(MailTribune) - Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a proclamation designating May 2012 as Oregon Wine Month in recognition of the Oregon wine industry's rapid growth, international reputation for quality and important contribution to the state's economy. Speaking to the annual meeting of the Oregon Winegrowers Association in Salem Wednesday, Kitzhaber said, "The Oregon wine industry is not only a key part of our state's economy — it's an important part of our state identity. In a state where agriculture is our second largest industry, the wine-grape crop is Oregon's leading value-added agricultural segment, contributing $2.7 billion annually to the state's economy."