Strebel Creek Vineyard

Here is a writeup of Dr. Gary Strebel of Strebel Creek Vineyard, which also veers off into a slightly broader discusiion of Oenological and viticultural eduction in Oklahoma :

Redlands Community College in El Reno offers associate degrees and 15-hour certification programs in viticulture, or grape growing, and enology, the science of making wine.

Classes average 25 students, who get hands-on experience working in a college vineyard.

"Most are transitioning into retirement, and don’t need another degree,” said Andrew Snyder, who teaches in the program, owns Sand Hill Vineyards in Geary and serves as president of the Oklahoma Grape Growers and Wine Makers Association.

Snyder hopes more Oklahomans will embrace wineries as an agriculture endeavor, turning wheat land or pasture into vineyards. With proper irrigation, Oklahoma has a good climate for growing grapes, Snyder said. It’s much like Fresno, and California until 30 years ago wasn’t on the map for winemaking, he said. It was all about French wines.

"Oklahoma just needs to wake up, grow some grapes and make some good wine,” Snyder said.