Down a short section of dirt road in a small rural town in South Central Oklahoma an almost retired couple built their dream. They worked fast paced, off farm, jobs their entire lives and when the time came, they were able to say goodbye to time clock pay but, they knew they didn't want to simply retire. From this Rocky Top Winery was born. Located outside the town of Gerty, OK, Rocky Top Windery is 100 miles from OKC or Tulsa and 150 miles from DFW. The location is a quick and easy drive from the large metro areas making it appealing to those seeking a quick weekend get-away.
In the early days the couple saw the value in coming home to the peace and tranquility of country life and wanted to create a place families could come relax, unplug and unwind. The idea took off and from there grew into what is now one of the area’s top Agritourism businesses. Today, the winery is furnished with 5 cabins which vary in amenity and size, each equipped with a large porch and view of the ponds. The guests often spend their evenings relaxing, fishing, sitting around the firepit or softly swinging on the porch swing. A short walk up the drive you’ll find the main home, a 2300 square foot, 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with a large porch overlooking the pond. The home is open and spacious, featuring a large primary suite, and expansive upstairs bedroom with nooks and sitting areas.
Just a short distance from the main home is where you’ll find the headquarters of the winery. The vineyards are budding with rows of muscadines which will soon be crafted into the signature wine of Rocky Top Winery. The winery produces other fruit wines such as peach, strawberry, blackberry, raspberry and cranberry. They have grown the retail part of the business and are now proudly selling Rocky Top labeled wines in retail establishments in the area. This area of the business is fairly new and the owners have done an excellent job of opening the door for their product and feel this part of the business has the potential for tremendous growth in the future. The main barn is 4000 square feet and is home to the wine production and bottling rooms, meeting room, tasting room and retail shop. It’s truly the heart of the business. Here you’ll often find visitors enjoying a glass of wine in the tasting room or while creating and painting at one of the winery’s famous craft and sip nights. The porch overlooking the water is tranquil and inviting with it’s comfortable outdoor seating areas; a favorite place for guests to sit and enjoy the breathtaking Oklahoma sunsets. The meeting room can also host parties of all kinds from birthday parties, family reunions, baby showers, bridal showers and even bachelorette parties. If more space is needed for larger events such as a wedding, the secondary 30x40 climate-controlled barn accommodates larger parties with ease.
The land surrounding the headquarters is full of possibilities. In the past the owners have enjoyed making hay and running a few head of cattle on the remaining pasture. The future owners could do the same or use this area to expand the guest amenities with walking trails, additional guest cabins, or as sites for camping and RV hook-up’s. There is still lots of room to modify and complete the buildout of this rural resort. Plus, this opportunity comes at a time when more and more of the urban population is searching for the peace and tranquility of the country.
It was Thomas Jefferson who penned the now famous quote, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” The quote is as relevant today as it was in the 1700’s as we are seeing a boom in the Agritourism sector of the Ag markets. According to global study, the global Agri-tourism market is expected to surpass 115 billion USD by the year 2032. Rocky Top Winery is the perfect business for those looking to capitalize on the rural vacation boom! Lastly, for those worried about the economy, wine sales have long been known to be recession proof with people consuming approximately the same amount during good or bad times.