WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERY TOURS

1. The Wine Industry in Oregon Wine producers here aim to create wines that express the place they're from. Their efforts are rewarded with national recognition, and growing demand. Pinot Noir remains the star, but a growing number of Oregon brands are making a name for themselves in other categories. Recent national studies, including one from Rob McMillan, EVP and founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division show that Oregon is on a positive trajectory. The Climate The Oregon wine industry has been exciting wine professionals and ahead-of-the-curve consumers for a while now, but even as it has grown exponentially, it’s never lost sight of its roots: family-owned farms, attention to place and an uncompromising focus on crafting singular, expressive wines. It’s no wonder Oregon wines are often compared to Burgundy, both in quality and style. But climate change is changing the game. Research climatologist Greg Jones says the last decade was the warmest in the history of the state’s recorded temperatures. The warmer weather is good news for some grape varieties, but not for others. Pinot Noir is particularly susceptible to sunburn, which can degrade the delicate layers of flavor that make the finicky grape so compelling. As a result, growers are experimenting with shading the grapes. Other vineyard managers are planting drought-tolerant vines and exploring new mitigation strategies such as the use of carbon dioxide to stimulate ripening. A new class of compounds has also been identified that can help reduce smoke taint in wines affected by wildfire smoke. The Grapes Oregon’s terroir lends itself to growing grapes of all kinds, but Pinot noir is by far the state’s most famous wine. The finicky variety is a mainstay of the region, and it’s also a big seller nationally, with a 32% volume share in $15+ domestic table wine during the 12-month period ending 2022. Berson is a member of a tight-knit winemaking community that helps one another out in tough times. He describes it as a “mutual back-scratching type thing.” It’s these relationships that help him stay strong when the behind-the-scenes stress of smoked-out grapes becomes all too real. Pinots can be more vulnerable to smoke taint than other varieties, but winemakers are finding ways to mitigate that risk. Troon is exploring other varietals like Tannat, Vermentino and Negrette to increase the resiliency of its vines, and is planting multiple clones of each variety to help improve long-term resiliency. The Wineries The wine industry has a ripple effect across the state, generating business for firms seemingly unrelated to the winery. The value-added activity of wine translates to jobs and revenue in industries including agriculture, banking,

2. accounting, manufacturing, transportation and printing. In 2019, wine-related activity generated over $184 million in state and local tax revenues, supporting an estimated 40,047 Oregon jobs. From its beginnings as a handful of rogue dreamers, the wine industry in Oregon now includes more than 900 wineries and 22 distinct growing areas (known as American Viticultural Areas). Our talented vintners continue to earn national and international accolades. But climate change could have an impact on future generations of Oregon grape growers and winemakers. As the region warms, cooler climate wines like Pinot Noir may not be as suitable. Oregon Wine Tours That’s the kind of change that could test a winery’s terroir and force it to adapt or die. The People For Oregon winemakers, 2021 was a year that tested both their resiliency and their collaboration. COVID-19 restrictions, labor shortages, extreme heat and cold and more all added up to a very difficult vintage. In Oregon, the wine industry employs over 30,000 people. This includes those who work in the winery, vineyard and sales sectors. It also includes workers in related industries, such as transportation and professional services. And it also includes those who spend their wages on goods and services related to the wine industry, such as equipment, supplies and groceries. When you add up all the value-added effects of wine, it equals more than $7 billion for Oregon. This includes the direct impact of winery and grower revenues, the indirect effect from workers spending their wages in the economy, and the induced effects from those suppliers buying more of their goods and services. The number of Oregon wine-related jobs in the economy has grown by 27% since three years ago. If you want to find out more about wine and you enjoy wine tours, we recommend Oregon Wine Tours. Oregon Wine Tours is managed and run by industry experts that have worked with some of the leading wine makers in the region, guides and hosts that are passionate about what they do and can’t wait to host you in their state. There are absolutely no surcharges, taxes or fees. Just simple straightforward tiered pricing clearly shown during checkout. They cover all of North Oregon and South Washington metro areas around Portland (including Salem, McMinnville, Newberg, Hillsborough, Forest Grove, Portland, and Vancouver). Joinable groups depart from downtown Portland only with a radius of 10 miles (call for exceptions). All reservations and appointments are handled by you. Simply select private or joinable, select the number of people, your date, and the price is shown upfront before you book. On their website there are details about the different tours. Visit the Oregon Wine Tours website at https://www.oregonwinetours.com/ to book a wine tour today or to find out more. You will be happy that you did!