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.
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.”
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.
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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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.
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.
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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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.
Where to Stay
Housed in a beautifully renovated 1880s mansion in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood of Baltimore, The Ivy Hotel is Maryland’s only Relais & Châteaux property. It features nine rooms and eight spacious suites, each uniquely decorated, and amenities like a gourmet breakfast and valet parking. Dine in its Robert M. Parker Wine Cellar at Magdalena restaurant, featuring small-production American wines and rare vintages from around the world.
Hotel Revival, also in Mount Vernon, is a boutique hotel brimming with personality and rooms decorated in an attractive mix of Arts and Crafts and contemporary styles. Topside, the rooftop restaurant and bar, features a seafood-heavy menu and panoramic views of Baltimore and the harbor.
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Where to Eat
Maryland wines can be hard to come by at local restaurants due to distribution challenges, but Gunther & Co. in Baltimore’s Canton neighborhood is an exception. General manager and co-owner Nancy Trice strives to create a well-rounded wine list that balances quality and value, for example suggesting patrons pair Black Ankle's Bedlam, a white blend, with the restaurant's homemade tagliatelle featuring spring vegetables.
At The Charleston on Baltimore’s waterfront, chef Cindy Wolf makes modern dishes influenced by French and Low Country traditions while wine director Tony Foreman considers the growing season and tastes of the restaurant’s clientele while curating a list of more than 700 wines.
Western Maryland
The rugged yet promising wine-growing area of Western Maryland is shaped by the erosion of alluvial soil, which is imbued with a deep and fertile richness over thousands of years by the Appalachian Mountains. Despite enduring long winters and short growing seasons, vineyards in this area flourish due to the well-drained slate-based soils and refreshing cool breezes. Several vineyards in the region focus on cultivating cold-hardy grape varieties including Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Vidal Blanc.
Big Cork Vineyards
Located in Rohrersville and founded in 2011 by Randy Thompson and Dave Collins, Big Cork Vineyards sprawls across 100 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Cultivating 18 grape varieties, they produce over 25 estate wines, including Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Visitors are welcome to explore their collection while sitting at individual tables or kicking back on the sleek white sofas in the mid-century modern tasting room. It’s open Thursday through Monday by appointment. Tastings are $20 per person, and guests can also enjoy selections from an on-site food market that sells cheeses, fresh-baked bread, charcuterie and more.
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
Founded by Polish immigrants Voytek and Alicia Fizyta, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard is led by Winemaker Mike Lentini and produces around 2,500 cases annually. Bottlings range from single-varietal Syrah and Teroldgego to pét-nats and red blends.
The tasting room is open Thursday through Monday with first-come, first-served seating for groups of up to six. The Vigneron's Choice Tasting for $24 includes six wines—make sure to sample the Cabernet Franc. On weekends, enjoy local food trucks and charcuterie sourced from nearby and feel free to bring your own food for a picnic outside.
Where to Stay
Antrim 1844 on a 24-acre estate in Taneytown offers convenient access to wineries in both central and western Maryland and boasts the area's largest wine program. The historic inn, meticulously restored to its 1844 grandeur by owners Richard and Dorothy Mollette, features one of the East Coast's largest wine cellars with over 15,000 bottles. At The Smokehouse, indulge in a unique six-course prix-fixe dinner, enhanced with a curated selection of wines available at an extra charge.
If it’s convenience you’re after, consider Turf Valley Resort, which is spread across 1,000 acres in Ellicott City, a mere 20-minute drive east from Mt. Airy via I-70. In addition to a range of stylish guest rooms and suites, you’ll find tons of amenities like a spa, pools, tennis and pickleball courts and two championship golf courses.
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Where to Eat
Bernie Vogel praises The Tasting Room in Frederick for its dynamic wine program. Located in the city’s historic district, the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer panoramic views of Market St. Its innovative cuisine that emphasizes fresh, local ingredients has earned it regional acclaim.
For a more relaxed meal, consider Thacher & Rye, where acclaimed chef Bryan Voltaggio's regional Mid-Atlantic cuisine is prepared with seasonal, local ingredients in a refined yet relaxed atmosphere. Think Virginia cured ham with cornbread and chili pepper-cultured butter and smoked short ribs with celery root and green peppercorn jus.
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Southern Maryland
Southern Maryland's wineries embrace the area's farming roots and growing renown as a wine destination. As one of the state's oldest and most historic areas, former tobacco fields have transformed into vineyards, with rustic barns serving as inviting tasting rooms at numerous spots. This shift is also making wine tastings and culinary adventures more easily accessible from nearby cities, with some of these wineries located just over an hour from Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards
Family-owned since 1955, find Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards in Prince George’s County, just 25 minutes from Washington, D.C. With a view of red barns and rolling hills, the farm offers estate-grown wines from six varietals planted across five acres. Producing 1,500 cases yearly, the Watson family ferment, age and bottle wines on-site, occasionally sourcing grapes from other Maryland vineyards. Their renovated tobacco barn-turned-winery and tasting room exude warmth and history, providing a bucolic setting to savor wines like the Pi'Goat Blanc, a sweet rosé made of Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc with notes of strawberries and cherries.
