Many folks in the Rogue Valley are unaware that the nonprofit organization Rogue Valley Vintners exists.

RVV as it’s fondly known, is the umbrella marketing organization for collectively promoting Rogue Valley wineries and tourism locally, nationally and internationally. Like Rogue Valley wines, the rise of RVV has been substantial in the past few years, with membership doubling, numerous worldwide accolades and a sommelier-driven wine club promoting local wineries and wines.

Wine marketing organizations often take years to find solid footing. In 2018, a young RVV, along with the entire Rogue Valley wine industry, was greatly affected by perceived (but unfounded) smoke impact on that year’s vintage. The coalition Oregon Solidarity Wines was created.

A collective of Willamette Valley wineries supported local winegrowers by purchasing Rogue Valley grapes and then creating, labeling and selling these wines.

This resulted in almost 7,500 cases of wine distributed for sale throughout the state. I remember seeing, and purchasing, several bottles from a large display in Trader Joe’s.

One of the results of Oregon wine country’s mutual investment and collaboration was receiving Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2019 Wine Star Award for Innovator of the Year.

Another was that RVV was the beneficiary of this accomplishment and this provided the seed money for the organization to grow and hire an executive director.

Enter Gina Bianco who, along with RVV’s Board of Directors, has led Rogue Valley Wine Country to global notoriety since she came on board in August 2020.

Bianco began her tenure one month to the day before the Almeda Fire. She says of that night, “I kept waking up every couple of hours and running to the window because I could see the fireball that was probably Talent.”

This tragic event resulted in the Wine Country Cares program which included dollar donations from specific local wines. A donation of more than $56,000 was received, offering relief to vineyard workers who lost housing in the fires.

Since that challenging beginning, RVV has grown exponentially. Between 2020 and 2023, the organization has committed nearly $650,000 to marketing and promoting Rogue Valley Wine Country.

This includes bringing nationally and internationally recognized sommeliers and wine writers to the valley for wine and tourism tours. In 2022, Wine Enthusiast magazine again brought attention to the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) — this time as one of the top five international wine regions nominated for a Wine Star Award for Wine Region of the Year.

This prestigious nomination put us on the global wine map not only as a place producing high-quality, sought-after wines, but as a region worth visiting for wine and lifestyle experiences. Kudos and admiration go to Bianco and the RVV wine board for achieving this distinguished position.

On Feb. 1, Bianco will begin her position as executive director of the Oregon Wine Board (OWB). Ross Allen, board president for RVV, said, “It’s very bittersweet because I’m terribly sad to see her leave RVV, but on the flip side, her going to OWB — I think, if she has to leave, I couldn’t pick a better spot that I’d be an advocate for her.”

Allen continues, “Having spent 3½ years in the Rogue Valley as the ED for RVV, she has a very detailed, in-depth knowledge of who we are, what we’re about, the wines we produce, and she’ll be able to take that knowledge with her to OWB. This is the first time in the history of OWB that someone in a position like that is going to have that kind of [Rogue Valley] background. I think it’s a feather in the cap of RVV that she can take the position of ED and 3½ years later step into the ED role at OWB.”

As the local wine writer and full time advocate for Rogue Valley wines, I personally couldn’t agree more. It will be the first time the Rogue Valley will have a strong advocate for Rogue Valley Wine Country in a state position.

I find much to be excited about in this new positioning. It’s a step up for Bianco and a move forward for Rogue Valley wines. I couldn’t be happier for us all!

For more information about Rogue Valley Vintners, see rogue.wine, roguevalleywinecountry.com or find @roguevalleywinecountry on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.