This week’s Grapevine includes recent media highlights, a call for nominations for the OWB’s Board of Directors, an RFP announcement for an OWB video and digital media project and more.
Letter from Gina Bianco
Dear Colleagues,
It has been a very busy and productive summer season at the Oregon Wine Board. Most importantly, the OWB now has filled all open positions on our leadership team.
Katie von Bargen joined OWB as the Director of Communications on July 1;
Carissa Cook joined us on August 21 as the Director of Marketing and Insights; and
Today, Jessica Willey rejoins OWB as the Director of Research and Education.
I am so thrilled to have these very talented, qualified, capable, and enthusiastic people joining Sally Crawford, OWB CFO, and me at the helm of OWB. As we begin developing our 2025-2030 strategic plan in collaboration with our Board of Directors and you, the industry we serve, we invite you to read this and upcoming Grapevine newsletters to learn more about how you can participate in and contribute to OWB’s strategy development and priority-setting process. We want to hear from you!
As harvest time approaches, we look forward to staying informed about what is happening in your vineyards and wineries. Please tag us on social media at @OregonWineBoard and #OregonWineBoard so we can repost your images and videos on our social media channels and email newsletters.
As always, your thoughts and feedback are welcome by email to [email protected].
Gina Bianco
Executive Director
Marketing
OWB & Wine Industry Marketing
OWB Joins Come Over October as a Sponsor
The OWB team is excited to officially join the International Campaign, Come Over October, as a sponsor. Please stay tuned for an announcement later this week regarding the sponsorship and the many ways you can get involved in this exciting and wide-reaching industry campaign!
Education
New OWB Director of Research and Education
We are pleased to announce that Jessica Willey is rejoining the OWB team as our Director of Research and Education, starting today! Jessica brings extensive experience to the team having worked at OWB between 2016 and 2021 in several capacities, including strategic insights, industry relations, and marketing. Welcome back, Jessica!
Save the Date! 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium
The 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium returns to the Oregon Convention Center on February 3-4, 2025. Please Save The Date and we look forward to opening registration in September!
New: Join the Oregon Wine Board for an interactive listening session following the 2025 Oregon Wine Symposium
The Oregon wine Board 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 Oregon Wine Board 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. We look forward to sharing more details about this program in the months ahead!
New Comprehensive Smoke Exposure Website Launched for Wine Industry
The West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force (WCSETF) has launched a website – www.wcsetf.org – featuring comprehensive smoke exposure resources to assist growers, winemakers, and others serving the wine and winegrape sector. The easy-to-navigate website serves as a centralized hub of information from WCSETF, universities, government agencies, and industry groups, including:
Frequently asked questions
Best practices
Labs
Contracts
Crop insurance
Wildfire preparedness
Informational videos
University resources
Research
News and events
The website also features updated best practice protocols for grape sampling, micro-fermentations, and nano-scale fermentations. These protocols were developed by the West Coast Smoke Exposure Task Force in collaboration with scientists and Extension experts from UC Davis, Oregon State University, and Washington State University. To subscribe to the WCSETF newsletter, click here.
Five individuals from four Oregon Wine businesses were featured in Wine Enthusiast’s publication of its 2024 “Future 40 Tastemakers:”
Mimi Casteel, Owner & Winemaker, Hope Well Wine and Vineyard
Brooke Delmas Robertson, Director of Winegrowing, Delmas Milton-Freewater
Sofia Torres-McKay, Co-Proprietor, Cramoisi Vineyard
Cyler and Taralyn Varnum, Co-Owners, Varnum Vintners
The editors at Wine Enthusiast say, “The 40 folks highlighted here are a part of a wave changing the wine, spirits, beer, cider and cannabis spaces for the better.” Read more.Congratulations to all!
Wine Enthusiast Covers Oregon Pinot Noir and Willamette Valley’s Sparkling Wine Industry
Michael Alberty asks the question: “Is Willamette Valley the Next “It” Region for High Quality Sparklers?” Read more. In addition, Alberty also highlighted the history of Oregon Pinot Noir in his article titled, “How Oregon Became a Pinot Noir Paradise.” Read more.
Oregon Wine Press Features Women in Leadership in the Oregon Wine Industry
Paula Bandy invites you to “meet the women shaping the future of Oregon Wine” in her article, “Leading the Way.” Read more.
The Drinks Business highlights the impact/importance of IPNC
“Great wine captures the spirit of a place. But that place isn’t just the landscape or the climate; it’s the people too. Few wine regions make that point as powerfully as Oregon,” Gabriel Stone reports. Read more.
Portland Monthly Magazine highlights Willamette Valley Tasting Room Architecture
Emily Teel describes these wineries and tasting rooms as “A youthful crop of Willamette Valley wineries, all day trip driving distance from Portland, (that) are leaning into this movement, distinguishing themselves as aesthetic and architectural destinations that also make great wines.” Read more.
Eric Guido’s Vinous Report on Oregon’s 2022 Vintage Released
Eric Guido writes, “As Oregon continues to evolve in an exciting way that goes far beyond Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it’s clear that the future is very bright for the region and its fans.” Guido reviewed just short of 1,000 wines in May of 2024 and published this report on August 8 (subscription required to view full report and all scores).
