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APRIL NEWS Oregon Wine Industry Optimistic E ugene, Ore.—The mood among close to 1,000 attendees at the annual Oregon Wine Industry Symposium was upbeat, but wineries are mulling alternative directions as the economy stabilizes. While strengthening sales of wines priced at $20-plus per bottle were cause for optimism and even applause during presentations by bankers, economists and market observers, a cautious attitude on the trade show floor and the incep- tion of a new series of seminars about white wine production underscored the discussion tak- ing place within the industry regarding its future. The Pinot Noir success story dominates Oregon wine production, but it brings as much risk during downturns as it does wealth dur- ing robust eras. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris account for 53.6% and 16.7%, respectively, of state grape production according to the latest National Agricultural Statistics Service numbers. But a discussion about whether other world-class white wines are possible from Oregon highlighted the potential for Riesling and Chardonnay—thanks to new plantings of Dijon clones—to diversify the industry. Both varieties were once significant elements of local Cherokee_Nov05.qxt 9/19/05 10:52 AM Page 1 winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Oregon optimistic." Symposium seeks fresh alternatives; does Pinot Noir focus hold the state back? production. Riesling has fallen from 23% of plantings to just 3% during the past two decades, while Chardonnay acreage in 2010 is just 72% of what it was in 2000. During a review of the industry's economic state, Chris Welch, a partner with bulk wine dealer Ciatti Co., explained that Pinot Noir's dominance contributes to high production costs and the need for Oregon producers to target buyers of premium wines. With so much Pinot Noir being produced in the state, he said, production costs tend to be higher: Processing capacity faces greater demand within a shorter harvest window than in areas with a greater distribution of grape varieties that can be harvested during an extended ripening period. Diversification in varieties could ease the crunch at crush and offer a fresh selection of wines to the market. Albariño, Arneis and Viognier are among the grapes now finding their way into wines, largely from Southern Oregon producers. This also shows there's more to the state than Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. —Peter Mitham hauling precious cargo • 24 hour dispatch • Competitive rates • Personalized Service • Radio/Cell phone equipped • State-of-the-art equipment • Maximum payload capacity • Over 30 years in operation • References available • Fleet of over 200 trucks including Wine Tanks and Dry Freight Vans CHEROKEE FREIGHT LINES 5463 Cherokee Road • Stockton, CA 95215 Telephone: 209.931.3570 • or visit our website:www.gocfl.com 18 Wines & Vines APRiL 201 1