Published February 15, 2024
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Almost every industry has an annual meeting or trade-show of some kind. Some lucky professionals meet up in Hawaii or Palm Springs. While I’d love to go somewhere warm and sunny, I always look forward to the Oregon Wine Symposium held in Portland each February. It’s a great opportunity to get out of the cellar, connect with colleagues, and learn something new.
While collaboration can sometimes seem like just a buzzword, in Oregon there is some real meat on the bone.
Investing in Our Own Future
In 1983, the Oregon wine industry and the Legislature worked together to pass a $25 per ton tax on wine grapes grown in Oregon. The money raised goes to fund research, education, and marketing.
At the Symposium we’ll hear from experts from Oregon State and around the world, presenting their findings from research funded by our grape tax. I’m looking forward to the Chardonnay seminar where we’ll taste the results of some new winemaking techniques. I’m not as excited to learn about the new regulations we need to comply with, but that’s on the agenda as well. 😉
Competition exists in Oregon Wine, but by working together, we’ve learned, grown, and developed so much more than if we had done so individually.
Cheers to real Collaboration!
Russell
