Oklahoma Arts and Wine Festival in Shawnee Wins Award

The 15th annual Oklahoma Main Street Banquet was held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Downtown Shawnee won the category 'Creative New Event' for the Oklahoma Arts and Wine Festival, held last fall on Main Street.
The event coincided with a new law that allows wineries to sell unopened bottles of wine at events. Shawnee's festival, which was held Nov. 8, featured wine samples and commemorative glasses, food booths, fine art, music and an evening performance in the Ritz Theatre.

Downtown Shawnee wins two state awards 04/29/04 Shawnee News-Star Online

That was a great event! Nuyaka Creek sold many cases of wine and we just loved the food, music and artists. Someone even made calendars with photos from all of the wineries involved. We sold our pile of them out fast! It was a very well organized event that utilized some of the same kind of downtown space that is going to waste all over Oklahoma.

Wine Tasting Benefit for Norman Art Council May 15, 2004

Vineyard and Wine Sensory Experience

Saturday, May 15, 4:00 p.m.
Hosted by
Willow Pond Vineyard
10851 Bryant Road

Experience the tranquility of an Oklahoma Vineyard in the early evening as the fruit of the vines reach the end of bloom. Tour the vineyard and learn about Oklahoma wine grape growing. Perform full sensory evaluation of two different wine varieties: Sauvignon Blanc (four wines from various origins) and Merlot (four wines from various origins), guided by the winemaker at Canadian River Winery. Join us for an informative, but “not too serious� wine event.

MENU
Cheese and light hors d’oeuvres will be provided.
Wines donated by Joe’s Place Wines and Spirits in Norman, Oklahoma and Canadian River Vineyards and Winery in Slaughterville. Non-alcoholic wines and food provided by Redland Juice Company in Lexington, Oklahoma.

Tickets: $30
Guests: 25
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS NOW
Dinners a l'Art

Norman Arts Council
528 East Main Street
Norman, Oklahoma 73071
(405) 360-1162
nahc@normanarts.org

Oklahoma Wine News is a daily updated wine events listing and wine news portal for the state of Oklahoma. Stop by and leave us a comment sometime.

Oklahoma Musicians in Wine Country

May 1st, 2004 WineFest Music Acts
If 30 Oklahoma wines and the biggest wine grape sale in the State of Oklahoma is not enough to make you want to attend the 2004 Spring WineFest, how about some great Oklahoma musicians?

Oklahoma favorite Larry Spears will be performing from noon til 5:00 PM at the Nuyaka Creek Wine Festival and this just in - Larry will be joined by Rocky Frisco, Tom Skinner and Belinda Cross. The Nuyaka Creek Annual Spring Wine Festival will begin at Noon on May 1st, 2004.

Driving directions From Tulsa - Hwy 75 to Beggs Exit, then go west on Hwy 16 all the way through Beggs then 8 miles west to Edna Rd. (Edna road is one mile west of the Okmulgee county line)
Next, turn left and go 4 miles south on Edna Rd., then left again and go 1 mile east and follow the road for 1 mile south. Look for the Nuyaka Creek Winery signs!

Oklahoma Wine News - Your Source for Wine Tasting Events in the State of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Wine Festivals Saturday May 1, 2004

Two Big Wine Festivals Saturday!
This weekend should be a blockbuster for Oklahoma wine lovers. Saturday from Noon until 7pm will be the Nuyaka Creek Winery Spring Wine Festival. You can taste Oklahoma's widest selection of locally made wines just for buying the $5 souvenir wine glass. The winery only holds two festivals a year and the spring festival is my favorite! Print the map and visit us today!

Dress casual for this fun outdoor event, you may even want to buy some wine grape vines.
This year's festival will feature:

• Merlot wine grape vines for sale


• Heirloom garden plants from Nuyaka Farms


• 30 Oklahoma wines for tasting, just buy your glass


• Live music on the lawn


• Free admission and parking


• Two other Oklahoma wineries within easy driving range
  (Tidal School and Natura)

If that's not enough wine tasting action for you there is Le Tour De Vin at 7pm in Norman.

