Grape Vines Woven into Communities

OEC serves area wineries that thrive on patron participation

By Doug Hill

Oklahoma Historical Society records indicate that the first documented winery was opened on Oklahoma Territory in 1898. Today there are approximately 52 wineries across the state. Oklahoma Electric Cooperative is proud to power a few of these operations in Lexington, Slaughterville, Tuttle and Norman. In addition to making tasty wines these enterprises have also incorporated into their business models ways of encouraging community spirit.

Canadian River Vineyards and Winery is set on a picturesque acreage due south of Norman at Highway 77 and Slaughterville Road. The business has been recently acquired by married couples Autumn and Don Bellinger and Karie and Chad Killgore. In addition to being friends and business partners, Autumn and Chad are also siblings. Although new to the 20-yearold operation, the proprietors intend to maintain and expand its already strong ties to the community. One of these ways late last year was to host fundraising activities at the winery for a member of the community in need. Last June, Norman Police Department officer Jenny Bryan was diagnosed with a Stage 4 re-occurrence of breast cancer. Folks came out to help raise money for her battle against the disease.

“I’ve known Jenny for nine years,” Autumn Bellinger said. “She was an instructor at the YMCA, involved in the community and a really great person. She’s a single mom with four kids and when it came to my attention she had breast cancer again, Karie and I knew we had to do something to raise money for her.”

The community stepped-up supporting the food and drink event fundraiser and they were able to donate significantly to Jenny Bryan’s medical care fund.

“On a monthly basis we’re planning similar events to charitably benefit individuals or organizations,” Karie Killgore said.

As a member of the Noble and Dibble Chambers of Commerce, with children in Noble Public Schools and operations manager at McClain Bank, Killgore was already closely involved in her community and its needs.

“Being part of the community is good for business opportunities, getting to know people and networking,” Killgore said.

Activities at the winery include tastings and food pairings to celebrate Valentine’s Day, upscale couples socializing events and “Sip n Shop” with multiple vendors present.

“We’re excited that OEC serves the winery because they are presently running fiber optic cable to us,” Bellinger said. “In the past we’ve had horrible internet access but now everyone raves about their OEC internet services. OEC has always been a huge supporter of the Noble community,”

CREATING COMMUNITY IN EAST NORMAN

Native Spirits Winery is located on the rolling hills in east Norman at 10500 E. Lindsey Street. It’s operated by vinters Rick and Staci Vollmer.

They boast a full menu of award winning wines that are blended, fermented, oaked, racked, filtered and bottled on site. Native Spirits has been hosting no cover-charge, live music concerts that are open to the public at the winery for ten years. In addition to Friday music evenings, one of the signature concert series is called “Songs for Sarah.” Tragically it came about as a tribute to the couple’s 21-year-old daughter Sarah Owen, who was murdered in 2015.

“Sarah had always been close to the musicians who played at the winery,” Vollmer said. “They put together the first Songs for Sarah event. Joie and John Johnson and Derek Paul did it that first year and it was such a nice way to honor Sarah who championed the underdog and was always looking for people to help.”

Second Chance Animal Shelter was the first beneficiary of funds raised by the concert. Sarah was an animal lover with furry pets of her own.

“We’ve recently been doing those concerts to benefit the Norman Women’s Resource Center,” Vollmer said. “We’ve branched out to benefitting other charities that she would like if she were here. Second Saturdays now feature different charities every month.”

J.D. McCarty Center and Adults with Disabilities have been among recipients. As with most venues, COVID-19 has upended Native Spirits concert series.

“We’ve just wanted to give back to the community in her honor,” Vollmer said. “It’s helpful to make something good come out of our tragedy.”

A TUTTLE STAPLE

Coal Creek and Summerside Vineyards and Wineries are owned and operated by Lisa and Billy Griffin. The operation is on 45 acres at N. Sara Road and Hwy 37 near Tuttle.

“We’re working on our vineyard right now and buy grapes from contract growers here in Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas,” Lisa Griffin said.

Griffin holds an associate degree in Oenology and Viticulture, learning how to make wine and care for vineyards.

“We started working on this project in 2011,” she said. “Summerside is our sister winery here at Coal Creek. It was originally located in Vinita and we bought the equipment from the owners who were retiring. All production moved to Tuttle in 2015.”

Coal Creek expanded their outdoor patio to accommodate community events. [5613200404]

“We do a lot of fundraisers and have our 400 capacity event center next door,” Griffin said. “We host a lot of Tuttle and Chamber of Commerce events. There are a lot of made-in-Oklahoma products in our gift shop.”

Griffin is a Chamber board member.

“Local schools come in for their proms and Christmas parties,” she said. “I really like giving to the community and have a place people can come hang out and enjoy. Sports teams such as Bridge Creek High School wrestling do their fundraisers here every year with a corn hole tournament.”

Coal Creek hosts the Tuttle Fraternal Order of Police’s annual car show.

“We love our OEC service and haven’t had any issues,” Griffin said. “Anything that comes up is repaired quickly.”

OEC is proud to provide service for an industry that has intertwined their operations into the communities where they’re located.