Oak Creek Vineyards stretches across the hills of North Texas, just 13 miles from the Texas/Oklahoma border. Approximately 4,500 vines grow on nine of the farm's 111 acres, producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Mourvedre, Syrah, Roussanne and Venus grapes, destined to become 5,500 gallons of premium wines annually.
Not long ago, this part of the country was an unlikely place to find high-quality grapes, but Amy Sterling, president of printer DOT Thermographics Inc., Addison, Texas, and her husband Howard Davies, have boosted the reputation of wine made in the Lone Star state.
Sterling and Davies acquired Oak Creek in 1999. The abandoned vineyard had become a feeding ground for birds, overgrown with weeds and 2,000 uncultivated Venus-grape vines that had been planted there in the late 1980s. It wasn't pretty, but it had promise: An established trellis system and two water wells saved the entrepreneurs valuable start-up time and cost. Sterling and Davies uprooted most of the old vines and planted new varieties. Before long, they had a thriving vineyard--both of them rarely have had a day off since.
Sterling oversees DOT Thermography's wholesale printing business during the week. The company she co-founded in 1982 specializes in thermographed products, including business cards, announcements and envelopes. Virtually every Saturday and Sunday, she drives 90 miles from her home in Plano, Texas, to care for the grapes. "You're always having to modify what you do based on what the growing schedule is," she says. Depending on the season, she and Davies plant, prune or harvest the vines.
The couple bought Oak Creek at a time when Texas vintners were known for adding copious amounts of sugar to their products--a major no-no among wine enthusiasts. Much of the problem, Sterling explains, involves the use of inferior grapes. Vintners relied on grapes that weren't fully grown or had been left on the vine in hot temperatures for too long. Compensating with sugar for the loss of flavor, the makers' finished wine ended up "flabby- and flat-tasting," Sterling says. She says Texans pay more attention to science than they used to, and the state's wine industry has grown partly because its contributors adopted sophisticated techniques for measuring grapes' sugar and acid levels. Another important variable for any farmer is the weather. The Oak Creek owners developed a control plan to ensure they water the vines properly, based on rainfall in the region.
When grapes' seeds turn brown and sugar levels are high, it's time to harvest. With the help of friends and family, Sterling and Davies collect grapes from July to August (and sometimes September) as different varieties reach their peaks. Nearby vintner Bushy Creek buys the grapes, bottling the wine within two years.
Sterling's success has people wondering why the couple doesn't grow grapes full-time. The social, creative and financial opportunities available in the printing industry are too alluring, she says. "When you're out their farming, you're out there secluded, and the world can pass you by if you don't make an effort to pay attention," she says.
She and Davies have long-term plans for the vineyard. Davies is building a small residence on the property. The couple plans to utilize more acreage, build a winery and open a tasting room. Eventually, they hope to have their own retail operation.
--Andrew Brown
Amy Sterling, co-founder and president of printer DOT Thermographics Inc., Addison, Texas, also owns Oak Creek Vineyards. The vineyard, which specializes in Bordeaux and Rhone grapes, is part of the state's growing wine industry.