Place: Kerr McGee Stadium Club
Date: Sat. May 22nd @ 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $50.00
Contact: 405.205.6979
More Info from LocalWineEvents.com

Those of you who attended our past Spring wine festivals can expect some changes this year at Nuyaka Creek. In addition to more music acts, more garden plants for sale and more wines to taste, there we will be gourmet cheese. Rebecca Bryant proprietor of Council Creek Cheese and Cuisine will be presenting her exquisite menu of specialty cheeses, quality gourmet foods, and cheese and wine gifts.

Rebecca founded Slow Food Tulsa and her company provides cheese and wine tasting events, seminars and education throughout Oklahoma. you can really learn a great deal about gourmet cheeses from her.

Annual Spring Wine Festival May 1, 2004 Nuyaka Creek Winery

Oklahoma wine industry has much in common with the Texas wine industry

The history of the Oklahoma wine industry shares much in common with the growth of the Texas wine industry. By 1900, winemaking flourished in the Lone Star State, with more than 25 active wineries. Sadly, the forces of Prohibition destroyed the Texas grape-growing industry in just two decades.

Today, Texas has around 2,900 acres of vineyards and produces more than 1 million gallons of wine, according to the Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute. The industry is still growing, too! Wine production in Texas is expected to exceed 2 million gallons within the next five years. It is important to note that Texas didn't reach this level of wine production without government support.

Texas has benefited from legislature committed to supporting their local wine industry. As of Sept. 1, 2001, consumers visiting Texas wineries can ship wine purchases directly to their homes, as long as someone of legal drinking age accepts the delivery. Additional legal changes allow a consumer not physically present at a winery to order wines through the Internet or by telephone, and then have it shipped to a local packaging/mailing store for pickup or home delivery. The Austin Business Journal has published an interesting overview of the Texas Wine Industry

The Texas Wine Marketing Research Institute estimates that winemaking injects approximately $20 million a year into the Central Texas' economy.
Hopefully, Oklahoma lawmakers will pay particular attention to the Texas model and move our state forward as well.

A Taste of the New Tidal School Vineyards

I visited Tidal School Vineyards today. It was grand! The restored building looks great. They have a lovely gift shop, banquet room, art gallery and tasting room all open for business.

• Take a wine flight (A WINE FLIGHT is a series of three to five glasses of wines that are meant to be tasted together.)


• Enjoy the daily wine tasting specials


• Sample gourmet treats

Still to be completed are the wine production facility, the lab, the oak barrel aging room and some other outdoor goodies. Stop by and have a look for yourself, lots of great folks are on hand to tell you all about the restoration effort and the Tidal School Vineyards philosophy.

Tidal School Vineyards in Drumright, Oklahoma

VinoGlo Wine Lamps Back Online

Fans and resellers of the VinoGlo keepsake wine bottle oil lamp will be glad to know the website lives again. Hosting problems shut their site down for a few weeks, but now the Ponca City based Mounts Oil Company is back in business!

If you have traveled around to very many Oklahoma winery events you have probably seen Charlie Mounts there selling his wildly popular VinoGlo lamps. Whether you want them for aromatherapy, emergency lighting, wedding gifts or simply to add a bit of warmth to an evening on the patio the VinoGlo wine lamp is an excellent choice. If buying online isn't your cup of tea, meet up with Charlie at the Ponca City Iris Festival May 1, 2004.

June 5th Swing, Sip & Savor Claremore Style

Just a rumour, but I hear June 5th, 2004 will bring Swing, Sip & Savor Claremore Style. An Oklahoma wine tasting event with eight local wineries and live Big Band music is planned. Expect some news sooon on the Claremore Chamber of Commerce page.

Also, don't forget about Nuyaka Creek's Spring WineFest Saturday, May 1st. Discover 30 great Oklahoma wines and live music acts like Oklahoma favorite Larry Spears!

Benefit for Deep Fork Community Action Foundation June 12

A Vintage Murder
6/12/2004
A night of fun for all, with suspects around every corner and a meal 'to die for', a silent auction and wine-tasting. Event is to benefit Deep Fork Community Action Foundation.

