It’s Maryland wine’s time to shine. The state’s wine scene is on the rise, carving out its own identity alongside its more well-known neighbor, Virginia.
The industry has blossomed from a dozen wineries at the turn of the century to over 80 today, according to the Maryland Wineries Association, with distinct winemakers crafting bottles that highlight a wide range of varietals. “Maryland wine feels like a kaleidoscope right now,” says Regina McCarthy, general manager of The Vineyards at Dodon in Davidsonville.
That’s partially due to Maryland’s famously diverse terrain, which has earned it the nickname “America in Miniature.” Central Maryland, with its moderate climate and lush rolling hills, has historically been the focal point for vineyards, producing Bordeaux-style red blends alongside global varietals like Albariño and Nebbiolo. It also includes Maryland’s first established AVA, Linganore. But these days, wineries are flourishing all across the state, from the balmy countryside of Southern Maryland to the cooler mountainous regions of Western Maryland and across the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore.
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Bernie Vogel, a seasoned wine professional based in Maryland, has observed the evolution firsthand over the past 35 years. “Today, we’re seeing Maryland’s ‘second generation’ of producers looking at the ‘Old World’ for regions that have similar climates and geography and doubling down on varietals that are more suited to our terroir,” he says. “The quality of the wines produced has improved significantly.”
A trip that explores Maryland’s wineries could unfold in several different ways. You could stay in an urban center like Baltimore or Annapolis, using it as a base for dining and lodging, then venture out for day trips to rural wineries. You could pick one of Maryland’s four wine regions and go deep visiting several wineries in the area. Of course, you could always take advantage of the state’s compact size and make it your mission to visit one or two wineries in all of the wine regions.
There’s no right or wrong approach. To guide you through this dynamic landscape, we consulted wine experts from across Maryland who are well-versed in the state’s wine and dining trends.
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Central Maryland
Central Maryland’s Piedmont Plateau, just north of Baltimore, is home to some of the state’s oldest and finest wineries, with a long history of being a destination for wine lovers. Stretching from the rolling foothills west of Frederick to the Chesapeake Bay headwaters, the region boasts rich soil and an optimal climate that make it a premier wine-growing region.
Image Courtesy of Old Westminster
Old Westminster Winery
The Baker siblings established this winery, situated 40 miles northwest of Baltimore in Carroll County, with the aim of preserving their family farmland. After two years of research, they planted 7,600 grapevines, including Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay and Albariño. Offering tastings by reservation Friday through Sunday, guests can enjoy wine flights, wood-fired pizzas, and other local fare in their cozy farmhouse-style tasting room with scenic views or relax on spacious patios overlooking the vineyard.
Bernie Vogel has spotted th operation’s canned Farmer Fizz and pét-nats in restaurants and wine shops all the way up in Portland, Maine. He thinks their Chardonnay is top-notch. And as co-owner of JeannieBird Baking Company in Westminster, he stocks it in the small wine section of the shop.
“Far and away, Old Westminster Winery has set a new standard for the possibilities of what can be produced in Maryland,” he says. “Winemaker Lisa Hinton produces beautiful whites and red ‘vin de garde,’ as well as carved out a national reputation in the natural wine community.”
Image Courtesy of Black Ankle Vineyards
Black Ankle Vineyards
Since 2008, founders Ed Boyce and Sarah O’Herron have created estate-grown wines in Mt. Airy with the guidance of consulting Bordelais winemaker Lucien Guillemet. Selections include Gruner Veltliner, Chardonnay, Syrah and Bordeaux-style red blends. Open daily, their tasting room, which boasts magnificent views from its partially covered vineyard-facing patio, offers wines by the flight, bottle, carafe and glass, along with prepackaged local fare including cheese and charcuterie.
Guided tastings are $26, and vineyard tours are available on select days by request. Weekends often feature food trucks, spanning from brunch to tacos and barbecue, all paired with live music.
Image Courtesy of Elk Run Vineyard and Winery
Elk Run Vineyard and Winery
Also in Mt. Airy, Elk Run Vineyards, founded in 1979, is nestled in a bucolic pastoral setting framed by dairy farms and fields of wheat and corn. It produces a wide range of grapes from Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon to Gewürztraminer and Petit Verdot. The winery, named after a nearby stream, was Maryland’s first all-vinifera vineyard.
Visitors can enjoy wine flights on the scenic grounds, which are dotted with picnic tables (outside food is welcome) and peppered with the sound of seasonal live music during the warmer months. Tastings of six wines are $20, with free tours on weekends. Local musicians perform on weekends from May to October.
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Image Courtesy of Boordy Vineyards
Boordy Vineyards
This vineyard in Baltimore County, established in 1945, lays claim to the title of Maryland’s oldest winery. Under the Deford family’s guidance since 1980, the winery spans two vineyards across distinct Maryland microclimates. Long Green Vineyard, in the Piedmont Plateau, yields Sauvignon Blanc and light reds, while South Mountain Vineyard, in the Blue Ridge Mountains, produces Cabernet Franc, Merlot and more.
Weekends feature live music, food trucks and picnic seating (guests are also welcome to bring their own food). Guided tastings start at $12 for five wines, with bottle and case purchases available at the on-site wine shop.
Image Courtesy of Linganore Wines
Linganore Winecellars
Established in 1976, Linganore Winecellars, also located in Mt. Airy, offers a diverse range of wines, including classic varietals like Chardonnay, unique sweet blends, fruit wines and an acclaimed Terrapin white blend made of hybrid Melody and Vidal Blanc grapes.
Bar tastings cost $12 and are available daily without reservations. Private tastings and tours of the idyllic property can be booked in advance. Visitors are drawn to the beautiful countryside setting that boasts a convivial atmosphere thanks to live music and food trucks every weekend. Porch, deck table and fire tables, for use all day long, can be reserved in advance.
Image Courtesy of Basignani Winery
Basignani Winery
Located north of Baltimore in Glencoe, Basignani Winery, established in 1986 by Italian immigrant Bertero Basignani, annually produces 6,500 gallons of wine. Selections span from classic Chardonnay and robust Cabernet Sauvignon blends to the popular Elena Rosé, a slightly sweet blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Vidal and Chambourcin.
During the day, weekend wine tastings are available in the rustic, barrel-filled tasting room by appointment for $10, with walk-ins welcome as space permits. Warm weekend nights feature live music under the covered pavilion, where guests can nosh on brick-oven pizza.
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Image Courtesy of Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
Located just 40 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, this vineyard was founded in 2006 by owner Emily Yang and winemaker Manolo Gomez. Hand-picked grapes from the 22-acre estate are transformed into Bordeaux-inspired reds and crisp whites aged in stainless-steel or French oak barrels.
Open daily for walk-ins, the compact tasting room offers tastings and flights, with free tours available by reservation. On warm weekends, visitors, enticed by food trucks and picnic-friendly policies, spill out onto the patio with views of the vineyard.
