Growing up in Poteau made it easy for Becky Pickle Brinkley to come home! Becky graduated in 1980 and moved to Oklahoma City. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the University of Central Oklahoma and is currently employed by Carl Albert State College. Her husband, David Brinkley, grew up in Idabel, but also spent some time in Poteau with Becky after he graduated from Idabel Gray High School and attended Carl Albert State College on a baseball scholarship in 1979. David recently completed Viticulture and Enology courses at Redland’s Community College in El Reno.

    The couple purchased thirty six acres of family owned land, by Becky’s grandparents, Jim and Maybelle Cheely, when it became available in February 2005. They had not yet decided what to do with it when they visited a friend’s winery and vineyard in Grapevine, Texas for an annual “Grape Stomp”. That’s when they decided to start the winery and put in a vineyard.

    Black Sheep Winery celebrated their one year anniversary on December 9, 2007.  There were a lot of "firsts" for the Black Sheep Winery.  The winery hosted four weddings a family reunion.  The first annual Blessing of The Vines and the first annual Grape Stomp.  Then on February 14, 2008, Cari Lyn and Candice Lee, the Brinkley's daughters, opened Almost Italy! Two Sisters Italian Country Kitchen.  Black Sheep Winery is currently under construction to add another 40 x 30 wine production room and expand the patio area for additional seating for the restaurant.  Everyone is invited to come and see all the changes and experience the winery and restaurant.