The event will be held June 12 at 7pm at the Natura Vineyards & Winery, located 4 miles east of Beggs on SH 16. Proceeds benefit the working poor and needy families of Okmulgee County.
Tickets are $25/person or $40/couple. Tickets go on sale May 1. For more information, call (918) 756-2826.

This group does a lot of good around Green Country. One thing they do is arrange low down payment loans to help poor folks buy homes. The program is like a local version of Habitats for Humanity; you still pay for the house but they negotiate easier terms by letting the owners do some of the construction work. They helped my family get a roof over our heads when my son was ill and times were tough. I hope everyone turns out to support them.

Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts

The downtown Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts began today. Like Tulsa's MayFest, rain is a tradition that rarely fails. However, strong tents and nearby shelter for both artists and visitors mean many will Okies turn out to enjoy the Spring festivals.
Heck, some of us even think that is part of the fun!

The festival's operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Sunday's events will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission to the festival is free, and pets are not allowed.
For additional information call 270-4848.

To my knowledge, there won't be any Oklahoma wine tasting at the OKC Art Festival, despite that unfortunate oversight you can still 'Taste Oklahoma'. Whatever direction you come from to visit OKC, there is probably an Oklahoma winery along the way. The Central Oklahoma Wine Trail (COW) encompasses four wineries which circle Oklahoma City. Try visiting Tres Suenos, Moonthfeathers, Canadian River or Sparks winery while you are in the area.
Oklahoma Wine News - Sooner State Wine Tasting News

Spring Fling at Natura Vineyards and Winery Deadline

Thursday April 22nd is the deadline for reserving a place at the 2004 Spring Fling at Natura Vineyards and Winery.

Saturday, April 24 at 7 pm
Easy listening music With Debbie Carder
Yummy hors d’ouerves and sweets By Edible Art—Ryan Linfoot
And of course wine tasting! $18.00 per person
Please call the winery By Thursday, April 22 for Reservations 756-9463 (WINE)

Natura Vineyards and Winery

Toad Hollow Wine Dinner May 5 Edmond

Toad Hollow Wine Dinner May 5, 2004 with Todd Williams. 89.00 per guest. Seating Limited, Reservations Required. To make your reservations, please call Helen at 405-408-1328.

No Oklahoma wines in this one, but since it is in the OKC area, I thought I would list it anyway. Boulevard Steakhouse & Martini Lounge, 505 South Boulevard, Edmond, OK, 73034
The Boulevard Steakhouse

New Wine Grape Varieties Gaining Ground in Washington

The Washington Wine Commission supplies a number of interesting statistics in this Associated Press report. I snipped only a small interesting portion, check out the whole article.

Associated Press - Washington winemakers turn to new varieties to spice up business

Washington, the No. 2 wine producer nationally behind California, is home to more than 275 wineries, 300 wine grape growers and 28,000 vineyard acres, according to the Washington Wine Commission, a promotional state agency funded by fees on member wineries and growers. About 57 percent of the acreage is red wine varieties, such as merlot, cabernet and syrah. White wine varieties, including chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc, account for 43 percent.

White wines dominated the state industry for years before red wines made a splash in the 1990s, opening the door for syrah, a Rhone variety that was introduced to the state in 1988 and slowly increased its share of the market.

In 1999, only about 200 acres of syrah were bearing fruit. Today, that number is closer to 2,000 acres.

Washington Wine Commission: http://www.washingtonwine.org/

Tidal School Vineyards Moves to Historic Drumright Facility

Winery to Open Thursday, April 22 in Drumright Oklahoma!
The restoration of the historic Tidal School building in Drumright has been watched with interest by many of us. Soon the waiting will be over and we can all see what a million hard earned Okie dollars will buy. On April 22nd, the tasting room, banquet facility, vineyard, decks, and grounds will all be open for the public. The Grand Openning is still being planned, but since Oklahoma Wine News readers are 'in the know' you can check it all out early! Don't bother trying to visit the old Tidal School tasting room in Stroud, as it has been closed.
More info on Tidal School's website.

