Grape Expectations: COVID-19's impact on the Wine Industry

Tuesday, May 12, 4 pm

Via Zoom

 As the globe begins to fathom the immediate and long-term effects of COVID-19, one might be hard pressed to find a sector of the economy that is not being challenged. For a state that is very dependent on agriculture, trade, export, and tourism, what does that mean for Oregon’s wine industry?  

Oregon vintners stimulate $5.61 billion in economic impact to the state, buoyed by robust wine tourism, critically acclaimed wine quality, and job growth. The Oregon wine industry is comprised of well over 700 wineries across the state heavily reliant on direct to consumer sales through tasting room activities. Wine Spectator recently noted, that, “Oregon is the most dynamic wine region in the U.S. right now." 

Over the last few years, Oregon producers have focused exports increasingly on markets in Europe, Japan, and Canada with increasing efforts into Hong Kong and China. Historically, the beverage business has been among the most recession resilient businesses in America. But with the evolving spread of COVID-19, 63% of wine producers have seen their production slow; with nearly 15% of producers ceasing production during this time; and tasting rooms and wholesale, which account for a significant portion of income for wineries, have seen sales losses as high as 65% in the last two months. What will the pandemic mean for the industry as a whole? Is Oregon a microcosm of the challenges the global wine industry is experiencing? 

Join us for a conversation with Bree Stock (a Master of Wine and Education Manager of the Oregon Wine Board) and Jana McKamey(Executive Director of the Oregon Winegrowers Association and a member of WorldOregon’s Board of Advisors) on the current and future state of wine markets at home and around the world. 

Bree Stock was born and raised in Australia and her career has had an intentionally broad and international perspective. In Canada, Sommelier and wine program development roles in fine dining restaurants took her from Vancouver, BC to Nova Scotia and led to sommelier certifications and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma. Since 2008, Bree has been an independent wine industry management consultant specializing in education program development and sensory training. She has provided market analysis for wineries and importers, brand analysis and wine business management consulting. An experienced international wine judge, regional market advisor and presenter, and a wine writer and sometime winemaker she has held harvest and consulting positions in Australia, Austria, Portugal and the U.S. A Master of Wine specializing in wine education development, she currently consults to the Oregon Wine Board on industry education development.

Jana McKamey is responsible for strengthening and representing the Oregon wine industry’s voice in regulatory and government affairs matters at the federal, state and local levels. Jana has nearly 15 years of government affairs experience, serving as a Senior Advisor to the European Union Delegation in Washington, D.C. and in the lobbying practice at a D.C. law firm. Jana brings wine industry exposure to her position after having worked in retail wine shops in Washington, D.C. and London and an agricultural perspective from growing up in a farming family. Jana is a 2004 graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service with a master’s degree in International Affairs/International Business Diplomacy. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in History and German from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a 2001 recipient of a Fulbright grant to Germany.

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