One of the things I do not like about how blogs work is that the last post is always first. So what do you do if you are trying to tell a story in chronological order? Do you go back and add to the start? That would mean a change of titles. If you are just now stopping in, this is a continuation of our trip to OKC on Saturday.

 So, we have made that turn off of I40 headed to Geary, but first we have to drive through the Cherokee Trading Post to see the buffalo and then through the KOA Campground to see the new improvements. Again, I dream about an RV lifestyle that might not happen.

Less than 1/8 of a mile down the road is a favorite stopping place of ours, the Sand Hill Vineyard. The past few times we passed by it was after hours, so we intentionally made a huge effort to get there before closing. We met the owners, Gloria and Roger Woolery, the first time we ventured into the tasting room. Wine tasting is not something we do on a regular basis, but we were intrigued by the location… which appears to be set inside some kind of pipeline or oil field supply company and the metal building set as a tasting room. The setting  was a just bit different than any other vineyard we had visited, making us more fascinated with curiosity. I can count the amount of times I have visited a different winery on both hands, so this isn’t actually saying much.

Gloria and Roger are very colorful, lively people whom made us feel at home inside the lovely interior of the building. I found my favorite wine to be Muscat, a deliciously fruity dessert wine and purchased a couple of bottles along with a nice bottle of Zinfandel.

When we visited on Saturday, we were at first disappointed to not see Gloria and Roger’s familiar faces, but soon felt at home visiting with Katy Snyder, our wine tasting host. Katy and her husband, Andrew, are the actual winemakers of the Sand Hill label.  Katy is one of those people that you just know ALWAYS has a smile on her face.

We tasted several of the wines, beginning with that favorite Muscat, and ending with Da Zinci Chocolate Port-Style Wine. Katy caught MY attention with the promise of a chocolate aftertaste, but unfortunately DH was the only one that actually tasted that hint of chocolate. I can’t say that I have ever tried Port and have nothing to which to compare,  but I did find this very rich, thick and  flavorful.  I have been told that Port wine pairs perfectly with chocolate, making the combination of the two deliciously good, so corking the two flavors in one bottle seems like a pretty great idea to me. 

Our adventure ended with a purchase and an introduction to the Snyder’s young daughter, Mulan, who offered many precious smiles as we visited.  The only way this experience could have been any better would have been for us to meet Andrew, the winemaker himself.

If you are ever in the area of Geary or Calumet, Oklahoma, please stop in for a visit at Sand Hill Vineyards. You will not be disappointed.