Viticulture in Oklahoma and Arkansas

The 2003 Viticulture in the South Symposium included, among other speakers, our own Dean McCraw. Dean McCraw from Oklahoma State University is well known as one of the driving forces behind the recreation of an Oklahoma wine industry. The Symposium's website includes his overview of the history and projected future of our local grape growing and winemaking market.

Viticulture in the South Symposium

Oklahoma Wine Tour by OKC-On Sunday April 25th, 2004

Join OKC-ON Member Jonni Booth for a tour of one of Central Oklahoma's local winery's ....
Contact Jonni Booth for more information.

The Oklahoma City Outdoor Network (OKC-ON) gives people who camp, hike, rock climb, canoe, kayak, cycle, mountain bike and walk a way to make new like-minded friends.
The OKC Outdoor Network meets regularly, usually on the 1st Wednesday (evening) of each month, and in other informal settings, so members can have a chance to get to know one another.

Oklahoma Wine Tour by OKC-On Sunday April 25th, 2004

Dr. Terry Lewis Resigns Leadership of Grape Growers and Wine Makers Assoc.

Members of the Oklahoma Grape Growers and Wine Makers Association were saddened by Dr. Terry Lewis’ resignation on Monday, April 12, 2004. He cited his need to spend more time with his patients; his service to OGGWMA was much appreciated.

The organization will continue on under the leadership of Vice President Marsha Butler. OGGWMA has a very committed board that will continue to strive for the development of a vibrant and healthy Oklahoma wine industry. OGGWMA is still growing fast, approximately 25 new members have joined since the last annual meeting in January. Education chairman, JL Gilbert, has been hard at work to establish viticulture and enology programs at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee. In fact, the first workshop, “Quality Control in Small Wineries� is scheduled for next week, Tue. and Wed., April 20-21 from 9-5. Dr. Roy Mitchell, with over 30 years of enology experience will cover every step of winemaking. The fee is $120 to register. For more information contact Debbie, St. Gregory’s University at 405-878-5362 or by e-mail at dlcarlile@stgregorys.edu

Rinda Skaggs is the Oklahoma Grape Growers and Wine makers Association Legislative chair. For the last few years, she has led OGGWMA on a path of becoming a well-respected professional organization in the eyes of our state legislators. Most recently she has been working to get HB2219 passed by the Oklahoma State Senate. Good luck, Rinda!

Oklahoma Wine News

Why an Oklahoma Wine Industry was Inevitable

I get a great deal of email from people expressing their joy at watching our local wine industry grow and a nearly equal amount from folks that are surprised that Oklahoma has any wine industry at all. It is no surprise to me. Oklahoma offers a population rich with the most advanced agricultural knowledge. Rich with fertile land and families with dreams of working at something they love...somewhere they know... for something they believe in. Really, it was inevitable. I've added the full list of active Oklahoma wineries, as I know them, to the left hand link list. Visit a few this weekend!

"First of all, people can no longer (if they ever could) separate out their work and their 'life.' Work is such a central part of who we are -- and consumes so much of our energy, spirit, time -- that it IS our life. But so are entertainment and family and sleep and anything else we can factor in. Simply put, it's all just our life, and things ebb and flow with importance through the course of the day."

Whatever business you may be in, check out: Worthwhile. In a polluted world where chairs are considered assets and people merely expenses... the new blog, Worthwhile, is a sweet breath of fresh air. NPR web guru David Weinberger even writes for them...not to be missed.

A Vineyard in your House with Bonsai Wine Grapes

Vinifera Bonsai!

A company called GotFruit is now offering the coolest little wine grape bonsai plants. I think these little kitchen vineyards would make excellent gifts for any wine lover!

Bearing tiny edible grapes, these Wine Grape Bonsai Trees have been cultivated, pruned and shaped for more than 10 years. It includes a ceramic bonsai container, plus easy-care instructions (thank goodness!).

This product can not be shipped to the state of Oregon, but what a great way for folks dreaming of an Oklahoma vineyard to learn about viniculture. Probably a great source for cuttings, as well.

