OWB Blog

1. Oregon Wine License Plate Sales Top 6,000 Mark: Specialty Plate Is Second Fastest Selling First Year of Sales Explore OWB Blog (May 15 2013) Wine Marketing Oregon’s Wine Country license plate turns a year old today and it’s turning into a big hit with Oregonians who have placed more than 6,000 sets of the specialty plates on their vehicles in the first year. Oregon’s Wine Country plates officially went on sale in May 2012. The plates were authorized by the Oregon Legislature in 2011 and are the first specialty license plates to recognize wine production by any state in the U.S. “The popularity of the Wine Country license plates is another indicator of the support that the Oregon wine industry enjoys ... (Read Full Article)

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2. State’s Wineries Ready For Oregon Wine Month: Promotions, Events Highlight Focus on $3 Billion Industry Explore OWB Blog (Apr 25 2013) Save the Date Oregon’s 450-plus wineries are preparing to kick off Oregon Wine Month, a month-long focus on the state’s $3 billion industry next week. Dozens of promotions, tasting and other activities are planned by wineries and wine retailers in the state, culminating in the annual Memorial Day Weekend Open House when most of the state’s wineries are open for public tastings. Oregon wine will be made especially visible at the state’s leading food and beverage retailers where many are planning special promotions and pricing during the entire month of May. (Read Full Article)

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3. Newly Designated Elkton AVA Bottles Its First Vintage Explore OWB Blog (Apr 18 2013) Wineries in the News History was made on a chilly Wednesday morning in Elkton Oregon as The 2012 Oregon Riesling from Brandborg Winery became the first wine ever to be bottled with the new Elkton AVA on its label. Elkton earned designation as an American Viticulture Area (AVA) from the federal government earlier this year to distinguish itself as a grape growing region ideal for growing high quality Riesling and other cool climate wine grapes.  The grapes used for the historic Brandborg Riesling were sourced from Elkton grower John Bradley of Bradley Vineyards.  The vines were planted in 1983, at a time when Bradley ... (Read Full Article)

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4. Brick House founder interviews Oregonian wine writer at Linfield College Explore OWB Blog (Apr 8 2013) Wine Business Join Brick House Vineyard founder Doug Tunnell as he turns the tables on Oregonian wine columnist Katherine Cole, interviewing her in front of a live audience at Linfield College. The dynamic exploration of the Oregon wine industry will be Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in 222 T.J. Day Hall. The event is free and the public is welcome. (Read Full Article)

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5. Oregon Wine Board’s team divulges wine tasting secrets! Explore OWB Blog (Mar 25 2013) Vintage Oregon Blog Hello Oregon Wine Explorer! This week we polled team members working on our big kick off event, Vintage Oregon, who range from a newbie wine drinker to an oenophile that grew up on a vineyard. We asked each person, “What tip would you tell someone new to wine tasting?” Their timely advice is the perfect prep for our event on April 28th.   (Read Full Article)

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6. Vintage Oregon - Exploring Oregon's Wine Regions Explore OWB Blog (Mar 21 2013) Vintage Oregon Blog Vintage Oregon will be taking place at the Leftbank Annex, a unique event space situated in the heart of Portland, Oregon. Located on all the major transportation lines and right next to the Rose Quarter, the multi-level floor plan allowed our creative team a chance to envision an interactive floor plan like none other (think Candyland meets the Oregon Trail). With the goal of encouraging guests to taste, learn and experience the very best of the Northwest, we thought it best to break down Oregon wine country. Oregon’s wine country is comprised of 17 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVAs ... (Read Full Article)

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7. Vintage Oregon Uncovered Explore OWB Blog (Mar 18 2013) Vintage Oregon Blog Imagine, if you will, that you’re preparing to go for a hike on one of Oregon’s many trails. Add a warm jacket, a comfy pair of pants or shorts, and a pair of boots, a map and a few tools. You’re now a hiker, ready to explore the path ahead, excited about what’s around every turn of road in front of you. Come with us for a few moments, and let our team share with you the story behind Vintage Oregon, the big kick off event for Oregon Wine Month happening Sunday, April 28th from 3 ... (Read Full Article)

