The October Grapevine includes an invitation to the initial Oregon Wine Month 2025 planning meeting, a reminder about the Oregon Wine Industry Labor and Salary Survey including a new Q&A opportunity, Early Bird registration information for the Oregon Wine Symposium, and more. Read more below.
Letter from Carissa Cook
Dear Oregon Wine Colleagues,
As I step into my third month with the Oregon Wine Board, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome I’ve received from all of you. It’s been an inspiring journey so far, especially as we wrap up a vibrant harvest season and gear up for the holidays.
This October, we had the privilege of participating in the inaugural Come Over October campaign as an official sponsor. It was a joy to witness the community’s enthusiasm and the momentum this campaign generated, encouraging consumers to celebrate coming together with Oregon wine.
As we approach the holiday season, I’m excited to announce our “Give Oregon Wine” initiative, promoting what is truly the perfect gift. Let’s work together to ensure that a bottle of Oregon wine graces every table during this festive time!
Looking forward, we are already in the planning stages for Oregon Wine Month 2025. I invite you to join me for a collaborative planning session in November (all the details and a link to register can be found below).
Share your experiences, successes, and news by tagging @OregonWineBoard and using the hashtag #OregonWine. We would love to celebrate your stories and amplify your efforts.
Cheers to a fruitful season and joyful holidays ahead!
Carissa Cook
Director of Marketing & Insights
Marketing
OWB Marketing
Register: Oregon Wine Month Planning Meeting
Join the OWB team on November 19 at 11am PST for an Oregon Wine Month (OWM) planning meeting, where we will review initial plans for OWM 2025 and hear your input on how we can strengthen this program. An agenda will be provided closer to the date. Mark your calendars now and we look forward to an interactive discussion! Register for the planning session HERE.
International Marketing: Upcoming Webinar Opportunity
Doing Business in the Ontario Market Webinar
In conjunction with our in-market contractors and Astrid Brummer, Senior Category Manager at the LCBO, OWB will be hosting a webinar to discuss the recent changes to the wine market in Ontario. This session is open to all producers currently in the market or those looking to enter. Given the significant changes in the Ontario market over the past two months, we believe this webinar will be highly beneficial for all wineries. Webinar Details – November 4 at 10am PST. Register by email to: [email protected] and the Zoom link will be provided. Please contact Margaret Bray for more details or with any questions about OWB’s international programs.
Reminder: Oregon Wine Media Library – Share and Utilize Imagery
The OWB has a media library that is available to the industry. To use, simply request access on the site for access to professional photography of general Oregon wine imagery. Additionally, if you would like to share your images for others to use, you are welcome to upload them here.
Give Oregon Wine Promotion
In alignment with The Giving Season, originated by WVWA, OWB is ramping up efforts to promote gifting Oregon wine this holiday season. A full toolkit will be available on our industry website by mid-November. Use the hashtags #GiveOregonWine, #TheGivingSeason and tag us @OregonWineBoard on any holiday promotions and we will repost for you on our social channels where your posting will be visible to our over 14,500 followers.
Order Your Oregon Wine Touring Guides
Get ready for the holiday season! Copies of the current Oregon Wine Touring Guide are still available to order. This edition is an 80-page magazine full of compelling editorial, beautiful photography, helpful local tips and tasting room listings with regional maps. Printed guides come in boxes of 40 and may be ordered here.
Wine Industry Marketing
TEXSOM Awards Update
Judging for the 2025 TEXSOM Awards will take place on February 15-18, 2025, in Irving, Texas. Please watch your email in the following weeks for more information about shipping wines for TEXSOM Awards evaluation.
The Awards bring the industry together to identify beverages of quality from around the world. It invests in brand-building for all award winners and creates additional avenues to market and enhance exposure. The Oregon Wine Board (OWB) sponsors the TEXSOM Conference each year to educate and inspire sommeliers and wine buyers from across the country. Refer to the list of benefits and deadlines.
Education
2025 Oregon Wine Symposium: Registration is Open!
The Oregon Wine Symposium returns to the Oregon Convention Center on February 3-4, 2025. Registration is open and Early Bird pricing is available until Monday, January 6.
New: Join the OWB for an interactive listening session following the 2025 Symposium
The OWB invites you to join us for an afternoon of idea sharing on Tuesday, February 4. Whether or not you are attending the Symposium, we want to hear from you!