Wine Grape Bonsai Plant for the Home

Vineyard Event Raises Money for Sapulpa Arts Council

Sapulpa Arts directors were pleased to announce the final results of April 2's Soiree.

Approximately 230 people attended the event and organizers hope to keep the Soiree as a annual fund-raising event. Guests enjoyed catered foods while admiring the architecture of the 10,000 square-foot Vineyard home. Oklahoma wines were provided by Tidal School Winery of Drumright.

According to the organization's mission statement: Sapulpa Arts promotes the arts and humanities in the Sapulpa area so that the artistic heritage and creativity of all people may find expression, growth and visibility.

Sapulpa Arts Council
Teri Naifeh 224-0170
101 E. Dewey, 74066 Fax: 224-0172
director@sapulpaarts.org
Full Story from the Sapulpa Daily Herald

Oklahoma Winery and Oklahoma Liquor Store Find Common Ground

Synergy for Success
If you, like me, are tired news stories coming out about conflicts between Oklahoma liquor store owners and Oklahoma winery owners...here's a bit of good news from The Daily Oklahoman on April 11, 2004.

Canadian River Winery in Slaughterville and an Oklahoma City liquor store, worked together to offer a specially labeled Oklahoma State University Final Four 2004 Rio Blanc wine last week. Gene Clifton, co-owner of Canadian River Winery credits Clarence Garrett, manager of Legacy Liquors in Oklahoma City for the idea.

Clarence Garrett is a Texas University alumni with family ties to OSU as well as a close friendship to the father of Nate Fleming. Nate Fleming was one of the 10 people killed on the 2001 plane crash that tragically struck down so many of our state's student athletes. Garret wanted to do something to recognize the success of the this years OSU Basketball team and at the same time honor Nate Fleming.

Ten percent of the revenue from these sales are going to the Nate Fleming scholarship fund, Garrett said. I had the idea that we could honor his memory while helping other students and at the same time promote Oklahoma.

The response was overwhelming with sales quickly doubling then tripling the early estimates. Before the Final Four weekend, Canadian River Winery wines were sold in about 50 retail liquor stores. After the promotion ended they had expanded their outlets to about 75 stores. Legacy Liquors has long been a supporter of the emerging Oklahoma wine industry.

Legacy Liquors
12233 North Council Road, Oklahoma City, OK 73162
(405) 720-9597

Check out the full article from the Miami Herald Website (or the Daily Oklahoman website, if you subscribe):
Oklahoma Winery and Oklahoma Liquor Store Find Common Ground

Reversing Course, Governor Proposes Supporting Wine Industry

(Springfield-AP) -Monday, April 12, 2004, 12:20 p.m.- Governor Rod Blagojevich has reversed course and now supports spending state money to help the Illinois wine industry. Last year, Blagojevich objected to the 500-thousand dollars a year the state was spending to promote wineries. His administration said the state couldn't afford it.

But the governor's latest budget proposal includes 300-thousand dollars for the wine industry. Blagojevich has said visits to southern Illinois helped show him that the state's small wine industry has potential to create jobs.

Oklahoma Wine News

2004 Le'Grand Balloon Festival June 11

Location: Pelican Landing, Grand Lake
There will be an Oklahoma wine tasting event at 6:45pm on Friday June 11th, at Tera Miranda Resort located on Monkey Island. There will be great food, live entertainment and the event will be topped off at dusk by a spectacular Balloon Glow.

For more info: 918-786-2289

Grand Lake Association Events Calendar.

The Organic Process - From Worms to Wine

Cynthia Connolly owns a 55-acre organic farm just outside Monticello, where she has a vineyard, an orchard and a small chicken-and-egg operation. She's been working with red worms since starting out with one cup of them in 1992. Over the years, she has slowly built her stock up to more than a half-dozen large worm beds, providing enough droppings to fertilize her entire farm and still have leftovers to sell to local nurseries. Vermiculture, raising worms for commercial purposes, has grown in pockets around the country. The red worms serve two ends of the feeding cycle, as both food sources and waste disposers.

