Happy Thanksgiving Week Friends!
As we sprint towards the end of 2021, there’s a lot to share as you plan for the new year:
• OWB’s latest grant from the USDA and the Oregon Department of Ag. is invested in a new initiative addressing the top business issue identified by wineries in last month’s industry survey: increasing direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales. AVA associations recently joined us and our partners, WISE Academy and Community Benchmark, in a series of launch meetings targeted to wineries interested in learning more about how effective sales tracking and comparative dashboarding can combine with consultative training to improve DTC productivity. Browse the toolkit for the full picture and click here to set up a free demo.
• Earlier this month, OWB convened the latest in an ongoing series of meetings with industry association Board leaders and managers. Click here for the 93-minute recording and a detailed review of OWB priorities in Marketing, Communications, Research, and Education for the first half of 2022.
• Planning for Oregon Wine Month 2022 continues with industry members joining the OWB team and wholesale trade managers to design and develop the promotion. OWB’s Wine Month toolkit includes the 40-minute webinar from Nov. 10, the first sales sheet, and the complete program deck for planning and customization.
Also early next year, research scientists from around the world will be submitting project proposals for review by our industry’s Viticulture and Enology Research Committee. Here’s the committee’s call for applications along with a reminder that growers and winemakers are welcome to express interest in participating in the next review process by applying for a spot on the committee. Learn more about the process here.
And as some of you may have learned, the holiday gifting season started a little early for recipients of Oregon Wine Country License Plate Matching Grants. Congratulations to the Rogue Valley Vintners (awarded the maximum amount of $50,000), the Applegate Valley Vintners, the Dundee Hills Winegrowers, and the Oregon Winegrowers Association. They join the OWB in celebrating successful grant applications, which, in total, amount to $158,250 for our industry.
Lastly, if you have ideas OWB should consider in its budget planning for the 2022-23 fiscal year starting July 1, please let us know by filling out this form. If you can’t make the suggested deadline of Nov. 30, send it as soon as you can in December.
In closing, I’ll pass on the wishes of our management team and Board members for a safe, satisfying, and memorable holiday weekend!
Tom Danowski
President
Marketing
Oregon Wine Month 2022 Updates
The Oregon Wine Month toolkit has been updated with state and regional artwork as well as a comprehensive program deck. The artwork is available for download and is available to be employed by all partners for custom signage, POS, or digital assets. The program deck is available as a PPT and PDF to share with staff, neighbors, accounts, and anyone interested in supporting Oregon Wine Month 2022.
Education
Register for the 2022 Oregon Wine Symposium
The annual premier education event and trade show for the Northwest wine industry, the Oregon Wine Symposium, will once again unite experts from the scientific and wine business communities to share the latest research, best practices, and industry expertise in a virtual format Feb. 15-17, 2022. The Early Bird price of $79 per person is available through Jan. 14. Groups of four or more receive an additional 20% off Full Access tickets per registrant, and there are other discount opportunities for educators, students, and Spanish language speakers. Learn more and register.
Community Benchmark, WISE Academy & OWB Partnership
OWB is proud to announce the successful application for a Specialty Crop Block Grant from the Oregon Department of Agriculture that establishes an exciting partnership with Community Benchmark and WISE Academy. The partnership makes available to any Oregon winery a DTC dashboard, detailed analytics, and DTC training expertise for two years. The cost to businesses is $150. Learn more and sign up.
Assemblage Presents: Virtual DE&I Training Series for the Industry
Together with Argyle Winery, Soter Vineyards, King Estate Winery, and Stoller Wine Group, Assemblage invites the Oregon wine industry to participate in a three-part virtual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training led by Seattle-based agency Fleur Larsen Facilitation. Topics will include: building equity-based leadership skills, engaging in and managing healthy conflict, acknowledging workplace generational differences, fostering connection over correction, and creating a culture of belonging to build diverse teams. Sessions take place Dec. 1, 9, 14. Register now.
Research
November 2021 Weather and Climate Forecast
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at October conditions and forecasts conditions for November and December, and January 2022.
Opportunities
Get Your Property Listed in the 2022-23 Travel Oregon Visitor Guide | Deadline: Dec. 6
This is a friendly reminder from the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association: any lodging that pays the statewide 1.5% lodging tax is eligible for a free basic listing in the annual Travel Oregon Visitor Guide, as well as in the Places to Stay directory on TravelOregon.com. The deadline to update and verify your free listing in the printed guide is Dec. 6. Learn more about updating or verifying your listing here.
McMinnville Wine Classic Competition is calling for registrations and submissions of wine for the 29th annual competition being held on Jan. 8, 2022. Registration closes on Dec. 10. All Oregon wine producers are welcome to submit. All net proceeds benefit St. James School in McMinnville. Judges Panel, competition details, and requirements can be found here and registration can be done on Enofile.
Other News
Legislative Days 2021 in Salem
While OWB’s newsletter does not often report on legislative or regulatory developments, we want growers and winemakers to be aware that the industry recently provided state lawmakers with updates on a couple of timely issues. The first relates to the current situation in Southern Oregon, where illegal cannabis operations are affecting community safety, labor practices, and water availability. The topic was the focus of the House Interim Committee on Economic Recovery and Prosperity. That committee’s meeting can be viewed here with winegrower comments at the 2-hour and 3-minute mark.
Secondly, the Interim Committee on Agriculture and Land Use was also hearing testimony. That meeting recording is provided here with industry comments at the 14-minute mark about the impacts natural disasters such as wildfires have had on Oregon’s wine economy and how our industry continues to confront these ongoing challenges.
Oregon Wine Industry Forum | Next meeting: Dec. 14
The monthly Oregon Wine Industry Forum continues Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. Register for the final meeting of 2021 to stay current on industry trends, connect with industry members across the state, and keep informed on OWB programming and opportunities.
Governor’s Conference on Tourism Takes Place in 2022
Travel Oregon’s Governor’s Conference on Tourism returns in 2022 on March 14-16, in Sunriver, Oregon. Registration and room block information will open in Jan. 2022. Save the conference dates on your calendar and look for more information to come. Please direct all questions to [email protected].
OLCC Requests Data for Oregon Privilege Tax Online (OPTO)
OLCC is requesting our industry’s help with the following survey, which should take less than 5 minutes.
As OLCC Executive Director Steve Marks mentioned in his remarks to the OWB’s all-industry forum last month, OLCC will soon begin their 2022 conversion to an online tax reporting and payment system for wineries and grape growers. This includes both the privilege tax and the grape tonnage tax. In an effort to help make the process as smooth as possible for wineries, OLCC is looking to gather additional information through the survey. The survey results will assist the Commission in segmenting winery licensees into the correct training groups. Please complete the survey by Jan. 14, 2022.
Tom Danowski
President
