Oklahoma Wine
Country?
Isn't wine country located in Northern California or some
far-off mystical part of France? Well, yes, but Oklahoma is slowly but
surely coming to earn its share of that prestigious title as more and
more acres of wine grapes are being planted each year. How cool is that?
Who knew that
Oklahoma's climate and soil conditions were just right for producing
some varieties of grapes? My husband and I were stunned to hear that
our good ol' red dirt and constantly changing temperatures were "agriculturally
correct" for wine grapes. But the word has now spread, and more
and more Oklahoma families are breaking new ground to catch this
exciting wave.
I am just as
excited about the cultural aspects that are opening up to Oklahomans
as the agricultural prospects. Agriculturally, wine grape growing is
the most profitable crop per acre that can be grown in our area.
Average yield per acre is 4,000! And while Oklahoma isn't as dead
culturally as we are sometimes branded with, we can always use a few
new things to do. Wineries! If you've ever been to one, you know there
is much more than tasting wine. They are usually very happy to talk
about the wine making process, give you a tour if possible, and even a
free taste! It's also nice to have someone who's knowledgeable give
you hints on the subtleties of wine flavors. (I'm still not convinced
that they can actually taste all that though!)
So welcome and
thank you for reading the first edition on "Oklahoma Wine
Country." In this quarterly newsletter, I will try to keep you
updated about Oklahoma's newest and quickly evolving industries of
vineyards and wineries. If you have any questions, or comments, or
even article suggestions for our publication, please e-mail me at Oklahoma
Wine Country.
I look forward to hearing from you. "Here's to your health!"