Audrey Frick’s Jeb Dunnuck Report on Willamette Valley’s New Releases
Audrey Frick writes, “This report takes an in-depth look at the current releases from the Willamette Valley but also includes wines from across Oregon.” Published August 7, this article requires a subscription to view the full report and all scores.
Decanter Covers Oregon’s 2022 Vintage
Clive Pursehouse reports “The 2022 vintage in Oregon’s Willamette Valley offered its long-standing fans and collectors a return to the region’s classic conditions.” Read more. Subscription required to view entire article and scores.
Media Opportunities & Calls for Wine
Oregon Wine Press Call for Sparkling and Dessert Wines – September 24 deadline
Oregon Wine Press Cellar Selects Issue, published in December, will feature Sparkling and Dessert wines. To participate:
Please send up to four submissions (TWO bottles each) per brand.
1. Send TWO bottles of each submission.
2. Include retail price.
3. No price limit.
4. Wine must be received by 5 p.m., Tuesday, September 24.
Please send your submission(s) (by UPS or FedEx only) to or DROP off weekdays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at: Oregon Lithoprint, Attn: Cellar Selects OWP, 1315 N.E. Miller St., McMinnville, OR 97128
The Drinks Business magazine (published in the UK) is now accepting entries for its Global Chardonnay Masters 2024 and invites Oregon wineries of all sizes to participate. The deadline to submit entries is September 23 and wines must be received by September 30. Entries must be duty paid. For any questions, please contact the Global Masters Team. Full submission details can be found here.
Research
Viticulture & Enology
August 2024 Weather and Climate Report
Dr. Greg Jones recently published an updated weather and climate summary and forecast. This report looks back at July conditions and forecasts conditions for August, September and October.
Wine Industry Business
Oregon Wine Industry Labor/Salary Survey Launches October 1
The 2024 Wine Industry Labor/Salary Survey will launch on October 1. We’ll include reminders in the upcoming editions of the Grapevine. For reference, the presentation of last year’s survey results from the 2024 Oregon Wine Symposium can be found here. As a reminder, this survey is intended to be filled out by proprietors, general managers, human resources managers, etc. For questions about this survey, please email [email protected] and we will direct your inquiry to the correct contact.
Opportunities
OWB Video/Photo Asset RFP – Now Accepting Proposals
The OWB is requesting proposals from firms or individuals interested in providing digital still images and video content of the Oregon State wine industry for use within the OWB’s international marketing program. Proposals are due back to the OWB by 10:00 am PDT, Friday, September 6, 2024
Proposals and questions should be submitted electronically to Sally Crawford, [email protected]. For full details about this opportunity, click here.
WCLP Grants Program – Applications Now Open!
With funding provided through sales of the Oregon Wine Country license plate, Travel Oregon administers a program to make grant awards available to “tourism promotion agencies” for projects that promote wine and culinary tourism.
There is $540,000 made available for the current funding cycle, applicants may apply for grants of up to $50,000 per project and may apply for no more than two projects in the same cycle. Each project requires its own application. Applicants must demonstrate a 1-to-1 match with at least 50% of matching funds being cash. Applications will be accepted from Aug. 22-Sept. 20. For full details about this program, including eligibility and guidelines, please click here. Questions may be directed to [email protected].
Call for Nominations to the Oregon Wine Board of Directors | Oct. 5
Every fall, the Governor appoints new Oregon Wine Board Directors for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1 of the following year. Per ORS 576.856, the Governor shall consider nominations or recommendations made by organizations with nominating committees representative of all major wine industry regions of the state.
The two statewide advocacy organizations – the Oregon Winegrowers Association and the Oregon Wine Council – have convened a Joint Oregon Wine Board Nominating Committee (“Committee”) to develop a common slate of nominees to present to the Governor for consideration. The Committee is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) to ensure a transparent and collaborative process.
While Oregon statute does not include official quotas to be filled or specifications for any of the nine seats on the Oregon Wine Board, the MOU outlines qualifications and target composition for the board to ensure a diversity of regions, business sizes and models to reflect the makeup of the industry. For the 2024-26 term, there are 5 positions available with 3 current directors eligible for reappointment.
If you or an industry colleague is interested in being considered for recommendation by the Joint OWB Nominating Committee, please complete this interest form by October 5. You may also submit your application directly to Salem by October 5 without the endorsement of the Joint OWB Nominating Committee. Learn more about Oregon Wine Board service.
Carl Giavanti Consulting Wine Characters project
Carl Giavanti Consulting has launched its new “Wine Characters” storytelling project. This winegrower interview project allows wineries to participate at no cost and is focused on storytelling and brand messaging. For any wineries that are interested in participating, please contact Carl Giavanti with questions and to confirm contact and shipping information at [email protected] or call 971-221-4212. FAQs about the project can be found here.
Other News
OLCC CAMP Online System
As a reminder, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) has launched a new on-line licensing system, the Cannabis and Alcohol Management program: CAMP. As of August 12, alcohol licensees began transitioning into this system. Going forward, OLCC alcohol licensees will use CAMP to manage their licensing activity, eliminating most paper requirements needed for existing or new alcohol licenses. CAMP will provide licensees with more immediate access to their license information. Licensees can find out more information on the CAMP website and sign up for updates regarding CAMP Alcohol Licensing here.
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