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8. FIRST EVER WINE TOURISM DAY – May 11, 2013 Explore OWB Blog (Mar 18 2013) Save the Date , Wine Marketing The first ever Wine Tourism Day is set for May 11, which is fitting as May is Oregon Wine Month.Wine Tourism Day is simply an opportunity for wineries, hotels, restaurants, and other wine-related businesses to offer special events to the public to promote the concept of wine tourism. The organizers of the Wine Tourism Day, Zephyr Adventures, got the idea for a Wine Tourism Day Europe, where the European Network of Wine Cities has organized the European Day of Wine Tourism since 2009. On Nov. 13-15, Portland will host the 2013 Wine Tourism Conference sponsored by the Oregon Wine ... (Read Full Article)

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9. Ponzi Vineyards to unveil a dynamic new winery tasting room Explore OWB Blog (Mar 12 2013) Wineries in the News Ponzi Vineyards is opening a new tasting room at the site of their winery in Sherwood this June. The Ponzi Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room will provide elegant tableside wine service and give guests an opportunity to explore the four-level, gravity-flow winemaking facility. The launch of the new space officially opens the winery to the public for the first time and will reflect the innovation and tradition that put Ponzi— second generation and women-owned and operated—on the map. “The modern new tasting room is an exciting addition to our business,” says second-generation owner Maria Ponzi. “When we were kids ... (Read Full Article)

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10. Oregon wine makes big splash in South Korea Explore OWB Blog (Feb 13 2013) Wine Business Two 40-foot containers of Oregon wine – about 27,000 bottles – will be departing the Port of Portland this weekend, headed for South Korea and its largest retailer. The shipment of Oregon Pinot signals a potentially bright future for export to a growing Korean market. "We've enjoyed the export of many Oregon products to Korea for decades, but this particular sale of wine is extraordinary," says Gary Roth, the Oregon Department of Agriculture's marketing director.  “What is unusual is the size of the retailer making the purchase and how quickly it happened. Korean buyers who visited our wineries last ... (Read Full Article)

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11. Top wine critic calls Oregon “this idyllic region” that has come of age Explore OWB Blog (Feb 12 2013) Wine Reviews Food & Wine Magazine’s March issue just hit the mailboxes across America and what Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden recently described as Oregon’s “relentlessly good news story” continues to roll on. F&W’s wine editor Ray Isle interviewed wine guru Robert Parker for the magazine’s 35th anniversary issue and Parker added his kudos to the Oregon story: Ray Isle: Also in 1987, you wrote, “Western Oregon may well have the finest potential of any viticultural region in the world, outside of Burgundy, to produce great wine from the fickle and temperamental Pinot Noir grape.” Did western Oregon ... (Read Full Article)

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12. Elkton Oregon designated state’s 17th AVA: Elkton Oregon wine producers see years of hard work rewarded Explore OWB Blog (Feb 7 2013) Wine Business Elkton Oregon became the state’s newest American Viticultural Area after receiving approval from the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau this week. The new Elkton Oregon AVA is entirely contained within the Umpqua Valley AVA, which is entirely within the Southern Oregon AVA. Oregon has a total of 17 AVAs. By gaining AVA status, winegrowers and winemakers within the Elkton Oregon AVA can better describe the origin of their wines and consumers can better identify wines they may purchase. The TTB ruling is effective March 7, 2013. The AVA may be referred to as Elkton Oregon ... (Read Full Article)

