Movie house winery open in downtown Morrilton

By Jill M. Rohrbach, travel writer
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Amid the great antique shopping offered in the well-preserved downtown of Morrilton is a new treasure – Movie House Winery.

Ken and Sherrie Sowers opened the winery in a newly renovated 1930s building that once housed the Petit Jean Movie Theatre. Movie House Winery produces a variety of wines – semi-sweet, dry reds, and dry whites - in small batches. “They are named after movies to go with the theme,” Sherrie Sowers explained.

For example, their number one seller is 3 Wise Fools, a pomegranate wild berry zinfandel. “Everyone is into pomegranates,” Sowers said. “It’s a super food. If you can blend it into your wines, why not? It’s fruity and light. We can’t keep it on the shelves.” Another semi-sweet wine that is a little drier than 3 Wise Fools is Sideways, a black cherry pinot noir. Other semi-sweets currently on the shelves include: Baby Face (peach chardonnay), Godfather (cranberry Chianti), Goldfinger (gold kiwi sauvignon blanc, and Rio Bravo (blackberry merlot).

In the dry whites there is a Gone with the Wine, which finishes like a Riesling, On Golden Pond (chardonnay), and a My Fair Lady (sauvignon blanc). Sowers added that their Hang Ten blend is a perfect summer wine. “That’s why we call it Hang Ten,” she explained. “It’s where the vine meets the surf.”

She said dry reds like the Toro (tempranillo-cabernet sauvignon) is good for barbecuing. “I use them a lot to marinade too,” Sowers added. The winery also serves Harvey (merlot), Tango (bolder than the Toro, a tempranillo malbec), Grand Hotel (cabernet sauvignon) and a red muscadine.

New regional varietals are currently in the midst of production as well. Wines range in price from $9.95 to $18.95. Movie House Winery offers wine tastings for $5, or for free if you purchase two or more bottles of wine.

Sowers said she and her husband’s goal is to have small batches of wine, a variety, and lots of fun. “We are not a snobby winery. Not pretentious,” she added.

Wine making classes start Sept. 11 and run for four consecutive Tuesdays. Another session starts the next Tuesday and runs another four weeks. Classes last one and a half hours, are limited to a class size of eight, and cost $50 per person or $75 per couple. “We always do hors d’oerves and wine,” Sowers said. “It’s a real social setting. At the class you get a wine makers book and two bottles of what you make.”

In addition to handcrafted wine, the winery sells wine and beer making supplies, custom made wine baskets, and wine-related gift items. The winery offers wine tasting parties at people’s homes, and is available for small gatherings. “We do after hour parties,” Sowers explained. “I’m having a bridal shower party here in a couple of months. It can also be a fun girls’ night out. We can do spa parties, massages, facials and mani/pedis.”

Sowers said the couple has plans to further expand the winery, gift shop and space for functions. They own additional portions of the building, part of which is occupied by Ken Sowers’ chiropractic office. The winery and chiropractic office are next door to each other, fronting Commerce Street. “This is the wine and spine building,” Sowers joked. “If one of us doesn’t fix you the other one will.”

The winery is located at 112 E. Commerce. For more information, contact the Sowers at 501-215-4899, by email at mhwinery@hotmail.com, or visit their website at www.moviehousewinery.com.

In addition to the new winery, downtown Morrilton is home to the Depot Museum. The restored Missouri-Pacific railroad depot houses display ranging from the Trail of Tears to railroad history and lore. It’s also the home of the Conway County Genealogical Association. The Morrilton Historic District contains one of only two Carnegie Libraries left in the state, and a classic Revival courthouse. The Rialto Community Arts Center is housed in a 1911 renovated theater and features concerts, live musical performances, poetry readings, and children’s programs. Morrilton City Park has a swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, picnic areas and a playground.

Located at the base of Petit Jean Mountain, Morrilton and the surrounding area offer a wealth of recreational opportunities. On top of the mountain, Petit Jean State Park offers hiking, camping, a lodge, cabins, restaurant, meeting room, educational programs, swimming pool, lakes, and some of the best scenery The Natural State has to offer. The flagship of the state parks system, the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corp. The recently renovated historic Mather Lodge just re-opened and is gorgeous inside and out. The view off the back side of the lodge is priceless. Standing there you can see why this land inspired the creation of the Arkansas state parks system.

Located on 188 acres atop Petit Jean Mountain is Winthrop Rockefeller Institute with its upscale lodge and conference center. It’s a great place to attend an education program, culinary class, or event. You can also tour the Governor Winthrop Rockefeller Legacy Gallery and Theater, and browse the gift shop.

Other mountain attractions include the Museum of Automobiles, which contains a collection of 50 vintage vehicles dating from 1904 to 1967. It also hosts two annual car shows and swap meets. Barnyard Friends and Stables has a petting zoo, pony rides, goat milking, bottle and hand feeding of animals, horseback trail rides, pony rides and hayrides, and 4-wheeler train rides.

Morrilton is also known for its annual Great Arkansas Pig Out to be held this year on Oct. 5 and 6. The event is full of entertainment, good, arts and crafts, and a muddy, slippery pig chase, of course.