Oklahoma Wine?

Ask someone from the east or west coast what they think of when you talk about Oklahoma and chances are the first thought that comes to their mind is the "Sooners". If the individual is into history than they may mention the dust bowl, Will Rodgers or the Indian nations. If they are into country music then they might recall that Reba McIntire, Garth Brooks, Toby Keith and several other stars of country music call Oklahoma home. Many would be surprised to know that Oklahoma also hosts Shakespeare in the Park, world class opera, headliner off Broadway plays and musicals, world class zoos and wine. Yes, wine! The reemergence of the local wine industry has been developing over the last thirty years in all fifty states and Oklahoma as no exception!

The wine industry, in Oklahoma, is still in its infancy and has not had an easy go of it. Several state regulations impose restrictions on marketing of the wine. Additionally opposition by the lobbyist group for the states beer industry makes securing legislative changes for the marketing of the wine produced by local winery difficult. These restrictions, that will not allow wine to be sold at places like grocery stores, limits outlets for the local winery. While most wineries are able to market there yearly production to visitors to the winery, some of the larger ones offer distribution though local liquor stores. This makes it difficult to order a local wine with your meal at the majority of restaurants in Oklahoma. Hopefully, Oklahoma legislators will ditch the fifties mentality when is comes to liquor laws and allow the industry to thrive without being hobbled with archaic restraints.