Oklahoma Viticulture and Enology Fund

Using tax revenue created from the sales of wine in Oklahoma, this fund awards projects that aim to advance the grape and wine industry in the state. Maximum award amount is $50,000. Projects may be two (2) years in length and must focus on one of the following areas:

• Scientific research

• Education

• Product development

• Producer outreach

• Marketing

• Higher education institutions

• Government agencies – state or subdivisions of Oklahoma

• Trade groups promoting grape and wine production in Oklahoma

• Individual growers/business are not eligible

"Maximum award amount is $50,000. Projects may be two (2) years in length."

Funded from wine excise revenue — "Using tax revenue created from the sales of wine in Oklahoma, this fund awards projects that aim to advance the grape and wine industry in the state."

No match requirement or cost-share percentage is published for this fund. (The tiered match rules that appear further down the same department page — 25% match at $2,501-$5,000, dollar-for-dollar above $5,000 — belong to the separate Agriculture Enhancement and Diversification Program grants, not to the Viticulture and Enology Fund. Do not apply them here.)

The catch for growers: eligibility is institutional, not individual. Eligible applicants are higher education institutions, Oklahoma state agencies or political subdivisions, and "Trade groups promoting grape and wine production in Oklahoma" — and explicitly, "Individual growers/business are not eligible." A vineyard or winery benefits as the intended audience of a funded research, education, product-development, outreach or marketing project, not as the applicant.

Each proposal needs industry backing: "Proposals must have a letter of support from a minimum of three (3) vineyards/wineries or one (1) from the Oklahoma Grape Industry Council."

Deadline caution: the page's V&E section still reads "Deadline will be August 20, 2024" and no newer cycle date has been posted, though the department separately notes "Effective April 2, 2026, applications for viticulture and enology related projects are currently being accepted, however, applications for all other projects are on hold at this time." Confirm the live deadline with Jason Harvey, jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov, 405-606-1477.

Complete the application below and email to jason.harvey@ag.ok.gov before 5 pm Thursday June 1, 2023.