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13. Tickets for “Greatest of The Grape” Going Fast Explore OWB Blog (Feb 6 2013) Save the Date Now in its 43rd year, The Greatest of The Grape will be held March 2 at The Grand Ballroom of Seven Feathers Hotel and Casino Resort in Canyonville, OR.  As the oldest wine festival in Oregon, the event focuses on pairing a unique dish created especially for every wine provided by the 28 participating wineries. This year, for the first time ever, wine and food enthusiasts can purchase a VIP ticket to get exclusive access to Greatest of The Grape a full hour before the doors officially open. Already, nearly half of the allotted 100 VIP tickets have been ... (Read Full Article)

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14. Wine Spectator: Oregon rings up another “landmark vintage” Explore OWB Blog (Jan 23 2013) OWB Blog Harvey Steiman’s annual review of Oregon wine (primarily the 2010 vintage) published this week and it’s another ringing endorsement of the quality of wine being produced in the nation’s third largest wine growing region. Steiman, a veteran reviewer for The Wine Spectator, lauded Oregon’s 2010 vintage, calling it another “landmark vintage.” Of the 552 wines reviewed for the article in the February 2013 issue, 250 were rated 90 points or higher – a spectacular showing for Oregon’s much awarded industry. Six of the wines ranked 95 or higher. While 90% of the highly rated wines were ... (Read Full Article)

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15. Environmental Initiatives in the Beverage Industry provided by LIVE and the Carbon Reduction Challenge Explore OWB Blog (Jan 10 2013) Save the Date When: January 22, 2013 - 10:00am - 11:00am Where: Northwest Viticulture Center, Salem OR | Map Speaker: John Stier, Global Corporate Consultancy, Antea Group and Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) Global beverage companies continue to reduce their carbon footprint through a variety of initiatives including energy efficiency and renewables, use of Post-Consumer Recycled materials, and sustainable agricultural practices. John Stier with the Antea Group will review several key initiatives within the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) and the Brewers Association that focus on carbon accounting and reduction. Initiatives that are applicable to Oregon wineries and vineyards will be discussed. (Read Full Article)

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16. Oregon Wine Board names two new directors, officers: Bartholomew elected Chairwoman; Thomson, Valot join OWB/OWA as directors Explore OWB Blog (Jan 9 2013) Gov. John Kitzhaber has appointed two new directors to the Oregon Wine Board (OWB) and reappointed two current directors to new terms. Both Steve Thomson of King Estate Winery and Juan Pablo “JP” Valot of Silvan Ridge Winery were appointed to three-year terms. Leigh Bartholomew of Archery Summit and Dominio IV winery and Michael Donovan of RoxyAnn Winery were re-appointed to new terms. Bartholomew was elected by the board to succeed Donovan as chairwoman. Donovan becomes chairman emeritus. Bill Sweat of Winderlea Vineyard & Winery was elected vice chairman and Ellen Brittan of Brittan Vineyards was named treasurer for the 2013-14 ... (Read Full Article)

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17. Oregon Wine Industry Symposium Set for Feb. 19-20 in Portland: Annual Industry Gathering Expected To Attract Record Attendance Explore OWB Blog (Dec 17 2012) The largest gathering of Oregon’s wine-producing industry is set for Feb. 19-20, 2013 at the annual Oregon Wine Industry Symposium. This will be the second year the conference has been held in Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. Last year’s conference, which moved to Portland from Eugene, broke all previous attendance records with more than 1,300 industry members, vendors and media registered. Attendance at the 2013 symposium, which focuses on all aspects of Oregon’s highly successful wine industry, is expected to top last year’s record. “We are expecting our largest and best symposium ever,” said ... (Read Full Article)

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18. Oregon wineries top 2 million case mark for first time: 2011 census shows sales, production growth exceeds industry average Explore OWB Blog (Dec 12 2012) Oregon Wine Features PORTLAND, Dec. 12, 2012 –Oregon’s $3 billion wine industry continue to outpace much of the rest of the U.S. wine industry by topping the 2 million case sales level for the first time in its 50-year history, according to the 2011 Oregon Winery Census Report released today by the Oregon Wine Board (OWB). The census was conducted and produced by Southern Oregon University’s Southern Oregon Research Center in Ashland. Oregon’s 463 wineries saw overall sales increase 9% both in volume and sales revenue, making 2011 the biggest year in the history of the industry. Total case ... (Read Full Article)

