The culmination of ten years of dreaming, planning and hard work finally came together for a southwest Oklahoma couple three years ago.

The Winery of the Wichitas, overlooking the historic community of Medicine Park and the beautiful Wichita Mountains, quietly opened its doors in October of 2005.  The hard work was a labor of love for its owners.

Marty Hazelwood retired from her career as manager of the Fort Sill Print Shop in 2000, and her husband Lex retired from his career in the automotive industry about the same time. Marty and Lex began working diligently to open the winery.  Lex is a local musical favorite and is half of Lawton's infamous "Phil & Lex" duo

Marty began by enrolling in an Associate Degree Program in Viticulture & Enology at Grayson County College in Dennison, Texas.  The Viticulture aspect focuses on the growing of grapes while the Enology courses deal with the wine making aspects of the business.

Marty says, "It was a fantastic learning experience for me and got us started on the right footing to make the winery come about."  While in school Marty developed numerous valued contacts within the wine and vineyard industries in Texas and Oklahoma and even in California. Over the course of the next two years she picked their brains and tapped into their experiences to learn everything she possibly could about making fine wines.  

The couple's diligence, new found knowledge, contacts and enthusiasm worked. 

They purchased 11 acres of land on the hillside above Medicine Park. Marty drafted an extensive business plan that charted the course of the endeavor. Lex began the back-breaking work of preparing the rocky hillside for the winery's development. Ultimately, the business was financed through economic development loans from Medicine Park Economic Development Authority, The Bank of the Wichitas and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

When it first opened, The Winery of the Wichitas featured these premiere wines:

• Palomino/Chablis - a blended dry white wine with a sweet finish,

• White Table Wine - a soft sweet white wine perfect for any occasion,

• Blush - a sweet pink blend with a soft finish,

• Syrah - a nice soft dry red wine, and

• Petite Syrah/Syrah - a dry red wine with a strong finish.

Other wines have been added to the roster and some removed as seasons and availability of wine grapes vary.

The public is welcome to sample wines in the winery's expansive 1,400 square foot wine tasting room or relax outdoors on the deck with a glass of wine while taking in the breathtaking scenery of the Wichitas. Bottles of wine may be purchased for carry out -- but unfortunately due to new regulations being enforced by the State Alcohol Beverage Control Board -- not for on-premise consumption. The winery may only serve "taste" and individual glasses of wine.

(Editorial note: Perhaps Oklahoma lawmakers will grow up someday.)

The "Tasting Room, Gift Shop & Gallery" offers an ever-expanding line of merchandise, local works of art and novelty items.  Logo T-shirts, caps, sweatshirts, Made in Oklahoma products, and foods and cheeses, as well as California hand-stuffed olives are featured. More products and merchandise are added as the business grows. The works of local artists, photographers and crafters are featured and rotated monthly.  Hours are 11:00 a.m. - dusk Wednesday through Sunday.

In June of this year, the winery's offerings were expanded by building a kitchen and opening The Buffalo Bistro.

The new restaurant offers a variety of outstanding gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads and appetizers. The Hazelwood’s’ niece, Ms. Anna Banda from Oklahoma City, serves as Executive Chef for the Bistro. She holds a degree in Culinary Arts from Oklahoma State University and is a graduate of the prestigious apprentice chef's program at Coach House Restaurant. Chef Anna is always coming up with unique dishes for the Bistro to serve as weekly chalkboard specials. Marty's sister Pat Hill is the Bistro's General Manager.

On most weekends the winery has live entertainment on the deck.  Weather permitting, the music and antics of Phil and Lex are featured on Friday evenings and the blues music of The Usual Suspects on Saturday evenings.  Both typically start at 7:00 p.m. and wrap up around nine.

When asked why the couple chose to build their winery in Medicine Park, Marty's response is "Look around, look at these vistas, this scenery and this community -- I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. This is a slice of heaven."

The Winery of the Wichitas is located on State Highway 49 overlooking the town of Medicine Park and less than a mile from the main entrance to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The website is www.wineryofthewichitas.com

The telephone number is (580) 529-2351.

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"Wow wow wowse!! Love the background sounds. Can you add 'smell o’ vision' from the restaurants? ... ha, ha, ha."

Sharon Cheatwood, Arts Coordinator - Lawton Arts and Humanities Division, Lawton, OK.

Buffalo Bistro - Inside The Winery

Serves Fabulous Food

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The Winery of The Wichitas

A Nice Selection of Wines

By Winery of The Wichitas

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