Oregon Winery Growth Pt 2

Oregon Winery Growth Pt 2

Bob Larson
Bob Larson
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Much like Washington state the year before, the number of wineries in Oregon has crested the 1,000 mark in 2021, with 1,058 wineries statewide.

Sarah Murdoch, with the Oregon Wine Board, says in spite of recent challenges, Oregon’s winery numbers have held steady in all the wine regions …

MURDOCH … “And I’m looking at the number of wineries from 2020 and it looks like the South Willamette Valley went 86 wineries to 86 the next year. Umpqua had 53 and then 53 the next year. So, even that, to see that they’re holding steady and staying in there even when 2020 was so difficult, is good to see.”

The same, Murdoch says can be said for neighbors Washington and California …

MURDOCH … “We do all work together. We did all have an amazing West Coast phenomenon and we really, I think, pulled together, but now it’s time to really get our heads down and get those grapes inside and see what we can do.”

As for varieties, Murdoch says Oregon’s top remains at the top …

MURDOCH … “In 2021, Pinot Noir still jumped ahead and, it jumped up small, a couple of percentage points to being 60% of our planted acreage and I thought that was good to see that here is Pinot Noir just holding steady as the leading variety in Oregon. So, I have a lot of faith in our Pinot Noir.”

After a rough 2020, the aggregate value of Oregon wine grape

production increased 72% in 2021.

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