant for a webinar to learn how sales tax regulation has undergone a revolution since the Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision in June 2018. Compliance specialists will discuss what has changed with sales tax, how it applies to DTC shippers, and what you should be aware of as the regulations continue to evolve.
Conference: Women in Wine – Fermenting Change in Oregon | July 8
Join Women in Wine Oregon on July 8 at Willamette Valley Vineyards in Turner for the first gathering of women and men dedicated to empowering the next generation of female leaders in the wine industry. Speakers include Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, and Meg Crofton, former president of Disney Resorts.
Workshop: Getting to Know the Umpqua Valley Wine Visitor | July 10
Are you curious to learn more about the visitors who come to taste wine in the Umpqua Valley – who they are, what they think of the wine region, and how they are spending their time and money? Join the U of O team that conducted this research to explore the results of the 2018-19 Oregon Winery Visitor Survey for the Umpqua Valley.
Seminar: Viticulture at Linfield College | Aug. 1-14
Linfield College is offering a two-week seminar on viticulture, which will cover grape varieties, general grape biology and physiology, the environmental factors required to grow grapes, and basic aspects of vineyard management. The hybrid course includes online study followed by a five-day field course.
Conference: Oregon Water Law | Nov. 14-15
The 28th annual Oregon Water Law Conference will gather the most active, diverse and experienced Oregon water law experts to address the issues of the day. The program will provide an update on recent legislative developments along with discussions of the key issues driving water policy. A $75 Early Bird discount is available through July 11.
CALLS FOR WINE
Submit Wines to Sip Northwest’s 2019 Best of the NW | Deadline: July 16
Sip Northwest magazine is accepting submissions for its eighth annual Best of the Northwest issue. Published in November and reaching more than 120,000 readers, this issue will feature the winners across all categories.
Submit Wines for The Wine Advocate to Review | Deadline: July 22
Erin Brooks from The Wine Advocate will be in Oregon to review wines in late July. She will focus on the 2017 vintage but is willing to accept for review any bottled wine not already scored by The Wine Advocate. Up to 650 wines will be accepted before the July 22 deadline on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of four wines per producer.
Call for Symposium 2020 Wine Trial Proposals
With harvest on the way, you may be thinking about exploring new winery tools and techniques. If you have an experiment or trial you would like to develop and share at the 2020 Oregon Wine Symposium, contact Scott Dwyer. You may also reach out with an idea for which you need help developing a protocol. The Symposium organizers are searching for three trials, ideally focused on viticulture, enology and a product/tool.
OPPORTUNITIES
Northwest Wine Radio Booking for Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 Shows
Northwest Wine Radio shares the stories of Northwest-based winemakers in a friendly setting, reaching consumers throughout the Pacific Northwest. The producers are seeking wineries to feature on their program this fall and next spring. Wineries that have not been featured in the last 18 months are invited to participate free of charge.
Linfield College Wine Studies Center Seeks Instructional Associate
Linfield College invites applications through July 15 for a position at the Instructor level in Wine Studies. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or a related field, along with wine industry experience, is required. Other qualifications, responsibilities and application instructions can be found in the job posting.
OTHER NEWS
Info Session for Sonoma State Global EMBA in Wine Business | July 21
Join Sonoma State University for an information session about its Global Executive MBA in Wine Business at Sokol Blosser on July 21. The program comprises four leadership intensives and three-month segments of online case and project-based learning and faculty mentoring.