Mark your calendars for this industry-wide listening session with the OWB directors and staff. Now more than ever, we want to understand your concerns and challenges and hear from you how we can better serve your needs. We welcome your questions and collaborative discussion. This session is free to attend for all industry members. Symposium attendance is not required, but we do request your registration. We look forward to sharing more details about this program in the months ahead!
Decanter Covers Oregon and Washington in its Columbia Valley 2021 Vintage Report
Clive Pursehouse reports on Columbia Valley’s 2021 vintage in both Oregon and Washington and writes that “Winemakers have produced a raft of beautiful wines with those who lean into elegance and finesse rising to the top.” Read more. Please note that a Decanter subscription is required to access the full article.
Oregon Wine Press Highlights Come Over October and Oregon Syrah
Michele Francisco covers the local industry’s enthusiasm for supporting Come Over October (COO), which is just wrapping up its inaugural campaign. Read more.
Tamara Turner interviews several Oregon producers crafting unique wines with Syrah. Read more.
Thrillist names two Oregon wine regions to its Best Wine Regions in the U.S. list
Ben Mesirow highlights the varieties, scenery and outdoor activities by region. Read more.
The New Wine Review Covers “Oregon’s Next Great Red Wines”
Patrick Comiskey writes, “There’s a reason why Oregon is famous for its Pinots. But don’t miss on its Gamays – and the sheer joy that they reliably spark.” Read more.
Oregon Shows Strong on Wine Business Monthly’s 2024 Wine Industry Leaders List
Oregon was well represented in Wine Business Monthly’s 2024 list of Wine Industry Leaders, with six Oregon wine industry members included: Read full article.
Laurent Montalieu, Founder and CEO, NW Wine Company & Hyland Vineyards
Elizabeth “Libby” Spencer, Chief Operating Officer, Willamette Valley Vineyards
Andre Hueston Mack, Founder and Winemaker, Mouton Noir Wines; Host, World of Wine
Stephanie Mitchell, Assistant Professor, Linfield University
Anna Maria Ponzi, Director, Linfield University
Kim Bellingar, Founder, Bellingar Estates
SIP Northwest Magazine’s 2024 “SIPFluencers”
Four Oregon wine industry members were named to SIP Northwest Magazine’s 2024 edition of “SIPFluencers”: Read full article.
Remy Drabkin, Founder, Remy Wines
Lois Cho, CEO and Cofounder, CHO Wines
Jim Berneau, Founder and CEO, Willamette Valley Vineyards
Brooke Delmas Robertson, Director of Winegrowing, Delmas and SJR Vineyards
Congratulations to everyone included on the WBM and SIP lists!
Media Opportunities & Calls for Wine
Oregon Wine Press Cellar Selects – Submit by November 19
Syrah, Tempranillo, Grenache, Gamay Noir, Trousseau, Pinot Meunier, Mourvèdre, Dolcetto, Baco Noir, Barbera, Marechal Foch, Tannat, Mencia, Sangiovese, Lagrein, other non-Bordeaux red varietals and blends. Varietal-specific sparkling wine accepted. Blends must be at least 75% non-Bordeaux varietals.
Please send up to four submissions (TWO bottles) per brand (e.g. one Syrah, one Tempranillo, one Grenache and one non-Bordeaux red varietal or blend).
1. Send TWO bottles of each submission.
2. Include retail price.
3. No price limit.
4. Wine must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, November 19.
Please send your submissions (by UPS or FedEx only) to: Oregon Lithoprint, Attn: Cellar Selects OWP, 1315 N.E. Miller St., McMinnville, OR 97128
Drop-off on weekdays between 8am-5pm
BevFluence Seeks Sparkling Wine for its Effervescence Unleashed campaign
BevFluence kicked off its Effervescence Unleashed campaign on October 25. The campaign runs through 2025 and Oregon wineries are invited to submit their sparkling wines. The campaign includes exposure to media, trade and consumers through marketing, seminars, and social content creation. Full details for the program and how to enter can be found here. Questions? Contact Todd at [email protected].
The 2025 Request for Proposals for Viticulture & Enology Research Projects is now available to view. Each year, OWB seeks proposals for research projects relevant to Oregon viticulture and/or enology and consistent with the OWB’s Strategic Plan for Viticulture and Enology Research. Applications will be accepted through the Unified Grant Management website between December 1-January 31. Any questions may be directed to Jess Willey, OWB Research and Education Director.
Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research Annual Conference and Fall Newsletter
Northwest Center for Small Fruits Research (NSCFR) has published the Fall edition of its quarterly newsletter, with updates on Pacific Northwest research, news, USDA funding, and personnel. All are invited to register for NSCFR’s annual hybrid conference, happening Nov. 18-20 at the U of I Boise Water Center and including new pesticide credit offerings for all PNW states. Get future editions of the NSCFR newsletter sent directly to your inbox by signing up here.
Take OSU’s Vineyard Water Use & Irrigation Survey
How have recent droughts affected your practices? OSU Viticulture Extension is following up on their 2021 survey about vineyard water management. The brief survey is open through November. Your insights will help OSU identify industry trends, improve educational resources, and support future research. Take the survey here.
Wine Industry Business
Invitation: Q&A Session on Oregon Wine Labor & Salary Survey on Nov. 12
Please join the OWB team and research partner Dr. Jeff Peterson for an open Q & A session about the Labor and Salary Survey that is currently fielding. Dr. Peterson will give a brief overview of the project, and will answer any questions you may have about the survey, the communication of the results, and how your business can utilize the findings and recommendations. Register here for the call, held at 11am on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Submit questions in advance to Jess Willey, OWB Research & Education Director.
Reminder: Take the Oregon Wine Labor & Salary Survey by Dec. 20
As a reminder, the annual Oregon Wine Salary and Labor Survey is open for responses until December 20. This OWB-sponsored survey, conducted since 2017, collects data on salaries and wages for the Oregon wine industry. The anonymous survey only takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and the report provides current and historical information on wages and salaries that can be used by vineyards, wineries and tasting rooms in planning and making hiring decisions. Learn more here or get started by clicking here. Please reach out to Jess Willey, OWB Research & Education Director, with any questions regarding the survey. Thank you for your participation!
Coming Soon: 2024 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Census Survey
To better address industry needs, the survey for the 2024 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Census will launch in November, about three months earlier than typical. This new timing will allow the pricing report to be released in early spring 2025, and the full report in early summer. This annual census initiative asks every vineyard and winery business in Oregon to respond with harvest, production, and sales data, in order to develop a full picture of the year in Oregon wine.
As a reminder, this survey will be sent directly from research partner Bob Parker and his team at the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) at the University of Oregon. Keep an eye out for more information coming soon!
Opportunities
Reminder: Call for Nominations for the 2025 Oregon Wine Industry Awards
The Oregon Wine Industry Awards represent a tradition dating back more than three decades. They provide the opportunity to celebrate individuals whose work has made a significant contribution to our industry’s collective success. The nomination period for the 2025 Oregon Wine Industry Awards is open through Friday, Nov. 22.
All are invited to make nominations, which will be considered by the Oregon Wine Board of Directors at its December meeting. Award recipients will be notified mid-December and recognized during the Oregon Wine Symposium in February. Please direct any questions about these awards to the OWB via email.
Enolytics Opportunity
Enolytics, a wine data analytics company, is now offering their ENO Insights daily dashboard free of charge for wineries that want to test out using data to grow their business. ENO Insights integrates with existing DTC platforms to provide wineries with a report of daily and YTD performance every 24 hours. With enough participation, they will also offer aggregated industry-wide DTC performance metrics. Learn more and sign up for this free offering on the Enolytics website.
Other News & Information
Grape Assessment Information: Sales to Canada
The OWB has received inquiries regarding grape sales to Canada. As a reminder: An Oregon vineyard who sells and exports grapes to a non-OR winery without OLCC permit owes $12.50/ton directly to OLCC.
For questions about filing the Oregon Wine Board Tax, contact the OLCC at [email protected].
LIVE and Ribbon Ridge Celebrate Sustainability Through Public Art
LIVE and the Ribbon Ridge Winegrowers Association (RRWA) announced a new mural in the Willamette Valley that aims to bring attention to sustainability and the role that the local wine industry plays in that movement. Visitors can view this mural on the side of Crush2Cellar, a local winery supplies store in downtown Newberg. The 150 square foot painting was designed by muralist Salomée Souag and installed by Dede Chiloiro. This public art piece was proposed and developed by LIVE and was funded by the RRWA.
Thursday, December 5 from 9am-2pm
Kimpton Riverplace Hotel, Portland
The Oregon Wine Board and Staff will hold
the December board meeting and all members of the industry are invited and welcome to attend. To learn more and/or RSVP, email [email protected].
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