Most of the organic leftovers around her farm come from the vineyard. Each summer, Connolly grows muscadine grapes to bottle as wine, and the process leaves her with truckloads of pressed pulp. She takes them full cycle - vines producing grapes, grapes pressed to make wine, microbes breaking down the discarded skins, worms eating the microbes, their 'castings' fertilizing the vines, and the whole thing starting again.

I don't use any chemicals here, she said. The worms do everything.

Full article in the Tallahassee Democrat Red worms leave nothing to waste.

Liquor, Wine Bottles May Soon List Carbs and Calories

New Ruling by the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
April 10, 2004
Washington (AP) -- Consumers counting carbohydrates and calories soon may see that information on the labels of their favorite rum, scotch and other liquors.

While it's up to the individual company to decide whether to provide such information, Peter Cressy, president of the Distilled Spirits Council, said Friday that he expects consumers to start seeing labels containing the information on some liquor products within a couple of months.

A ruling by the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau on Thursday made clear that liquor and wine companies can provide carb and calorie information on their labels and advertising, just as some beer companies now do.

Oklahoma Wine News

A National Center for Studying Grapevine Genetics

The United States may soon have its first national center for research on grape genetics, moving the country to the forefront of viticultural science.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing the new Grape Genetics Research Center, which will work on unlocking the grape genome. Ultimately, such research could prove useful in helping scientists to improve wine grape quality; develop vines that are resistant to disease, pests, salt and cold; and improve the health benefits of wine.

Full article at Wine Spectator Online - National Center for Studying Grapevine Genetics

2nd Annual Drumright Wine Fest June 12

Wine Festival in the City of Drumright Saturday, June 12, 2004
2nd Annual Drumright WineFest
at Whitlock Park in Drumright, Oklahoma
From Noon to 6 p.m.

• Wine samples from six unique Oklahoma wineries


• Free trolley rides to tour historic oil boomtown and Tidal School
  Vineyards & Winery (on the National Register of Historic Places)


• Free blues, jazz, and bluegrass by Tulsa’s Mark Bruner with Shelby
  Eicher and 15-year-old songstress Molly Colvard (featured at Tulsa’s Full Moon
  Café)


• A variety of food served by several fine restaurants


• Vendor booths including gourmet breads, cheeses, wine and kitchen
  accessories and lots more


• Free Oklahoma artists show featuring photography, jewelry, pottery, oil
  paintings, and more


• Gate admission $12 drinkers ($10 in advance); $8 non-drinkers


• First 100 in the gate receive a free Drumright WineFest souvenir wine
  glass


• Free parking

I went to this one with Dianne last year. This was one of the few festivals we were able to attend without working at and we had a blast. If you have never heard the amazing Mark Brunner perform, you are truly in for a treat. He and Shelby Eicher have been playing together for years, but I first starting catching Mark Brunner's sets at 'Joey's - Tulsa's Home of the Blues'. Man, that was a great bar!

Annual Drumright Wine Fest

Sparks Vineyard White Zinfandel

This week the nice folks at Sparks Vineyard & Winery were kind enough to bless my wife and I with bottle of their White Zinfandel. Now my wife's low carb diet obsession means she won't drink any wine that isn't dryer than Sahara dust bunnies. However, I thought the combination of sweetness and tartness was wonderful. Another wonderful Oklahoma wine! We are truly blessed to live in state with such gifted basketball players and winemakers. Wine snobs may scoff, but the market numbers say I'm not alone in liking an occasional White Zin.

Stop by and see them sometime at Sparks. Their tasting room boasts of a fine art gallery with on-going exhibitions and sales of original art work by renowned Oklahoma artists. Sparks Vineyard 5 miles east of Sparks Oklahoma .

Stable Ridge Vineyards Opening in 2004

Stable Ridge Vineyards is located in central Oklahoma half way between Oklahoma City and Tulsa off of I-44. Established in 2001, as a member of the Oklahoma Grapegrowers Association the first grand opening is expected to be in 2004. Look for their Cabernet Sauvignon and Chenin Blanc wines under the Storm Cellars label.

