Gina Bianco, executive director of Rogue Valley Vintners, has accepted an offer to become the next executive director of the Oregon Wine Board.

She’ll start her new position on Feb. 1, and will oversee efforts to boost Oregon’s $7.2 billion wine industry.

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“One of the priorities will be to engage Oregon’s winegrowers, winemakers and regional associations in developing our 2025 strategic plan,” Bianco said in a news release.

Oregon Wine Board Chairman Greg Jones called Bianco an energetic and effective leader who can bring diverse groups together to discuss and resolve issues.

“We felt Gina could come to OWB well-equipped with a positive track record and will serve our state as we elevate Oregon’s wine profile,” Jones said.

Seven wine industry leaders, including four Oregon Wine Board directors, led a “long and intense” search for a new executive director.

A pool of nearly 100 candidates came from Oregon, across the United States and other countries.

Bianco will replace Tom Danowski, who was hired as executive director of the Oregon Wine Board in 2011. Danowski resigned in June 2023.

The Oregon Wine Board is a semi-independent state agency that manages marketing, research and education initiatives to support and advance the state’s wine and winegrapes.

The industry provides more than 40,000 wine-related jobs and more than $1.5 billion in wages, according to the Oregon Wine Board website.

In 2022, Oregon harvested a record 137,065 tons of winegrapes statewide, up nearly 20% from the previous year.

Oregon’s 1,116 wineries sold 5.7 million cases of wine in 2022.