Compared to other states, Oklahoma still doesn’t have very many wineries, even in the metro area.
However, residents on the south side of the metro area are in luck. Water’s Edge Winery, at 2001 S. Broadway Ave. in Moore, offers the best combination imaginable: a bistro/restaurant with a wine-tasting area, ongoing special events, and a family-friendly atmosphere that encourages visitors to relax and hang out.
It’s the first winery to be located in Moore, and is both a partnership and a labor of love for the owners, Mara and Mike English.
The Englishes already were the owners of two businesses: ACE (Always Celebrate Everything) Party Supplies and Abby Candles. They also were frequent patrons of the original Water’s Edge, located in downtown Oklahoma City.
When they learned the owner planned to sell, they decided the time was right and made an offer. The business’s primary winemaker agreed to join their team for a year in order to teach Mike the wine-making process, which removed the last obstacle.
The couple opened Water’s Edge Winery three years ago, and the number of patrons has grown steadily. Mike continues to handle the wine-making side of the operation—which includes 34 distinct varieties—while Mara operates the front house restaurant, including a wine-tasting area, special activities and marketing, plus supervising employees.
“We just knew that Moore needed it,” Mara said. “I always wanted to bring more stuff to the south side of OKC, and Moore doesn’t have a lot of attractions that are social establishments that are also family-friendly. There are wine bars, but no actual wineries. So, when the opportunity came up, I knew it would be a good fit.
“We are doing really well; new people are finding us every day,” she added. “So far, word of mouth is still our best form of marketing.”
Along with the wine tasting and enjoying their preferred vintage, special activities are part of the Water’s Edge menu each week. “Singo,” aka singing bingo, is a hit each Thursday, while there’s live music on Fridays and trivia contests on Sundays.
The restaurant and wine-tasting area are open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. More information is available on its Facebook page, Water’s Edge Winery–Moore, at www.wewmooreok.com, and by calling 405.232.WINE (9463).
The winery is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in order to cater private events, which can range from wedding showers to workplace gatherings, client meetings, sports-watching parties or other types of private gatherings. They’ve even hosted a wedding.
“One of the little extras we do for our wine club members is, after they’ve been members for a year they receive a free space rental,” Mara noted.
How It Works
Water’s Edge wine-making operation begins with the importation of fresh juice from already crushed grapes.
“We source juices from all over the world, and we work with brokers who have relationships with vineyards around the world, so we bring it in as juice and then we ferment and bottle in-house,” Mara explained.
The actual wine-making process takes six steps, and Mike is responsible for the last four. Once the juice is purchased, the next step is to add yeast to begin the fermenting process.
“Wine is fermented by heat, and once the yeast has done its job and the solids have settled to the bottom, then we separate, filter, bottle and serve,” Mara said. “It’s time-consuming, but still a very straightforward process.”
Create Your Own Brand
One of the more popular features is the ability to create custom labels for clients. They’ve done everything from holidays to weddings, graduations and other special events. Customers are invited to submit their own label designs, or work with Mara to achieve the look they’re after.
“We also provide wine for the Oklahoma City Thunder; they purchase from us and use their own private labels on it,” Mara said. “We have a lot of professionals who will get bottles with thank-you labels on them for their clients or as holiday gifts. We just need to know what someone is looking for. Including approval time, and we can usually turn labels around within 48 hours.”
Mara said that she loves the problem-solving aspects of operating a business, especially one that brings smiles to people’s faces.
“Our being here for our community is solving a problem by providing a place for people to come and socialize and hang out that’s not a bar,” she said.
“Our restaurant feels more like a living room. You can come and play games with your kids; you can have a meeting for coworkers or clients. We even have bakers who come here for tasting meetings with their customers, for weddings and such.
A lot of people who haven’t been exposed to it are intimidated by wine, she said.
“I try very hard to make this place comfortable, where people can try things and experiment with wine in a space that makes them feel welcome. People try new things here, and learn about wine, and later when they go out to a steakhouse or Italian restaurant they’re not so intimidated by the wine menu.
“When it was downtown, the winery was Mike’s and my happy go-to place, and I wanted to bring that to the south side,” she added. “My goal is to eventually open a couple of other locations around the metro area. It takes community support and local support, so I’m hoping more people will find us.”
“Our being here for our community is solving a problem by providing a place for people to come and socialize and hang out that’s not a bar."