Oklahoma Winery – Winery of the Wichitas

Wine Selection

On a recent trip north of the Red River, I took the opportunity to check out the wine offerings of Oklahoma.  After a quick Google search for “Oklahoma wineries”, I found one that wasn’t too far off my travel itinerary.  The winery was the Winery of the Wichitas located in Medicine Park, Oklahoma.  This winery was started by Lex and Marty Hazelwood who decided to open a winery after they retired.  As Marty put it in a 2008 episode of the Oklahoma Horizon program, “I love grapes, love wine, and it just seemed like a natural thing to do when I retired, because I love wine, and I wanted to be a winemaker and own a winery.”  To begin the journey, Marty enrolled in an Associate Degree Program in Viticulture & Enology at Grayson County College in Dennison, Texas.  Not only did this teach her about viticulture, but it also put her in contact with others in Oklahoma and Texas interested in the wine making business.  The ties to the Texas Wine industry doesn’t stop there, according to a December 2008 article in the Edmond Sun, the Hazelwood’s consulting chemist is Benedict Rhyne, chemist for Ste. Genevieve Winery in Fort Stockton, Texas.

According the website, the wines produced include Palomino/Chablis, White Table Wine, Blush, Petite Syrah, and Syrah.  However on my visit, the wine selection included an Oklahoma Desert Flower, Blush, White Table Wine, and a Merlot.  The tasting room also doubles as a restaurant, the Buffalo Bistro.  The wine bar was similar to what I’ve seen at other wineries, however the attendant knew little about the wines.  I asked a couple questions related to where the grapes were grown, blends, and if there was any literature available about the winery or the wines.  I received a smile, but little more than that.  After a quick tasting, I selected the Oklahoma Desert Flower because it tasted similar to a Muscat that my wife would enjoy.  The bottle was a bit more than I had anticipated on spending, ringing up at $21 before taxes. The price and the fact that it had the name “Oklahoma” on the bottle led me to believe that it was wine made with Oklahoma fruit.  According to an Oklahoma Magazine article, if the a bottle has the “Oklahoma” label it is required have a minimum of 75% of local fruit.

Oklahoma’s wine industry is relatively young.  According to Charles Cantrell in a 2007 article for the Greater Tulsa Reporter, in 2000 only four wineries operated in Oklahoma, as as of 2007 that number had jumped to over 50.  Just as a point of comparison, the state of Texas has more than 170 wineries.  None the less, I’m a firm believer in trying new wines and new wineries, and now I can say I’ve tried wine from an Oklahoma winery.

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2008 Austin Street Muscat Blanc

2008 Austin Street Muscat Blanc

Several weeks ago, my wife and I enjoyed a great Brennan Vineyards Wine Dinner.  We departed this event with a bottle of Brennan’s Austin Street label 2008 Muscat Blanc.  This is a light desert wine that was paired with a peach champagne sorbetto at the dinner.  I believe Vianei Robinson sums it best when in 2006 she reviewed the Austin Street Muscat Blanc for the Abilene Reporter News and commented, “It has the classic floral aromas of the Muscat grape and a light sweetness that is refreshing, not cloying.”

Muscats are one of my wife’s favorite wines.  Our first introduction was a Becker Vineyards Muscat Canelli eight years ago.  After this, we happened upon a wine tasting storefront in the DFW airport and had our first taste of Sister Creek Vineryards’ Muscat Canelli.  More recently, in 2008, we returned from an extended wine touring weekend with a bottle of Texas Hills Vineyards Orange Muscato.  Overall, my wife favors Sister Creek Vineyard’s Muscat Canelli, but Brennan’s Austin Street Muscat Blanc is a close second.

While the Brennan’s grow their own Muscat de Alexderia grapes, the Muscat Blanc is made from Reddy Vineyards fruit.  Reddy Vineyards is just east of Brownfield, Texas and produces grapes for several wineries around Texas, most notably Haak Winery’s 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon which received several awards.  Dr. Vijay and Subada Reddy have been growing grapes since 1997.  According to a May 2009 High Plains/Midwest AG Journal article, the Reddy’s started with five acres and their current operation has 105 acres, 105,000 plants, that produce 400 tons of grapes in a year.   The Reddy’s website details that 4.5 acres has Muscat Canelli, or as the French refer to it Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains.  These were planted in March of 2004.  In a September 2008 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal article, the Reddy’s indicated they plan to expand their current vineyard operation by another 60 acres over the course of five years.

Brennan’s Austin Street 2008 Muscat Blanc was a great close to an excellent dinner.  If desert wines are your forte, I’m confident you’ll enjoy this Muscat Blanc.

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Texas Wine Month

Texas Wine Bag

The month of October is Texas Wine Month, an effort to promote partnerships between wineries, retailers, restaurants, and communities through wine-related events and festivals.  In recognition of this month, the Texas Department of Agriculture has announced that Texas wine promoters can apply for individual grants up to $10,000 to be used to increase the current marketing of Texas wine at wine related events, festivals, and educational activities, as part of the new Wine Regional Partnership Grant Program.

To appreciate Texas Wine Month consider the following …

• According to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s GoTexanWine site, Texas is the fifth largest grape and wine producer in United States.
• Texas boasts over 220 family-owned vineyards that cover 3,100 acres.
• The Texas wine industry contributes more that $1.35 billion a year to the state’s economy and supports roughly 8,000 jobs for Texans.
• In a 2006 article for the Austin Chronicle, Wes Marhsall stated that, “Wine grapes provide more profit per acre than any other crop.”
• Jennifer Mcinnis wrote in a San Antonio Express-News article that Texas has,  “more than 170 wineries that produce more than 2 million gallons each year.”

To celebrate Texas Wine Month checkout one of the eight Wine Trails identified by the Texas Department of Agriculture.  These trails include …Texas Bluebonnet Wine Trail … Grapevine Wine Trail … CrossTimbers Wine Trail … Munson Wine Trail … Fredericksburg Wine Road 290 … Way out Wineries … Dallas Wine Trail … Texas Hill Country Wine Trail.  GoTexanWine also has a full listing of wineries.

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