An award given in recognition of outstanding leadership in promoting the Oregon wine industry through public policy initiatives
PORTLAND, February 29, 2024 — The Oregon Winegrowers Association (OWA) presented State Representative David Gomberg (D-Otis) with its Oregon Wine Leadership Award during the Oregon Legislative Wine Caucus reception February 27 in Salem. The award is given in recognition of outstanding leadership in promoting the Oregon wine industry through public policy initiatives.
Andy Steinman, OWA President, presented the award: “Representative Gomberg has been a longstanding champion for Oregon’s wine industry starting in his youth with clearing vineyard land to his years in the Legislature supporting Oregon winegrowers and producers through outstanding policy work. Our industry contributes more than $8 billion to the state’s economy and is celebrated by state leaders like Representative Gomberg as a tangible piece of Oregon that can be shared on tables around the world.”
Gomberg serves as House co-chair of the recently reconstituted Oregon Legislative Wine Caucus and has been instrumental in championing wine industry legislative priorities, in particular funding issues. Gomberg helped the OWA secure $500,000 in 2017 for the Oregon Wine Board’s Market Access and Research Investment Strategy, $2.6 million in 2021 for Oregon State University’s winegrape smoke analysis lab, and $440,000 in 2023 for vine mealybug eradication. He also has been a leading advocate for other wine industry priorities, among them truth-in-labeling, tourism promotion, OLCC funding, and transparency at the Oregon Health Authority.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized with OWA’s Oregon Wine Leadership Award,” said Rep. David Gomberg. “Oregon’s wine industry represents an important and vibrant nexus between so many cherished sectors of our economy. From agriculture to hospitality, Oregon wine creates jobs, drives economic growth, and embodies the rich, entrepreneurial spirit of this great state.”
About the Oregon Wine Leadership Award
The OWA established the Oregon Wine Leadership Award in 2017 to recognize outstanding leadership in promoting the Oregon wine industry through public policy initiatives. Past recipients include U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, House Speaker Dan Rayfield, State Rep. Paul Holvey, former State Senator Arnie Roblan, and former State Senator Jackie Winters.
About the Oregon Winegrowers Association
Harnessing the power of state-wide consensus, the Oregon Winegrowers Association stands as the vital advocate for the health, growth, and economic sustainability of Oregon’s wine industry. We are a member-driven advocacy group advancing the interests of the state’s largest agricultural economic impact sector. www.oregonwinegrowers.org
