As you’ve been toiling in the vineyards and cellar, crafting wines from what by most accounts is a spectacular vintage across the state, the Oregon Wine Board marketing team has been hard at work on programs that will support your efforts to find homes for your bottles. In case you missed it, here is a rundown of what we’re up to and things to watch for on the horizon:
Out-of-Market Events As announced last week, the OWB received a new Specialty Crop Block grant to conduct events in four markets around the U.S. over the next two years. The first of these will be held in Southern California during the week of Apr. 23. Keep an eye out for more information on how you can participate, coming within the next month.
Oregon Wine Resource Studio
The Resource Studio website received its semi-annual update with the incorporation of the 2016 vineyard and winery data, new accolades and AVA-specific tech sheets. Be sure to download the most current information for your presentations. If you haven’t yet explored the Resource Studio, why not take a few minutes to do that now?
Oregon Wines Fly Free
Participating wineries are reminded that the upcoming holidays are a great time to make the most of your involvement in Oregon Wines Fly Free with both out-of-town visitors and locals alike. Thanks to a recent media push, press are informing travelers about the program, too. New tasting room point-of-sale materials with a refreshed look are currently on press, so watch for the opportunity to order your suite in the next week. Not a participating winery? Contact Kai McMurtry to sign up.
Oregon Wine Month 2018
Many of you have expressed interest in taking Oregon Wine Month to your out-of-state distributors and accounts. On Nov. 30 we’re hosting a webinar to help equip you to activate your distributor around Oregon Wine Month next May, whether in or outside of Oregon. The discussion will include a successful 2017 case study from an East Coast market. Get Oregon Wine Month on your distributors’ calendars and register for the webinar now.
Finally, ensure your tasting room is well-stocked with Oregon Wine Touring Guides for the busy upcoming holiday weekends. And don’t forget to check out – and share! – the Tour of Oregon podcast that GuildSomm produced for the Resource Studio.
Cheers,
Jess Willey
Director of Marketing
Oregon Wine Board
SYMPOSIUM
Registration Open for the 2018 Oregon Wine Symposium
Registration is open for the 2018 Oregon Wine Symposium, Feb. 20-21 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. The Symposium is a must-attend event for everyone from winery and vineyard owners to sales managers, vineyard managers to marketers, winemakers to tasting room staff. The Symposium also features the Northwest’s biggest wine industry trade show with more than 170 exhibitors.Register your team today.
MARKETING
Restock Your Supply of Oregon Wine Touring Guides for the Holidays
To ensure your tasting room is well-stocked with Oregon Wine Touring Guides for your Thanksgiving weekend visitors, order a complimentary case of 40 guides today. Cases may take up to two weeks to arrive so now is the time to act. Order your case of Oregon Wine Touring Guides now.
Oregon Wine Event in Southern California in April
The OWB has received a grant to fund events targeting key buyers and high-end consumers in four markets around the U.S. over the next two years. The first of these will be held in Southern California during the week of Apr. 23. Keep an eye out for more information on how to participate, coming within the next month. Read more about this initiative.
Nominations for 2018 OPC International Trade Tour Accepted Through Dec. 1
Each year, the Oregon Wine Board hosts a group of international trade members in late June, chosen from among nominees provided by the industry. The group attends Oregon Pinot Camp and also meets with winemakers from around the state to get a complete picture of wine in Oregon. Learn more or make a nomination.
International Marketing Newsletter
The OWB’s quarterly Grapevine – International Edition was published Sept. 29. Any Oregon wine industry member is welcome to sign up to receive this newsletter, whether or not you are currently active in international markets.Sign up for the newsletter or read the latest international marketing news.
EDUCATION
Understanding Consumer Wine Perceptions & Preferences with Tim Hanni MW
The OWB has arranged for Tim Hanni MW to present a lecture aimed at winery sales and hospitality staff on Nov. 14 at Linfield College. This seminar will provide staff with an understanding of consumer wine perceptions and preferences identifying the keys to engagement, conversion and customer retention. Register here.
