October 28, 2019 3:20 a.m.
A new wine organization has begun in Oregon.
The Oregon Wine Council has formed with a board of directors and members representing the wine industry statewide. A release from the OWC said the group formed “from the coalition who defended the wine industry from anti-competitive wine legislation during the 2019 Oregon legislature”. The release said they represent growers, producers and businesses supporting the wine industry and are focused on “uniting the wine industry and speaking with one voice”.
Co-Chair Elin Miller, Owner of Umpqua Vineyard LLC, said “we are really pleased with the support and how much of the wine industry in Oregon has already joined us”. Miller said most of the large producers have joined the group along with smaller producers statewide. She said the OWC has already met with the Governor, the head of the Oregon Liquor Control Commission, and key policy leaders. Miller said the group is “uniting the industry”.
The release said the OWC is calling for no-new wine specific legislation in the 2020 short session of the Legislature. The Council has been actively reaching out to leaders of regional wine associations with that demand, according to the release. OWC Co-Chair Ken Johnston, COO of Winemakers LLC, said “harvest this year has been tough statewide and made our point as to why we opposed SB111”.  He said when harvest is low in the Willamette Valley, those growers need the Umpqua and the Rogue Valley’s grapes and vice versa. He said “we have to find policy solutions that are good for everyone, not just one region, We’re all in this together”.
The release said during the 2019 Oregon Legislative session, bills were introduced about wine labeling, fruit sales outside Oregon, purity standards and creating new licensure laws. One of those was SB111, which was sponsored by the Oregon Winegrowers Association. It was the catalysis for opposition according to the release. It said that the coalition that defeated the legislation is now the OWC. The release said the group believes that the OWA “has not represented our best interests, nor the interests of the statewide wine industry”.
Find out more about the new organization by going to www.oregonwinecouncil.org. Tuesday’s Inside Douglas County on News Radio 1240 KQEN will focus on the group. Dyson DeMara of Hillcrest Vineyards, and Scott Kelley of Paul O’Brien Winery, two members of the OWC’s Board of Directors will be interviewed.