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19. Awards and more . . . Explore OWB Blog (Nov 21 2012) OWB Blog Oregon’s award-winning wine industry scored a few more kudos recently, including a mention in today’s New York Times wine column. Thirty-five Oregon wines scored awards at the recent American Wine Society Conference judging held in Portland. Notable were Willamette Valley Vineyards and Cottonwood Winery, both in the Salem area, for their double gold and gold awards. Willamette Valley Vineyards won a double gold for its 2011 Pinot gris and a gold for its 2009 Bernau Block Pinot noir. Cottonwood won double gold for its 2005 Brigette Catherine Pinot noir and a gold for its 2007 Raya Jade Syrah ... (Read Full Article)

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20. OWB sets date for 2013 Vintage Oregon tasting: Second annual event in Portland to kick off Oregon Wine Month Explore OWB Blog (Nov 8 2012) Save the Date The Oregon Wine Board announced today that the second annual all-Oregon tasting event will be April 28, 2013, in Portland. The tasting, which is expected to showcase as many as 75 wineries representing all regions of the state, will kick off Oregon Wine Month in May. The 2013 event also gets a new name –Vintage Oregon. The tasting will be held at the Left Bank Annex in Northeast Portland. “Last year’s event helped us launch Oregon wine month in an exciting way for consumers and our industry,” said Michael Donovan, chairman of the Oregon Wine Board, which represents the ... (Read Full Article)

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21. Viticulture Program Started at Yamhill Carlton High School Explore OWB Blog (Nov 8 2012) Research/Education Ken Wright, legendary Oregon winemaker, has a long track record of civic involvement in Carlton, home of Ken Wright Cellars. Most of his efforts go unrecognized and that’s the way he mostly wants it. But his most recent effort has special significance for the future of the Oregon wine industry. Wright worked with a number of educational and industry organizations to start a first-in-the-state viticulture program as part of the Future Farmers of America/Agriculture curriculum at Yamhill-Carlton High School. The idea grew out of how impressed Wright has been with the students who have been involved in FFA ... (Read Full Article)

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22. American Wine Society Annual Conference Kicks Off Nov. 8 in Portland Explore OWB Blog (Oct 29 2012) Oregon Wine Features The American Wine Society kicks off its 45th annual conference next week with about 500 wine enthusiasts converging on Portland for the three-day show, Nov. 8-10.     (Read Full Article)

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23. Oregon wineries score top honors in Wine & Spirits Top 100s Explore OWB Blog (Oct 19 2012) Wine Reviews Oregon wineries are often said to “fight above their weight” and the recent edition of Wine and Spirits Magazine brought that point home once again.   Ten Oregon wineries were named to W&S’s international top 100 wineries. Of the 42 U.S. wineries on the list of top 100, Oregon accounted for 24 percent of the total --  a pretty amazing score considering Oregon’s industry is dwarfed by much larger and more established wine regions to the north and south. Oregon wineries making the list were Adelsheim Vineyards, Bergstrom, Chehalem, Cristom, Evening Land Vineyards, Eyrie Vineyards, King Estate, Lange ... (Read Full Article)

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24. “Giddy” Oregon winemakers headed for epic 2012 vintage Explore OWB Blog (Oct 10 2012) Oregon Wine Features By OWB Staff   PORTLAND – Oct. 10, 2012 -- Oregon’s burgeoning wine industry is headed down the home stretch to what some are calling an epic harvest that could lead to one of the best vintages in the history of the 50-year-old region.   “This harvest has been amazing,” said Jesse Lange of Lange Estate Winery in Dundee, who described himself as downright giddy. “Epic is the word I used earlier to describe this coming vintage and it’s turning out to be accurate.”   The Oregon industry has experienced one of its driest harvest season on record as much of the state ... (Read Full Article)

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