This website serves Farmers and Ranchers in the Kansas AgriTourism Industry.
Welcome to Kansas AgriTourism!
This website has been developed specifically for Kansas farmers and ranchers involved in AgriTourism, rural properties where the traveler has an opportunity to experience farm and country life far from the hustle of the city.
the Kansas Agriculture Marketing Division and the Travel and Tourism Division of the Department of Commerce
and with financial assistance from Frontier Farm Credit.
We invite you to explore this website to find a variety of articles and resources that will help you succeed in agritourism.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Division, and ask for the Agritourism Liaison.
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Taking the Long Road Back to Kansas Wine Country
 This month's Feature Destination:
Windswept Winery
July 2006
“In the 1890s and early 1900s, there were vast vineyards across the state of Kansas-hundreds of acres,” Randy Storey reminds us.
“We named our wine, “Land Rush White” knowing that grapes assume a special characteristic of the land they are grown in. It’s a great wine, and a great way to remember the Land Rush into the Oklahoma Territory.”
Randy and Rebecca Storey are the owners of Windswept Winery in windswept Udall, Kansas, about a 25-minute drive southeast from Wichita.
 “Kansas is really a great place to grow fine grapes,” Randy said. “We are really proud to be part of the Kansas reawakening and the growth of Kansas vineyards and fine wines.”
Randy knows a great deal of information about growing grapes and developing good wine, which is perhaps a little surprising when you learn that their winery just opened last year. Ah- but that’s why we chose Windswept Winery to be the featured destination for this month’s edition of Kansas Agritourism.
The Road to Learning
Randy is the fifth generation of his family to farm this land, though the 200 plus acres have been used primarily for wheat and soybeans. Rebecca, as a teenager, worked at the Rosati Winery in St. James, Missouri, learning about different varieties, how to prune the vines, etc.
Randy and Rebecca joined the Kansas Grape Growers and Winemakers Association in 1997, attending every meeting they could to learn about vineyards and winemaking. After three years of research, they were ready to plant their vineyard.
 They planted French-American hybrids, which are vines with an American rootstock that will endure the sometimes long, hard Kansas winters. The climate in Udall is well suited to grapes, with adequate rainfall, and a sandy loam soil that supports healthy growth.
They also began attending classes in Enology, the study of grapes and winemaking, held at Grayson County Community College in Sherman, Texas! Every Friday night, for two years, Rebecca and Randy made the 5-hour drive to Texas, attended two days of classes, and then drove home on Sunday nights. Both were still working full time jobs off the farm.
They also sought out every resource at home.
“We deeply appreciate all of the help and support we’ve received from the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Travel and Tourism Office, the Agritourism people—they’ve all been super-interested in helping the industry grow, and helping us grow,” Randy said.
Fruits of Their Labors
In 2005, Randy left his other job, and opened Windswept Winery to the public seven days a week. In the  Tasting Room and Gift Shop, they have 12 labels for their guests to choose from, with an interesting variety of red wines; white wines; dry, semi-dry and sweet; along with a blush, an apple wine, and a blackberry wine. They also carry a nice complement of wine accessories, grapevine items, and gift packaging.
Under construction is a new 40-foot by 40-foot banquet and meeting room, with French doors opening onto an outdoor patio of the same size. When the building is complete, the winery will accommodate meetings, weddings, anniversaries, and similar dinner occasions, using local caterers to provide the meals.
Helping Others Up the Path
 Thanks to their extensive training, the Storey's are also qualified and eager to share their knowledge. Last year, they hosted three seminars, including one on proper pruning methods, and another on the somewhat complex paperwork required to license a winery.
This year, Randy plans to have approximately two events per month at the winery, including numerous seminars for fellow enologists, as well as seminars for the public. The public events will include wine tastings, learning to pair wines with specific foods, wine judging, etc. The also plan to have a monthly Wine and Steak night, to be followed by a barn dance.
Marketing
In their first year, Randy estimated that they had 1,000 to 1,500 visitors come to the winery. The guest book indicates that 40% of guests were out of state travelers, while 30% were locals.
The Storey’s send press releases to the local media at every opportunity, and this free publicity has likely been a major factor in attracting local customers. Randy also obtained some valuable free radio promotion as an hour-long guest of Kansas wine enthusiast, Guy Bower, on the Wichita talk show, “The Good Life" (www.goodlifeguy.com).
 They also have applied for “brown roadside signs”-the state tourism markers, and have successful applied for state matching funds to assist in their advertising. The winery has a very attractive website, www.windsweptwinery.com, which Rebecca designed. She is also designing the website for the KGGWA, at www.kansasgrapesandwines.com, while Randy serves the organization as its secretary.
The winery has purchase a small amount of newspaper advertising, and Randy recently invested in a collaborative radio effort with three other Kansas wineries-Smokey Hill Winery in Salina, Dozier Winery in Ellinwood, and Wyldewood Cellars Winery in Paxico. The four wineries pooled their resources to purchase a radio advertising package that will be heard on numerous Kansas stations.
Arriving Just in Time
 Randy and Rebecca know that they have not completed their journey. They will devote their lifetimes to continue to study and learn everything they can to improve their wines and grow their business. But they feel they have arrived at this juncture at just the right time, particularly with Kansas Senate Bill 297 coming into effect on July 1.
“We make some excellent wines in Kansas,” Randy said. “And now we can provide those wines throughout the country to people who will come to know and appreciate our quality."
Visit the website at www.windsweptwinery.com
Read the rest of the July 2006 Kansas Agritourism Newsletter
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