With the Northern California firestorms still very much on our minds, I wanted to open with a reminder to review our previous message offering suggestions for those interested in assisting our neighbors.
In addition to making donations, we can also encourage people to go online and buy a bottle or two from wineries in the affected areas. The effort to soften the blow and enable these businesses to transition back to health is greatly enhanced if they can continue generating some revenue.
Turning back to home and a widely recognized area of opportunity for Oregon wineries: increasing the number of restaurant placements for our wines. Please note that nominations will be accepted until Oct. 31 for the Oregon Wine A-List Awards. A-List status is reserved for wine programs that set, and often surpass, the standards of excellence for Oregon wine service and breadth of assortment. Click here for details on how you, or your wine club members around the world, can recognize the key accounts that most effectively present Oregon wines.
For those winemakers monitoring payrolls and incurring overtime for hourly workers on crush pads or in barrel rooms, the Oregon Winegrowers Association’s efforts in Salem last spring paid off for you whether or not your business is an OWA member. The OWA worked with other stakeholders to roll back Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries 2016 policy that compelled employers to pay a combination of daily and weekly overtime when a winery worker’s hours surpassed thresholds. Overtime is triggered when daily hours surpass 10 and/or weekly hours exceed 40. The OWA worked to restore the previous overtime calculation method which, once again, simply requires employers to pay the greater of the daily or weekly overtime amounts. This should save many wineries at least 20% versus what would have been payable under the now-obsolete compound daily and weekly overtime wage requirement.
Since recognition of our industry leaders always deserves a special mention, join me in congratulating Grace and Ken Evenstad, owners and founders of Domaine Serene, for being honored with the Excellence in Family Business Award from Oregon State University’s College of Business. Thank you both for your leadership and for allowing Oregon’s wine community to catch a little of that reflected light. Read the full announcement.
Finally, the Oregon Wine Experience festivities held a couple of months ago in Southern Oregon generated some sensational results for the Asante Foundation and hospitals in Ashland, Medford and Grants Pass that will benefit from this year’s fundraising success. OWE’s various activities in late August raised over $1 million for the Foundation, which provides health care services, focusing on pediatrics, to families in nine counties. The tasting events and dinners included wines from more than one hundred Oregon wineries spread across 16 of our state’s 18 AVAs. Guest attendance for the week was up more than 50% from last year to 3,670. Congratulations to all on a job very well done in service to a tremendously worthy local cause.
Cheers,
Tom Danowski
President
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
Last Chance to Confirm Your Oregon Wine Touring Guide Information
As messaged throughout August, the 2018 Oregon Wine Touring Guide will print in February. Now is your final opportunity to preview your tasting room information and let us know if any changes are needed by Oct. 26. Confirm your listing now.
Oregon Wine Resource Studio Fall 2017 Update
The innovative Oregon Wine Resource Studio is a mobile-friendly website that houses a comprehensive suite of information and assets illustrating the distinctive aspects of terroir and culture that combine to make Oregon a world-class winegrowing region. Updates include incorporation of 2016 Oregon Winery and Vineyard data, new growing region tech sheets and more. See the updates and additions that were made available Oct. 20.
Now Accepting Nominations for 2018 Oregon Wine A-List Awards
Think about your best restaurant accounts around the country, your favorite local gem and that wine director who always seems to go above and beyond with their Oregon wine list and programming. Sound like someplace – or someone – you know? The window will be open until Oct. 31 to recognize their dedication to Oregon with a nomination for a 2018 Oregon Wine A-List Award. Submit a nomination.
Revisit Oregon Wines Fly Free Tips and FAQ in Advance of the Holidays
With the holiday travel and gift-giving season around the corner, now is a great time to ensure your tasting room associates understand participation in Oregon Wines Fly Free and know how to use the program to encourage sales. Read the full FAQ.
EDUCATION
SAIF Agricultural Safety Seminars Begin in October
SAIF’s statewide series of free, half-day trainings on agriculture safety and health start Oct. 31 and run through March 2018 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 (you don’t have to be insured by SAIF). Read more and get the full series schedule.
Linfield College Wine Lecture Series: Tim Hanni MW – Disrupting the Status Quo
Tim Hanni MW is a trained professional chef and has been leading research into the genetics and psychology of wine perception and preferences. On Nov. 13, Tim 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 is free and open to the public. Read more.
Tim Hanni MW – Understanding Consumer Wine Perceptions & Preference
Tim Hanni MW will present a three-hour lecture aimed at 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.
RESEARCH
OSU Conducting Research into 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 member. Learn more about the study and how to participate.
2017-18 OWB-Funded Research Grants Awarded
OWB’s Board of Directors awarded $350,000 in grant funding for the 2017-18 fiscal year to support technical research expected to enhance Oregon grapegrowing and winemaking knowledge. The projects selected for funding were based on recommendations from the industry’s Research Committee. Updates on funded projects will be reported throughout the year. Read summaries of the funded research projects.
October 2017 Weather and Climate Forecast
On Oct. 4, Dr. Greg Jones of Linfield College published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at September conditions, provides an updated drought watch, and forecasts conditions for October, November and December 2017. Read the report.
CALLS FOR WINE
Wine & Spirits Pinot Noir Call
Wine & Spirits Magazine is accepting Pinot noir submissions for their Apr. 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
Call for Documentary Appearances
Portland virtual reality video production company 360 Labs is making a short documentary about the Eagle Creek Fire and its impact on the community. They have filmed people involved in the search and rescue mission and they’re interested in learning about any effects the fire had on Oregon’s wine industry. Get contact information.
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 participating as a producer.
Come Share Your Winery’s Story with the OWB Team
We’d like to get to know you. Wineries are invited to OWB’s office to share their wines and brand story with us at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. This is a great opportunity for you to get to know our organization better, ask questions of us and share your suggestions. Learn more and sign up for a visit.
OTHER NEWS
Travel Oregon Opens Large Grants Program
Travel Oregon’s Competitive Large Grants program is now open for applications. The program grants funds to eligible applicants for projects that contribute to the development of the tourism economy in communities across the state. Applications are due by Nov. 13. Learn more.
Oregon Wine Board Releases 2016-17 Annual Report
The Oregon Wine Board’s annual report recaps the achievements of the past fiscal year across marketing, education and research. It also recognizes the Directors and committee members who have dedicated countless volunteer hours towards advancing the industry. Read the annual report.
Oregon Wine Industry Awards Nominations Now Open
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.
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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