Edmond’s Wine Country

A glass of wine can provide the
perfect form of therapy. No one knows this better than Thomas Ingmire. After
years of working a stressful job, Ingmire decided to venture into the wine
business with his wife Kim. Twelve years and thousands of grapes later, the
Ingmires are enjoying the sweet taste of success.

North of the OKC Metro area and
far from the noise of the city lies the hard work of the Ingmires and one of
Oklahoma’s best kept secrets. As you head down the small two-lane highway that
local residents know as Waterloo, you’ll slowly creep up on the gates of
Clauren Ridge Vineyard & Winery. Before you can even get a full appreciation
of the brand new construction inside the winery, your eyes immediately gaze out
the large glass windows as the sunrays hit the hills and light up the vineyard
outside. White ceremony chairs are neatly lined up in the middle of the
vineyard and the massive pergola draped in white linens makes the setting feel
like something from a movie.

This is where Thomas decided to
plant his dream. His new project started off as a small hobby that only
included a few vines. The following year he decided to plant a few more and
didn’t stop driving his tractor until the entire hill of his property was
covered with vines. “Pretty soon we had more grapes than we knew what to do
with,” says Kim. “The mature vineyard, where we harvest our grapes, is on the
back of the property—8 to 10 acres of 12- to 13-year-old vines.” The Ingmires have
learned a lot about the wine business over the years and hope to see it continue
to grow in Oklahoma. “It’s a relatively new industry here. The wines are
getting better!”

Kim never imagined that her
husband’s new interest would turn into such a profitable business. They are
continuing to expand their reach in the wine market. “We hope to start
distributing. That’s one of our major goals.” The Ingmires will have a number
of wines for retailers to choose from once distribution starts. Their fully-stocked
winery also features a wine cave that can’t be found in many other wineries in
the city. The wine cave is temperature-controlled and also provides the perfect
setting for receptions and special events. Clauren Ridge provides a full staff,
linens, flatware, stemware and even flowers for your occasion. “We have the
weddings out here at the pergola,” says Kim. Brides near and far are calling to
book their special day months in advance. “We’re booked every Saturday for 2013
and 2014 is filling up.”

People aren’t just flocking to
the winery for weddings. The staff opens their doors for wine tastings Friday
through Sunday. Visitors can pick from a variety of different red and white
wines and also nibble on wine cake balls, assorted mini quiches or cheese and crackers.
The Ingmires also offer a unique dining experience for Titanic enthusiasts. “I
have china imported from the UK,” says Kim. “It’s an exact replica of the
first-class china that was on the Titantic. My husband and I dress up and we
play the music that was heard on board.”

The couple hopes to make Clauren
Ridge a first-class experience for wine enthusiasts. For now, Kim says that
they’re just trying to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  “We have a lot to learn, but we’re getting
there!”

www.claurenridge.com