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The Bois D'arc Winery grows their own grapes for their collection. Courtesy photo
Bois D’arc Winery and Vineyard, located in Madill, is a family-owned business with a passion for crafting exceptional wines. The winery is co-owned by Kay Lynn Johnson, Wesley Johnson, and Judy Johnson.
They have a diverse range of wines, from sweet to dry, with a total of 12 wines in their current lineup. While their current wines are made from juice concentrate, they are particularly excited about their Chambourcin wine, which is made from grapes grown in their own vineyard in Lebanon, Okla.
The vineyard was established in2017,andthetasting room opened its doors in May 2023. The winery’s tasting room can be found at 18583 W Hwy 70 in Madill, conveniently located on the south side of the highway, directly acrossfromLandgrafPecans.
The idea of having their own winery was sparked during a trip to Italy in 2009, when Wesley and Judy fell in love with the concept of each restaurant having its own house made table wine. Inspired by this, they purchased wine kits upon their return and began fermenting wine in Judy’s kitchen.
The vineyard naturally evolved as an extension of theirwinemakingdreamand has become a beloved part of their family. Not only has it requiredhardwork,butithas also brought the family closer together and allowed them to spend more time outdoors.
The support of their friends, family, and customers has been invaluable to the success of Bois D’arc Winery and Vineyard. Many peoplehavevolunteeredtheir time, equipment, expertise, and taste buds to help them get started, and the owners expressed their gratitude for this assistance. They fondly recall a memorable weekend in April, when they attempted to plant vines and ended up experiencing unexpected snowfall. Despite the challenging conditions, they werewarmedbythepresence of close friends who willingly endured the freezing temperatures alongside them.
Whilepursuingtheirwinemaking dreams, the owners have not yet been able to quit their day jobs. Wesley works in IT at Oklahoma Steel and Wire, Judy is an accountant for an oil company in Ardmore, and Kay Lynn holds a real estate license while caring for their son full time.
The land on which Bois D’arc Winery and Vineyard now stands has a rich family history. Judy’s grandparents purchased the property in the 1930s, and her mother grew up there. Unfortunately, theirhomehadtoberelocated to make way for Highway 70, but the family returned to Lebanon, preserving their connection to the land.
The immediate plans for the winery include expanding production capacity to participate in markets and festivals. They also aspire to diversify their product lines, potentially adding mead, ciders, and sparkling wine. Ultimately, they envision a larger venue and sister companies, such as a brewery and distillery, to complement their winery.
For those interested in keeping up with Bois D’arc Winery and Vineyard’s events, they can be found on Facebook or their website, www.boisdarcwinery. com. Additionally, their tasting room is available for private party rentals, providing a unique and charming setting for special occasions.