October 2024 Newsletter
Autumn – The Reward for Enduring a Summer
| I have never been a fan of hot weather. Scandinavians have a saying about winter, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” That’s true in the far north where you can layer up, but down here in the relative south, unlayering to cool off has definite social limits. We processed about 14 tons of grapes from our vineyard this year. Making good wine from grapes grown in Oklahoma is far more challenging than anything facing California, or other West Coast regions. We have terrible, hot humid weather winter cold snaps, and late April freezes. We have more insects, bacteria, mold, and other diseases desiring to convert our grapes into something bad. California never has to think about such things. They simply don’t exist in a dry climate with cool nights So why even try to grow grapes in this challenging climate? Is it a fool’s errand, or a mountain to climb? Growing grapes here is a lot of work, but a look at OSU data on the gross income per acre comparing winegrapes as a crop to the very popular option of raising cattle (a “cow-calf” operation), I was pleasantly surprised to learn that winegrapes gross about two to three times the income per acre compared to cattle in this state. It’s hard work like anything else, but the rewards are both financial and existential. It is good to be outside celebrating nature’s bounty. Talk to us sometime about putting wine grapes on your land. Bob Wickizer, Winemaker  |
| Mummy Whacking Halloween is upon us, and there is no better time of year to get out in the vineyards and whack the mummies. Say what? Our vineyards have mummies, but they are not what you think. In a vineyard, mummies are the dried-up clusters that were missed during harvest. They are petri dishes for infections and bad things that can happen to the grapes next year. In the past, our vineyard staff walked the vineyards and removed these little agents of destruction. But why should we have all the fun? Come out to the winery and get a plastic bag (for depositing mummies) and a pair of shears. We will record your name and the weight of the mummies you remove. On Halloween, we will announce the winners. 1st place gets a free bottle of wine. 2nd place gets a free tasting for two. |
| Fall is Firepit Weather Weather permitting, we will have our popular firepit going at the winery on weekend nights. This is the weather we all suffer through the rest of the year to enjoy. Come out and raise a glass with friends new and old! |
| Recent Bottling Bottlings planned for October (bottle shortages have delayed our plans): – Blackberry 007: 33 cases – Cranberry Bliss: 26 cases – Marley’s Merlot: 2018 vintage. Single barrel. Outstanding wine. 33 cases Bottlings planned for November: – Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: 2023 vintage to be released before Thanksgiving – Estate Rosé from Tempranillo: This year’s vintage to be released before Thanksgiving – Marley’s Merlot 2020 |
| Wine Education Corner – “Tannins in Wine” As the weather cools, wine tastes shift from whites to reds, but don’t forget about rosé. Tannins are found primarily in the skins of red grapes. There are dozens of different molecules in the tannin family. The red-blue-purple color in grapes comes from one type of tannin. The astringent flavor that makes the sides of your tongue sizzle is another. Tannins in wine (and whiskey) can also come from the wood in oak barrels. Tannins change chemically as fruit ripens. When fruit is unripe and reproductively non-viable, the tannins taste very bitter making the fruit unattractive to any critter that might want to eat it and then deposit the seed elsewhere (a reproductive success story in the plant kingdom). As the fruit ripens, the tannins change chemically becoming less bitter making the fruit appealing for animal consumption. Tannins give wine its up front astringency and help wine to have a lingering finish. Modern humans no longer consume grape seeds with our food, but we continue to enjoy the flavors that evolved long ago to help foraging animals partner with the rooted plants. So, stand by the blazing hearth and raise a glass of your favorite red. Here’s a toast to the grape plants that long ago recruited our ancestors into becoming unwitting farmers. Sláinte |
| Outside Winery Events Oklahoma Highland Gathering: October 11th-13th in Choctaw, OK Hobson Hops: October 11th in Sapulpa, OK |
| Future Winery Happenings Mummy Whack – Saturdays in October (12th, 19th, and 26th); The winner will be announced on Halloween Paint ‘n Sip – Saturday, October 19th from 2-4pm. $50 p/p. Register HERE PCW 10th Anniversary Party and Fall Festival – November 9th and 10th, from 5-8pm. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. Murder Mystery Dinner – Friday, December 6th from 6-9pm. $85 p/p. Our dinner on June 22 was sold out and a huge success. Everyone had a great time including the winery staff who are all natural hams. These fun events sell out quickly, so don’t wait. Register HERE Food Pairing for the Holidays – Saturday, December 13th from 2-4pm. $20 p/p. |
| Staying at the Winery Our four-bedroom Air BnB house next door is now open and available for overnight guests. The house is completely furnished and accommodates up to 8 people in four bedrooms. We have already had several groups stay with us, and they all gave very positive reviews. We also have eight 50-amp electrical hookups for RVs. Four of them have water available as well. We love our guests and visitors from all over the world stopping for a great winey experience right here in Oklahoma. CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR STAY TODAY! |
| WE SHIP TO 38 STATES! Wine makes a GREAT gift! did you know that we ship to 38 states, making it an easy gift to send to your loved ones? Ordering is easy on our website! We ship to the following states: AK, AZ, CO, DC, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY |