Before the busy the holiday weekend is upon us, we wanted to call a few items to your attention.
First is this reminder that the Dec. 11 deadline for applying to the USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program is just a couple weeks away. CFAP2 is the second wave of the assistance program and the first in which grape growers are eligible. CFAP2 is designed to provide some financial support to businesses affected by the pandemic and payments to growers are based on 2019 grape sales.
Click here to read the fine print, which is also found in the OWB’s COVID-19 Toolkit. Look for the newest additions to the toolkit including the Nov. 17 Executive Order from Governor Brown announcing new COVID-related business restrictions and this letter from last Thursday in response to that order from our industry’s advocacy organizations.
Second, mark your calendars for Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. to join us for an open meeting via Zoom for growers and winemakers during which we’ll hear from managers at sevenfifity.com discussing ways Oregon wineries can make the commerce platform work for their brands.
And we’ll learn about a creative solution conceived by Rogue Valley wineries and restaurateurs in Ashland this year to stimulate tourism. Then we’ll tee up Oregon State University’s Dr. Vaughn Walton alerting us to an invasive species that’s recently arrived in Oregon.
Click here for the recording of last week’s Zoom during which drizly.com CEO Cory Rellas offered a summary of the way his eight-year-old company partners with producers and more than 4,000 retailers across 235 U.S. markets to facilitate purchases and same-day deliveries of wines and spirits.
Third, see the latest press release from the OWB and Travel Oregon building awareness for The Giving Season promotion running statewide through December, and this broadcast segment that aired in rotation last weekend on KOIN-TV promoting Oregon wines paired with Thanksgiving favorites. This free coverage, which also included a segment on KATU-TV, works with Travel Oregon’s website feature and paid media impressions to keep Oregon wines top of mind for consumers.
Finally, don’t miss the free, hour-long webinar next Thursday, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m.: “Navigating Uncharted Waters: A Compass to Grow DTC Sales.” Guest speakers include Lesley Berglund, co-founder of WISE Academy, and First Republic Bank’s Mark Freund covering best practices to grow direct-to-consumer sales in a changing environment. Click here to register.
In closing, I’ll speak for the managers and Directors at the Oregon Wine Board in sending you and your families our sincere wishes for a safe, healthy, responsibly-distanced and Happy Thanksgiving.
President
IN MEMORIAM
Remembering Jack Day, Founder and Owner of RoxyAnn Winery
The founder and owner of RoxyAnn Winery in Medford, Jack Day, passed away in late October. Members of the Southern Oregon wine industry remember Jack as a true pioneer who helped elevate the standards of Southern Oregon wines and enhance the reputation of the region. Jack developed a portion of his family’s 100 year old pear orchard in East Medford, Hillcrest Orchard, into a thriving vineyard and winery. He will be remembered for his loving kindness, sharp intellect, unconventional humor, and pioneering spirit. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will continue through the legacy of his wife Nancy, four children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
With the latest Executive Order impacting tasting room operations and OSHA temporary rules affecting all businesses, OWB is keeping its COVID-19 Toolkit current with guidance and resources to help you navigate the changing requirements.
MARKETING
Travel Oregon Announces Give the Gift of Oregon Campaign
Announced Nov. 18 by Gov. Brown and Travel Oregon, Give the Gift of Oregon is a holiday campaign to inspire Oregonians to shop at local businesses this holiday season. The campaign will run until Dec. 31 and prominently features the OWB’s Giving Season promotion. Learn more about business participation, including displaying your products on the Built Oregon marketplace.
Add Your Wine to the Built Oregon Marketplace
Built Oregon has developed an online Marketplace to support Oregon companies and communities. The Marketplace will enable consumers to discover and shop Oregon products by region, category and collection and is an integral part of Travel Oregon’s year-end Give the Gift of Oregon campaign. Learn more to see if the Marketplace is right for your business.
RESEARCH
November 2020 Weather and Climate Forecast
On Nov. 3, Dr. Greg Jones of Linfield University published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at October conditions and forecasts conditions for November, December and January.
EDUCATION
Virtual DTC Fundamentals from WISE Academy | Starts Dec. 1
WISE Academy is offering several courses that may be of interest to direct-to-consumer sales professionals during December, including Virtual DTC Experience Fundamentals. The 3-session course focuses on planning, messaging, tailored sales techniques and tactical delivery for a variety of virtual tasting models.
Navigating Uncharted Waters: A Compass to Grow DTC Sales | Dec. 3
On Dec. 3, a trio of professionals—Nick Rood of Community Benchmark, Lesley Berglund of WISE Academy, and Mark Freund of First Republic Bank—will come together for a lively, data-driven conversation on how wineries are succeeding in the current economic and social environment. Register in advance to attend this free session.
Sustainable Ag Expo | Through Dec. 4
The virtual Sustainable Ag Expo & International Sustainable Winegrowing Summit is happening now! Through Dec. 4, access more than 25 hours of live and recorded content on your own schedule covering the latest in viticulture research and technology.
NW Center for Small Fruits Research Conference | Dec. 14-16
Join NCSFR for a three-day conference that kicks off Monday, Dec. 14. The tentative agenda includes updates from USDA leadership, research presentations, a NCSFR short film premier and virtual poster sessions. The conference concludes with an awards lunch hour with raffle prizes.
OWRI Webinar Series: Grape Red Blotch Disease | Through Dec. 15
Join OSU’s Oregon Wine Research Institute (OWRI) for a free live webinar series on Grape Red Blotch Disease. These seminars will focus on research findings from Oregon-based studies conducted by researchers at OWRI and partners at USDA-ARS covering virus epidemiology, vector identification and biology, grapevine performance, wine production, fruit and wine composition, and wine sensory results.
DTC Wine Symposium Presented by Free the Grapes | Jan. 19-22
The virtual DTC Wine Symposium, presented by and a fundraiser for Free the Grapes!, will take place Jan. 19-22. The 2021 program includes speakers discussing innovation, diversity, legislation and marketing, with workshops that dive into practical ways to help set your business up for success.
OPPORTUNITIES
Organic Certification Cost Sharing Program | Deadline Extended: Dec. 15
Oregon producers who have paid eligible organic certification costs between Oct. 1, 2019, and Sept. 30, 2020 can apply for cost share assistance from the USDA. Costs of certification received from or renewed through a USDA-accredited certifier are eligible for 50% reimbursement up to a maximum of $500 per annual certification scope. The application deadline has been extended to Dec. 15.
Share Your Community’s Story with the OWB
The Oregon wine industry is full of clubs, committees, co-ops, partnerships, friends and neighbors. We want to get to know you and your community. One Tuesday afternoon each month, the OWB team will host representatives of 3-4 wineries for a 90-minute virtual happy hour. Sign up to share what brings you all together, your collective goals, challenges and, of course, your wines.
UPCOMING EVENTS
The OWB’s industry website hosts a calendar that includes industry-facing events as well as events with significant industry participation. Consult it when scheduling or rescheduling events to avoid conflicts, and don’t forget to post entries as well.
Links to post to both the industry calendar and the OWB’s consumer-facing calendar can be found here.
