Oregon's wine industry continues to grow, with value of harvest topping $200m for first time
Oregon’s wine grape crop topped the $200m mark last year for the first time, climbing by nearly 9% to reach $208m, up from $192m the previous year, boosted by increased demand from both overseas and the domestic market.
At the same time the value of Oregon’s wine sales burgeoned from $550m in 2017 to $607m last year according to the Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) at the University of Oregon, boosted by a 19% increase in direct to consumer shipments.
Worldwide exports leaped to 104,477 cases compared to 94,351 in 2017 according to the 2018 Oregon Vineyard and Winery Report. Canada remains the leading market for Oregon’s wines, accounting for 45% of all shipments, with Canadians consumering 47,338 cases of Oregon wine.
However, notable growth was recorded in Scandinavian markets, with a 58% increase in wines shipped to Denmark, while exports to Asia were also on the up, with 15,258 cases of Oregon wine earmarked for the continent, helped by increases in exports to Japan, China, Hong Kong and South Korea.
Exports of Oregon wine to the UK continued to rise last year in line with increased demand for wine from the state across the world to 11.200 cases in 2018, up from 10,047 the previous year.
The “industry momentum” was due to the increasing recognition of Oregon’s “reputation for quality and consumers’ willingness to seek out and pay for exceptional wines”, according to Tom Danowski, president of the Oregon Wine Board, which compiles the report. “Visit any winery or vineyard now in the midst of harvest, and it’s easy to see the skills, experience and extra effort from winemakers, vineyard managers, growers, tasting room staff and everyone involved in the process of crafting Oregon wines,” he said.
The number of vineyards in Oregon increased from 1,144 to 1,165 and total planted acreage increased by nearly 2,000 acres from 33,996 to 35,972, an increase of 5.8%, with the highest growth rate in planted acreage seen in the Umpqua and Rogue valleys at 10%.
The overall number of wineries increased from 769 to 793 with the largest increases coming from South Willamette Valley, which added 16, and the North Willamette Valley, which grew by 12.
In terms of grape varietals, Pinot Noir, which accounts for over half (56%) of all planted acreage, grew by 5% in 2018, while Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon increased in acreage by 26% and 25% respectively. Syrah also grew by over a fifth (21%), and Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay continued their healthy ascents at 16% and 13% growth in planted acres, respectively, while Albariño, Gamay and Viognier plantings made it into the report's acreage charts for the first time.
Total planted acreage of wine grapes increased by almost 6%, nearly 2,000 acres, increasing from 33,996 to 35,972, with the highest growth rate in planted acreage last year seen in the Umpqua and Rogue valleys with 10% more acres of grapes planted this year over last.
Photos by Josh Bergstrom, from Bergstrom Vineyards