(Stillwater, Okla. – April 8, 2016) Canadian River Vineyards and Winery uses Oklahoma-grown grapes to consistently make award-winning wines.

The Lexington, Oklahoma, company won a bronze medal at the TexSom International Wine Competition in Dallas, Texas, for its Moscato and a silver medal at the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in Rochester, New York, for its Muscat Canelli. Canadian River’s Barrel Oaked Chardonnay and Barrel Oaked Merlot also won bronze medals.

“Finger Lakes Wine Competition is a big deal since all of the proceeds go to a special needs camp for children called Camp Good Days,” said Gene Clifton owner of Canadian River Vineyards and Winery. “This year, there were nearly 4,000 wines entered from 26 countries, all 50 U.S. states and six Canadian Provinces. All tasting is blind in that the 73 judges from all over the world only know wine varietal names, not where they came from.”

Canadian River’s vineyards are now 16 years old and continually producing good quality grapes.

“Central Oklahoma is growing vinifera, true wine grapes, with great success and making good quality Oklahoma-grown wines from them,” Clifton said. “We thank all of our loyal customers and the Oklahoma wine retail stores who buy our products.”

Jill Stichler, owner of Willow Pond Vineyards in Slaughterville, Oklahoma, said managing a vineyard is hard work.

“From pruning in February, spraying throughout the season for a fungus called black rot to combating various insect, bird, deer, raccoon, opossum, and weed invasions and finally to harvest in August, managing a successful vineyard is indeed hard work and often Oklahoma’s hail and late frosts interfere with success,” Stichler said. “It’s real farming!”

The Oklahoma Grape Industry Council partnered with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to complete a Specialty Crop Block Grant aimed at surveying vineyards throughout the state to identify quality improvements needed in Oklahoma’s vineyards and establish educational programs to improve the grape industry in Oklahoma. This project also identified which grape varieties are best suited to Oklahoma’s seven distinct growing areas.

For the past five years, Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center under the direction of William McGlynn, horticultural products processing specialist, has undertaken an Oklahoma Wine Quality Project aimed at sensory and chemical testing of Oklahoma wines.

“The big advantage is for wineries to know the chemistry and sensory analysis of their wines and how they compare with other wineries in the state,” McGlynn said.

Continuing work and education has helped reduce some of the vineyard and wine problems in the state.

“We only wish all Oklahoma vineyards and wineries would take advantage of the analytical services and educational opportunities available at FAPC, OSU and Redlands Community College to improve Oklahoma grape and wine quality,” Clifton said. “At Canadian River Vineyards and Winery, we are proud to be making award-winning wines from Oklahoma-grown grapes.”

FAPC, a part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, strives to discover, develop and deliver information that will stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing in Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.

Contact: Gene Clifton | Canadian River Vineyards and Winery
7050 Slaughterville Road | Lexington, OK  73051
405-203-3277 cell | CanadianRiverWinery@gmail.com