LETTER FROM JESS WILLEY 

At the end of August, a group of OWB Directors and staff and OWRI representatives spent a week touring Oregon with the goal of hearing from you about your desires and expectations of the OWB’s viticulture and enology research program. We traveled from the Willamette Valley to Walla Walla, from the Columbia Gorge to the Umpqua and Rogue valleys, and had the opportunity to speak directly with 75 of you who came out to spend a couple hours sharing your thoughts with us.

We heard from you about red blotch. You shared your concerns over smoke. We discussed the many ways climate change manifests into a need for new knowledge and understanding. You offered suggestions on how to balance research for vineyards and wineries; small and large producers; immediate and longer-term issues; and regional and state-wide concerns. And we had many spirited conversations on how to best connect you with current, past and future research that can benefit Oregon’s growers and winemakers.

If you’re interested in seeing the synthesized output of these conversations, you can read this summary. This report will serve as important input into the Research Summit being held this fall, at which about 20 industry leaders will work towards setting a new strategic vision for our research program and how we allocate funding across projects.

Speaking of feedback you’ve given us, thank you to the nearly 150 people who provided their thoughts on our overall performance and priorities in our annual industry survey this summer. Below is a chart summarizing your priorities for OWB’s focus areas, as compared with the past three years.



While Tourism and Media Relations initiatives perennially float to the top, Trade Marketing and Education has risen to priority No. 3 this year, indicating just how challenging the markeplace is for gaining awareness, distribution and placements around the country. If you haven’t yet, you may want to mark your calendars for upcoming opportunities to connect with influential members of the trade at our 2019 Oregon Wine Trail event in New York City and register for trade tasting event opportunities around the globe.

Although Viticulture Research fell out of this year’s overall Top 5 (to a close 6), it remains a clear Top 5 issue for those whose businesses include vineyard operations. We have no intent to veer from the course described above and our research efforts will continue to be funded at record levels this year.

NEWS FROM THE OREGON WINEGROWERS ASSOCIATION
From Jana McKamey, Vice President of Government Affairs and Operations

Please take a few moments to review these important harvest reminders:

• Volunteers: Grape growers and winery owners are cautioned against welcoming volunteer workers into their vineyards or cellars. For-profit employers generally may not use unpaid volunteers to perform work, even where the individual donates his or her services without expecting compensation. A written waiver is not an exemption of the law. We strongly recommend you do not open your doors to the general public to “volunteer” during busy periods. 
• Contracts: Positive business interactions between growers and wineries are an important cornerstone of our industry’s success. OWA members can access a webinar on the “Top Ten Tips for Grower Communications, Contracts and Collections” in OWA’s Reference Toolbox. The webinar provides growers and wineries tools to help ensure mutually beneficial business interactions, including communications tips and sample contract language. It’s important to conduct due diligence on any buyers, communicate regularly and confirm agreements between parties clearly in written contracts.
• Overtime: Make sure to visit the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) website to access forms enabling your employees to give the required voluntary consent for certain overtime hours this fall and to provide notice to BOLI. While the state’s new rules about overtime pay for cellar and crush pad workers do not apply to vineyard workers, if a worker is re-assigned during any part of the season from vineyard work to the winery, that worker becomes overtime-eligible for the week and the new overtime pay rules apply. OWA members can access guidance and a related webinar in OWA’s Reference Toolbox.
• Bird control:  Please remember to be considerate when using bird control practices that may create problems for your neighbors. Consult these best practices developed by OWA and industry advisers. The annual effort to control crop loss due to migrating birds is often a challenge, but one that can cause irritation to those living near vineyards. Be a good neighbor and be sensitive to your neighbors’ concerns when it comes to bird control.

One final note on behalf of both OWB and OWA: 2019 Oregon Wine Symposium registration is now open! Buy your passes now (OWA members save $60 with discount code) and be sure to join us Feb. 12-13 in Portland. 

Cheers,





Jess Willey
Director of Strategic Insights & Industry Relations
Oregon Wine Board

OREGON WINE SYMPOSIUM

2019 Oregon Wine Symposium Registration Now Open

Preliminary Call for Participation in 2019 Symposium Wine Trials

MARKETING

2019 International Event Registration Now Open

ISO: Trade Marketing Pros to Help Us Make Oregon Wine Month Even Better

EDUCATION

Tasting Room Associate Hospitality Courses | Level 100 Oct. 1 | Level 200 Oct. 15

OWRI Seminar Series: Water Reduction in Wine Grapes Using HydroShield | Oct. 16

27th Annual Oregon Water Law Conference | Nov. 8-9

RESEARCH

2017 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report Now Available

September 2018 Weather and Climate Forecast

CALLS FOR WINE

2019 Oregon Chardonnay Celebration Submissions | Deadline: Sept. 28

James Suckling Review of 2016 Pinots and Chardonnays | Deadline: Oct. 15

American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition | Deadline: Oct. 22

OPPORTUNITIES

Oregon Pinot Camp Accepting Applications | Deadline: Sept. 29

Northwest Wine Radio Now Booking 2019

Discount off Decanter Premium for Oregon Wine Community

OTHER NEWS

Media Calls on Fires and Smoke Taint Affecting Grapes

Find or List Grapes for Sale on the OWB’s Marketplace

Take Travel Oregon’s 2018 Engagement Survey | Deadline: Sept. 28

2019 Oregon Wine Industry Awards Nominations Open | Deadline: Nov. 16

OWB QUICK LINKS

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UPCOMING EVENTS