Stable Ridge Vineyards
Highway 66
Stroud, OK 74079
(918) 968-0000
don@stableridgevineyards.com

Stable Ridge Vineyards - in Stroud Oklahoma

Another Tulsa Liquor Store Boycotts Oklahoma Wines

I hear from a large number Oklahoma consumers wondering why wines that are made in Oklahoma are so hard to find in Oklahoma liquor stores. the short answer: boycotts from liquor store operators.

On February 19, House Bill 2219 passed in the Oklahoma House of Representatives 62-37. A recent wine article in Urban Tulsa describes the reaction of some Oklahoma liquor merchants.

Justin G. DeMier, owner of Justin's Wine and Spirits, 11234 E. 71st St. (at Garnett Road), thinks this will hurt all retailers such as himself, and therefore he does not carry Oklahoma wines in protest of this bill.

Boycotting oklahoma wineries in response to upcoming legislation is nothing new in Oklahoma. Recently, the very wine industry lobby organizations that liquor stores are siding with against HB2219, pushed forward legislation to allow Oklahoma grocery stores to sell wine. Once again wine and food could go together in Oklahoma. The response of many Oklahoma liquor store owners...refuse to sell Oklahoma wines. Pancho's Liquortown and Byron's Liquor Warehouse - both in Oklahoma City were quick to jump on the boycott Oklahoma bandwagon.

This year Senate Bill 1506, by Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, passed the Senate on a 30-13 vote. The bill establishes a reciprocal shipping agreement that would allow Oklahoma wineries to ship their product to other states with similar agreements in place.

At the present time, Oklahoma winemakers can sell wine out of state, Adams said. The problem is that in the receiving states it's illegal and in many cases it's a felony. Basically, this bill would lift Oklahoma into that dozen or so states that allow reciprocal shipping of wine.

Want to guess where these guys will line up on this issue?

UrbanTulsa.com Article - Romancing the Grape

Small Winery Class Offered at St. Gregory's University, Shawnee OK

Quality Control in a Small Winery - April 20 and 21

St. Gregory's University in Shawnee OK is taking enrollment for a new class by enologist and Grayson County College Instructor Dr. Roy Mitchell. Dr. Mitchell was one of the pioneers in the establishment of the Texas wine industy. Don't miss out on his Quality Control in a Small Winery class. Quality control is critical to the success of any winery.

Grayson County College's Viticulture and Enology program is one of the few degreed grape growing and wine making programs in the country. Just over the border in Denison, Texas.

To enroll call Debbie at St. Gregory's 405-878-5362 or email her at dlcarlile@stgregorys.edu

St. Gregory's University, Shawnee OK

Eufaula Council Seeks Compromise on Liquor License Restriction

Finding a restaurant that offers wine with meals can be tough in Oklahoma's small towns. Finding one that offers Oklahoma wine...almost impossible. Oklahoma's consumers constantly face prohibition era blue laws restricting a wide variety of types of liquor sales. Now, in some communites, Okies are fighting for change.

An amended Eufaula city ordinance would apparently clear the way for a proposed Italian restaurant on Broad Street to apply for a license to serve alcohol. Even though First Baptist Church is around the corner and on a different street than the proposed restaurant, current law prevents building owner Rich Daniels from applying for a liquor license, because the northwest corner of the church building is within 300 feet of the rear of Daniels' building.

The amended ordinance introduced at Monday's meeting is far more restrictive than an amendment council first planned to consider. The initial amendment would have removed the provision for the 300-foot buffer entirely in the downtown business district. That proposal met opposition from a group of ministers who attended a city council work session to air their concerns and later bought a full page ad in The Tribune opposing any change in the current law.

The Eufaula City Council heard the "first reading" of the amended ordinance Monday. They are expected to vote on it at the next regularly scheduled meeting Monday, April 19, at 5:15 PM.

Eufaula Tribune - Eufaula Council Seeks Compromise on Liquor License Restriction

Promoting Tourism in Rural America

Oklahoma wineries represent a growing trend toward rural economic development through agritourism.

Liam R. Kennedy of the Clarion University of Pennsylvania has compiled this extensive and useful list of rural development support contacts and knowledge resources. If you are a local leader hoping to improve agritourism in Oklahoma or anywhere else in the U.S., this list is a real asset.