Running Hare Vineyard
The tasting room at this vineyard in Calvert County, set on 291 acres of former tobacco field, is open Thursday through Sunday, offering live music and a festive atmosphere on weekends. Try their wine flights with four samples, such as oak-aged Chambourcin, or indulge in refreshing wine slushies on sunny days. Grab a seat at one of the patio tables in the adjacent barn-like biergarten, and sip on local brews or signature wines while savoring wood-fired pizzas from Pizza Di Vigna.
Port of Leonardtown Winery
As a cooperative winery, Port of Leonardtown brings together 12 member vineyards across St. Marys, Charles, Calvert and Kent counties. Gather around the curved bar for a glass of rosé at this cozy and unassuming tasting room located in a historic building at the Port of Leonardtown Public Park. On warm weekends, the grounds outside are transformed into a festive lawn-party atmosphere with live music, food trucks and wine slushies.
The Vineyards at Dodon
Polly Pittman and Tom Croghan, the winemaker, lead four generations of family tradition here. Flagship varieties are Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, with Oronoco, a rich blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot standing out as Pittman’s personal favorite.
Visitors to the vineyard experience the family's hospitality in a space reflecting their tastes—simple yet refined, modern yet pastoral. Tastings and tours are available on weekends by appointment only. The most casual and flexible option is the self-guided flight, which includes pours of four Dodon-series wines. Guests can also order wine cocktails, wines by glass, cheese and charcuterie from a menu during the visit. The whole goal of the place is to encourage visitors to relax.
Where to Stay
Located just steps from downtown Annapolis, 134 Prince offers expansive common areas, lush gardens and lavish guest rooms set inside an 1849 Dutch Colonial. And in the Eastport neighborhood, the Inn at Horn Point offers peaceful nights in modern rooms, with amenities like free parking and E.V. charging. For a rural getaway, Susannah's Watch, a historic manor on the Dixon Family Farm, offers a unique riverside bed-and-breakfast experience in St. Mary’s County.
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Where to Eat
Housed inside a former bungalow home in the Eastport neighborhood, Vin 909, a cozy "winecafe," is renowned for its brick-oven fired pizzas. Also find salads, entrees like skirt steak with a spicy Moroccan sauce and steamed littleneck clams, as well as wines available by the bottle or glass. The ingredients found in their dishes are sourced from local, organic and sustainable providers whenever possible.
Preserve, a casual New American restaurant eatery near Main Street in Annapolis, offers a unique selection of dishes featuring canned, pickled and fermented ingredients. Husband-and-wife team Jeremy and Michelle Hoffman have also recently expanded to Severna Park in Roanoke County with Garten, a natural wine and beer garden showcasing local favorites. “Not only do they have a really fun food program and wine program, but they also have a great retail section of the restaurant where you can go and buy bottles to take home with you,” says McCarthy. “And they've also been very supportive of the local industry.”
Eastern Shore
On the east side of the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Shore boasts fertile soil and a mild climate perfect for growing grapes. Explore this region’s refreshing sea breezes and stunning views, paired with the authentic flavors of Maryland through locally-sourced seafood.
Blue Elk Vineyard
Blue Elk Vineyard, perched on the shores of the Elk River, has 14 acres of hillside vineyards. Founded in 2020 on the historic grounds of Bohemia Overlook, the winery resides in a meticulously restored horse barn that dates back to the 1930s. The wood-covered tasting room, once horse stables, offers private experiences Thursday through Sunday. Guests can order flights, glasses, bottles and wine and cider cocktails like their signature apple cider mimosa while digging into charcuterie boards and rotating specials like flatbreads and salads.
Crow Vineyard
Crow Vineyard & Winery, located just minutes from historic Chestertown and Chesapeake City, celebrates three generations of farming heritage on its expansive 365-acre estate.Transitioning from beef and grain to grape cultivation in 2010, owners Roy and Judy Crow have produced Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Barbera. With a homey tasting room open daily from 12 to 5 p.m., guests can choose between the spacious Hay Barn or intimate Milk House for a flight and light, local fare.
Where to Stay
Crow Vineyard also invites guests to experience their Farmstay B&B in a newly renovated, energy-efficient 1847 farmhouse. Moving southward, plenty of quality accommodations can be found in St. Michaels, an idyllic Victorian resort town along the Chesapeake Bay. Great options include the nautical-themed Inn at Perry Cabin, plus the chic The Wildset Hotel, which incorporates the town's former 1830s schoolhouse.
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Where to Eat
Inside the Wildest Hotel, Ruse offers a seafood-focused dining experience with an eclectic wine list featuring selections from around the world. "I just want to always offer up new, fun and exciting bottles and grapes that people haven't tried," says Food and Beverage Director Allie Ballin. "It's always kind of my mission to expose people to new stuff."
Just 15 minutes away in the town of Easton, Bluepoint Hospitality Group has transformed the town with cosmopolitan restaurants and shops. Bas Rouge offers Viennese fine dining, and the vast wine list reflects that with its extensive Austrian and German selections in addition to American and French wines. The selection at the Wardroom, Bluepoint's epicurean market, is more of a "full spectrum," says Wine and Beverage Director Natalie Tapken. It offers various wines, including Spanish, Italian, American, German, Austrian, French and Greek selections.
The group also has a winery in the works. With the help of notable Napa-based winemaker Helen Keplinger, they’ve planted grapes at their own winery just outside Eaton and are awaiting their first vintage.
Published: May 6, 2024
