Annual Report

Dear Colleagues,

With grape assessments lower than initially projected in fiscal year 2008-2009, and down from the year prior, we shifted investments accordingly.  We trimmed back marketing program expenses, relying heavily on our experienced staff to do the heavy lifting instead, and cut our administrative costs significantly.  We advocated for a bigger portion of the Market Access Program (MAP) Export grant we share with Washington State, which received incremental funding from the Federal Government.  We invested significantly in the launch of the Oregon Certified Sustainable Wine program and received a Bullit Foundation grant to support the Carbon Neutral Challenge.

Meanwhile, we protected your research interests, providng research grants totalling nearly $230,000 (a $31,000 increase over last year) and also made an important $15,000 contribution to the OSU Wine Institute to help fund a new Institute Director position.

Our Oregon Wine Industry Symposium again saw record attendance, and our second annual Silent Auction, benefitting the Oregon Winegrowers Association (OWA), raised $11,500.  This helped offset OWA legal expenses incurred in one of the most active and challenging years, where our counsel helped secure a temporary halt to the onerous privilege tax administration and advanced other issues crucial to the success of your businesses.

Both organizations stepped up to overdeliver, given the ongoing challenges our vineyards and wineries face.  In the following pages, you will see how we invested your tax dollars (OWB) and dues (OWA) and how we continue to drive the Oregon wine category forward.

Sincere regards,

Ted Farthing

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