The tourism and travel industry is estimated to grow by 28 percent from 1997 to 2007, with agricultural and nature-based tourism anticipated to grow 30 percent over the same period. Back in the old days, folks would visit their relatives who owned farms when they wanted a change of pace. Now most people don't have a relative like that to visit and agritourism seeks to meet that need.

Southeastern Indiana's Clark County, got into agritourism in 1966 when they planted fields of pick-your-own strawberries and green beans. The venture has since grown into a family farm and 400-seat restaurant featuring country specialties, a farmer's market, gardens and ponds. Down the road, neighbors have developed a combination vineyard, winery, bakery, petting zoo and cheese factory.

Promoting Tourism in Rural America

Oklahoma Wine News Now Available as News Feed

Enjoy the timeliness of an email newsletter without the privacy risks or spam accumulation.

Thanks to the wonders of XML, you can now get all the latest wine events news from Oklahoma in a wealth of formats. You can access our Atom or RSS feeds with news aggregators like bloglines.com or feedster. You can add our headlines to your MyYahoo! news portal page or even display them one your own web site using our simple cut-n-paste javascript code. Never miss another bit of Oklahoma Wine News!

Tetra Briks Innovative Wine Packaging Coming to America?

Tetra Briks® scheduled to arrive in the U.S. market by early summer.

"1.6 billion Tetra Pak wine packages were sold globally last year, making this one of the fastest growing new categories. Americans are already buying their favorite high-quality milk products, soups and chai tea’s in Tetra Paks, so why not wine?...the savings that we can pass along to the consumer are significant, considering that there are no corks, labels, or foils used, and the cartons are a fraction of the weight and cost of glass."

Tetra Brik® is a registered trademark of Tetra Pak. Three Thieves, the first U.S. company to try TetraBriks, can be reached at 866-JUG-BOYS, or via their website, threethieves.com.


Innovative Wine Packaging Coming to America?

Wine Bills Recently Introduced to the Oklahoma Senate

A short list of wne issues recently placed before the Oklahoma State Senate.

Remember: You have to speak up to be heard by your legislature!

SJR52 INT - 2/2/04 -

A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State to refer to the people for their approval or rejection a proposed amendment to Section 3 of Article XXVIII of the Oklahoma Constitution; making language gender neutral; modifying requirement for sales of certain wine to licensed wholesale distributors; providing for written and electronic orders for certain wine for delivery or shipping to consumers; providing ballot title; and directing filing.


SB1506 INT - 2/2/04 -

An Act relating to intoxicating liquors; amending 37 O.S. 2001, Sections 505, 521, as last amended by Section 6, Chapter 484, O.S.L. 2003, and 549 (37 O.S. Supp. 2003, Section 521), which relate to the manufacture, sale possession, or shipment of alcoholic beverages, acts authorized by the various licenses and possession of certain alcoholic beverages; making language gender neutral; deleting obsolete language; authorizing certain shipment of wines into the state to persons twenty-one years or older; limiting amount; prohibiting resale of wine; declaring sale of wine to be considered to have taken place at winery; requiring certain labeling of containers; requiring photo identification for delivery; prohibiting delivery to certain persons; requiring certain reports and providing procedures thereto; providing penalties; conforming language; clarifying agency; authorizing winemakers to receive written and electronic orders for certain wine for delivery or shipment to consumers; providing exception to amount of alcoholic beverages a person may possess on which certain tax is unpaid; and providing a conditional effective date.


SB1343 INT - 2/2/04 -

An Act relating to wineries; amending 37 O.S. 2001, Section 518.1, which relates to sale of Oklahoma wine to restaurants; clarifying language; and providing an effective date.

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Dianne's Trip to Ft. Worth on the Heartland Flyer

Read all about Dianne's trip from OKC to Ft. Worth on board Amtrac. She saw the sights at Sundance Square while pouring wine for the Heartland Flyer Wine Fest.
Dianne's Trip to Ft. Worth on the Heartland Flyer