Community helps local winery, Backyard Vineyards, reopen following fire

A fire forces a local winery to close, but the community has come together to help it reopen. According to Roger and Jalynn Smith, the owners of Backyard Vineyards, someone set a fire to stay warm outside their front door on Feb. 13. The surveillance video reveals the fire starting.

“There's just a big explosion from where the camera started filming,” said owner Roger Smith. 

Firefighters saved the building, but the smoke damage and mess inside forced the couple to close. Unfortunately, the liability insurance they had didn’t cover the damage.

“The biggest lesson we've learned is to make sure you know exactly what your policy covers and to have full coverage,” said Roger.

Though they’ve only been open for less than a year, Smith says they have established a following.

“The community that has come out to help us during this time just goes to show that Oklahoma is home,” said Roger.

Smith says without their help they would have risked losing their business.

“This dream started on a napkin back in California in 2008,” he said.

Originally from Oklahoma, Roger grew up in California. He returned with his wife and daughter to open Backyard Vineyards in Oklahoma City’s Farmer’s Market District.

“It feels like home to be back here,” he said.

Roger says they source their grapes from California but create 11 varieties inside their production room. What makes the winery unique, besides the wines, is the labels.

“The best way for people to feel included and to feel loved is to tell them your stories,” said Jalynn.

Those stories are told on each label, revealing a special meaning or person in their lives.

“The more people that hear our stories and enjoy our wine, the more they feel part of our family,” said Jalynn.

It’s this sense of community that surfaced when the couple needed it most. Following the fire, many of their customers and other community members stepped in to help them clean up and prepare to reopen.

“It was a blessing to have the community come together,” Roger said.

So, the couple can resume their dream of winemaking and storytelling, said best in the meaning behind the label of their most popular wine called the International.

“'No matter where you are in the world and what you've been through, we can still come together and enjoy our love of wine,'” Jalynn said.

The Smiths are still working to get everything ready and plan to reopen on Friday at 11 a.m.

If you would like to help the couple, click HERE.