Although we offer several varieties of wine, we specialize in Muscadine wine and here's why...

History of the Muscadines

Discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1584, the muscadine is considered to be America’s first grape, but it may be better known as the “grape of the south”.   Muscadine vines can be found along forgotten country roadsides, in the occasional opening of an overgrown forest, or sometimes at an abandoned homestead.  When late summer arrives, you may find your neighbor off the front porch and in the woods searching for this juicy black grape to make jelly and homemade wine.  We invite you to enjoy one of the same discoveries of our settlers.

Why Muscadines?

Muscadines are native to this area.  They thrive in our hot and humid growing areas.  They can be grown from the coastal side of New York south to Florida and west to Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, parts of New Mexico, Arizona and coastal sides of California, Oregon and Washington State.  If you were lucky enough to be raised around  Muscadines they will bring back many special memories from childhoods.  Muscadines have significantly more nutrition than any other grape.  They are an excellent source of insoluble fiber and Muscadines have substantial amounts of antioxidants, which help cells from free-radical damage and also helps reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers and other chronic diseases according to a study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry

Muscadines are the only grape that contains Ellagic Acid which has been proven to inhibit growth of cancer cells by apoptosis which means cells kill themselves.  

We grow Muscadine grapes.  They are native to our area and love the Oklahoma heat!          Our vineyard is 45 miles northwest of us.  Harvest time is late September.

Families in the Southeastern United States have enjoyed Muscadine juice, jellies and wines since settlers arrived in the 1500's.  Muscadine wines are semi-sweet to sweet.   and are red, white and rose'. can be made from several different varieties.  These wines are becoming popular more and more as visitors become acquainted with them.

We have combined our love of Oklahoma with our love of fly fishing and our love of wine-making to bring you Fish Tales Winery & Vineyards.  Muscadine vines were initially planted at the family home at Little River Ranch in southeastern Pushmataha County and the next larger vineyard was planted on our property in eastern McCurtain County, lovingly referred to as "Chateau Hobo".  

But, what IS a muscadine??

Courtesy - Wikipedia

Vitis rotundifolia, or "muscadine" is a grapevine species native to the southeastern and south-central United States from Florida to Delaware, west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma.  It has been extensively cultivated since the 16th century.  The plants are well adapted to their native warm and humid climate; they need fewer chilling hours than better known varieties and they thrive on summer heat.

​

Resveratrol and other polyphenols - As muscadine grapes are notable for their highly pigmented, thick skins in which the content of polyphenols is known to be high, there is active research interest to define the phytochemicals.  One report indicated that muscadine grapes contained high concentrations of resveratrols, but subsequent studies have found no or little resveratrol in muscadine grapes.