If you haven’t had the chance to visit local wineries in and around Springfield recently, you have a great excuse to do just that this month — September is Missouri Wine Month. As the wine industry in Missouri has grown tremendously over the last three decades, southwest Missouri is getting in on the business with more than a dozen wineries within a day drive from Springfield.
For Missouri Wine Month, we've visited two wineries closest to Springfield to give you a taste of what they have to offer. Of course, to actually taste the wine, a visit is recommended! This week's spotlight: OOVVDA Winery.
OOVVDA Winery is in north Springfield and offers a variety of local wines.
OOVVDA Winery boasts that it’s Springfield’s premiere winery, and rightly so, as it’s currently the only winery in Springfield city limits. On the last Saturday of every month (March through October) OOVVDA Winery comes alive with their “Twilight Delight” event that features live music, food and of course, a great selection of wine.
Brian and Fran Overboe, owners of OOVVDA, began selling their wine in 2005 and started tasting at the winery in 2007. On this most recent “Twilight Delight” tasting event, Fran stands behind the bar of the tasting room, explaining the varieties of wine as she pours samples for patrons.
Fran Overboe offers up tastes of the wine produced at OOVVDA winery.
“You should taste the drier varieties before the sweeter ones,” she tells one customer, who requested their very sweet Happy Birthday flavor first. The tasting room fills with people awaiting their turn to taste everything from a semi-dry Blueberry to their famous dry Tornado Tomato.
Outside on the grounds of the winery, more than 200 people have gathered, spread out in lawn chairs enjoying copious amounts of cheese and crackers and OOVVDA wine.
“We’re working at making Springfield a go-to wine destination,” says Brian. “The wineries in the area cooperate with each other to promote each other. By word of mouth, it makes good business for all of us.”
Guests of OOVVDA Winery bring picnic items, blankets and chairs to enjoy local wine at "Twilight Delight."
Getting there: 5448 N. Barry Lane
Springfield, MO 65803
Phone: 417-833-4896
Hours: Tasting room is normally open from noon to dusk and by appointment.
Twilight Delights: Sept. 26 from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. featuring The Professor and Mary Ann
Oct. 31 from 1:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. featuring Denzil and Jonathon Band
Next week's spotlight: 7C's Winery.
Here is a list of other wineries in southwest Missouri that are a short, easy drive from Springfield. Cheers!
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