Webinar: Tools and Strategies for Pitching Oregon Wine Month to Your Distributors In and Out of Oregon
The OWB team has prepared a package for wineries to use in presenting Oregon Wine Month 2018 to distributors in state and around the country. Learn how to equip your distributors to make the most of Oregon Wine Month at a webinar on Nov. 30. Learn more and register.
Linfield College Wine Lecture Series: Disrupting the Status Quo
In addition to the sales and hospitality workshop above, Tim Hanni will present on consumer perception discoveries and insights, dramatic errors in wine history and traditions, the background and future for a new set of principles for enjoying wine with food, and how to incorporate and profit from these ideologies. The lecture, held Nov. 13, is free and open to the public. Read more.
Labor Laws Forum for Agricultural Employers
On Nov. 15, learn more about federal and state labor requirements that will help protect you and your migrant, seasonal and H-2A farm workers. This forum, to be held in Beaverton, will cover wage and hour requirements, safety in transportation and housing, and more. Get more details and registration link.
SAIF Agricultural Safety Seminars
SAIF’s statewide series of free, half-day trainings on agriculture safety and health are running through March in 16 cities across Oregon. Designed primarily for people working in agriculture, anyone with an interest in ag safety and health is welcome to attend, even if not insured by SAIF. Read more and get the full series schedule.
RESEARCH
Call for Participants: OSU’s Research on Oregon Wine Clubs
Business and economics researchers at OSU are embarking on a new study that aims to deepen the Oregon wine industry’s understanding of wine clubs. Specifically, it will delve into what features and benefits attract and retain profitable wine club members, and what best practices can be identified for maximizing the long-term value of a club. Learn more about the study and how to participate.
CALLS FOR WINE
Wine & Spirits Pinot Noir Call
Wine & Spirits Magazine is accepting Pinot noir submissions for their April 2018 Restaurant Wine Poll issue, with a spotlight on American Pinot noir. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 17. Get submission details and more information.
Wine Enthusiast’s 2018 Tasting and Review Schedule
Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently announced its 2018 tasting and review schedule, along with sample submission deadlines, instructions and frequently asked questions. Get submission details and more information.
OPPORTUNITIES
Harvest Challenge Wine Competition
The annual Harvest Wine Challenge recognizes and awards wines that best exemplify the soil and climate of their respective viticultural areas. Entry fees will go to the #CAWineStrong North Bay Wildfire Relief Fund to help those impacted by the deadly fires in Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties. Registration and wine shipment deadline is Nov. 13. Find out more about participation.
First International Volcanic Wine Conference
The first International Volcanic Wine Conference will be held in March in New York City. The founder of the conference is John Szabo MS and author of the André Simon Award-winning book Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit and Power. He and other distinguished wine professionals will guide seminars dedicated to various topics related to volcanic wines from around the world. Read more about participation opportunities.
OTHER NEWS
Oregon Wine Industry Awards Nominations Open Until Nov. 15
Each year at the Oregon Wine Symposium, industry leaders are recognized for their contributions to the Oregon wine industry. Know someone who deserves to be celebrated for their dedication to and advancement of our industry? Make a nomination by Nov. 15. Read about the categories and submit a nomination.
Oregon Wine Newsfeed Returns to the Industry Website
OWB has brought back the Oregon Wine Industry Newsfeed to its industry website. The Newsfeed serves as a go-to spot for Oregon wine news. Last year there were more than 12,000 articles mentioning Oregon wine – that’s an average of 33 per day – and this feature helps you stay on top of the news in our industry and the wineries generating news within it. Visit the Oregon Wine Industry Newsfeed.
2018 Affordable Care Act Enrollment Open Until Dec. 15
If you do not receive healthcare benefits through your employer or another source, be aware that enrollment for 2018 Affordable Care Act coverage is open now through Dec. 15. Plans sold during open enrollment start Jan. 1. Learn more about applying for ACA coverage.
List or Search Grapes for Sale on the Marketplace
If you are looking for a buyer for your grapes, or are interested in buying grapes, don’t forget to check out the Marketplace on the OWB’s industry website. The Marketplace also includes listings for bulk wine, real estate, equipment and job opportunities. Post items for sale or visit the Marketplace to search items for sale.
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