Wines & Vines

December 2012 Unified Sessions Preview Issue

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DE CEMBER NEWS Oregon Wine Institute Caught in 'Culture Clash' Search for full-time director for Oregon Wine Research Institute on hold indefinitely orvallis, Ore.—Its programs will con- tinue, but the Oregon Wine Research Institute will be without a full-time director for the foreseeable future. The decision follows a report by Bill Nelson, the former president of Wine America who served as executive director of the Oregon Winegrowers Association until 1994. OWRI asked Nelson to review the institute this past June. Nelson's report, submitted in September and publicly released a month later, praises the research institute's potential but out- lines a distinct division between the univer- sity's and industry's understanding of the institute and the role each group plays. "OWRI is clearly owned by OSU (Or- egon State University.) The wine industry is advisory. There is a real need to clearly explain this situation to industry and to gain acceptance," Nelson writes. Confusion over ownership of the insti- tute is compounded by what Nelson de- scribes as a "culture clash" in how the in- C APPROVALS TTB LABEL Low per-label costs Gov't. Liaison Negotiations or Footwork Reasonable Hourly Rates TRADEMARK SEARCHES As Low as $185 Your trade names or designs are searched at the U.S. Patent Office to help establish valuable ownership or avoid costly legal liability. Over 100 years' total staff experience handling every government liaison need for industry. Phone or write for details. Phone: (703) 524-8200 Fax: 525-8451 TOLL-FREE 1-800-642-6564 Major Credit Cards Accepted www.trademarkinfo.com Since 1957 200 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 321 Arlington, Virginia 22203 18 WINES & VINES DECEMBER 2012 NORTHWEST Portland Pacific Ocean Corvallis Eugene WA OSU & OWRI Bend OREGON CA "We have chosen to not initiate NV GovtLiaison_Dir08 11/29/07 2:00 PM Pag Oregon State University a search now." —Dr. Bill Boggess, stitute should be run. The "top down" man- agement style used in business is not a good fit for academics. He recommended that industry advisors avoid micromanaging the institute and perhaps establish a li- aison who could serve as a conduit be- tween the university and its partners in the wine business. winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "culture clash." ID The position of director is critical enough to the success of the institute that Nelson advocates, leaving the position of director vacant rather than having the wrong director. "The right person is vital," he says. In the meantime, Dr. Bill Boggess, execu- tive associate dean of the College of Agri- cultural Sciences at OSU will continue to oversee the institute. Boggess has helped manage the institute since inaugural direc- tor Dr. Neil Shay stepped down at the end of June 2012. —Peter Mitham Oregon teaching winery celebrates first harvest R oseburg, Ore.—The new teaching winery at Umpqua Community College pro- cessed its inaugural harvest this year. The new winery at the Danny Lang Teach- ing, Learning and Event Center boasts a winery within a purpose-built teaching and research facility. Its capacity is 3,000 cases—six times that of the previous shop. Chris Lake, director of the Southern Oregon Wine Institute that calls the Lang Center home, told Wines & Vines the vision was for a winery that would replicate the standard small winery in Southern Oregon. Students at Umpqua Community College will make Syrah from Cooper Ridge Vineyard fruit. While the facility is far larger than what students require, it will also provide room for new graduates to produce wines, effectively serving as an incubation center for new local winer- ies. Among the initial grapes processed at the teaching winery is a ton of Syrah from Cooper Ridge Vineyard. Lesa Ray, who operates the vineyard with her husband Robin, is a student in the viti- culture and enology program at the Southern Oregon Wine Institute. Ray began with the viticulture portion of the program, studying online and attending the college for a weekly lab. Ray said she's enjoyed the opportunity to ap- ply lessons directly to what she was doing in the vineyard. winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Oregon teaching." —Peter Mitham

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