Maryland has been a top region for American viticulture since the 17th century, home to fantastic wineries throughout its Piedmont Plateau, Eastern Shore, Southern plains, and Western mountain regions. The state wineries offer flight tastings and pours at lovely public tasting rooms, many of which offer seasonal outdoor patios and live music performances.
Basignani Winery
Basignani Winery was originally opened to the public in 1986 by Lynne and Bert Basignani, who had spent years as championship amateur winemakers in the Maryland region. Today, the Sparks Glencoe winery produces more than 6,500 gallons of wine per year, specializing in unfiltered wines crafted from grapes grown within Hunt Valley's horse country region. Visitors can tour the company's winery operations or taste wines at its public tasting room facility, which is open to the public afternoons between Wednesdays and Sundays. Tastings sample up to six five-ounce pours of the company's premium wines, including signature wines such as the winery's Sinistra Port wine, Piccolo Cabernet blend, and Marisa Dolce semi-sweet red blend. Brick-oven pizzas are served on Friday Cafe Nights, which showcase live music performances.
15722 Falls Rd, Sparks Glencoe, MD 21152, Phone: 410-472-0703
Big Cork Vineyards
Big Cork Vineyards is one of Maryland's most acclaimed wineries, winning major best in show industry awards such as the Maryland Governor's Cup, the Maryland Winemaster's Cup, and the Jack Aellen Cup. The winery, which is owned and operated by vintner Dave Collins, offers tastings and tours at its 10,000-square-foot facility in Rohrersville, which showcases a 25-foot ADA-accessible tasting bar and a seasonal outdoor patio. Guests can sample flights of six of the company's wines of their choice, including selections such as the company's award-winning raspberry-based Black Cap Port and Twisted Franc wines. A grab-and-go food market showcases locally-sourced cheese, breads, and charcuteries, while food trucks parked on site on Friday nights serve up some of the region's best cuisine options. Overnight accommodations are offered in the winery's four-bedroom estate resort, which is home to amenities such as a billiard and game room and communal wraparound porches.
4236 Main St, Rohrersville, MD 21779, Phone: 301-302-8032
Black Ankle Vineyards
Black Ankle Vineyards was opened for business in 2008, founded by partners Sarah O'Herron and Ed Boyce. The Mt. Airy winery, which is located on the beautiful rolling hill landscape of central Maryland, is committed to sustainable growing practices, using locally-made compost as fertilizers and forgoing the use of herbicides and most pesticides. A solar-powered and geothermal-heated tasting room is open to the public on weekend afternoons, with guided walking tours also available at select times, lasting approximately 45 minutes. All tasting opportunities sample four of the company's delicious wines, including red, white, and sparkling variants. Live music performances are showcased on Friday evenings, with Ride Smart Maryland-sponsored Lyft rides available to ensure all visitors have safe rides home after tastings.
14463 Black Ankle Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771, Phone: 301-829-3338
Boordy Vineyards
Boordy Vineyards was Maryland's first winery at its opening in 1945, located within northeastern Baltimore County's Long Green Valley within a 19th-century fieldstone barn. The winery, which is overseen by Rob and Julie Deford and their son Phineas, is the perfect option for a winery day trip from Baltimore, Annapolis, or Washington, D.C., open to the public year-round. Guests can enjoy wine cellar guided tours and wine tastings throughout the week, showcasing the company's Landmark Series and Chesapeake Icons wine lines. All current vintages are sold at the winery's wine shop, with discounts offered for wine club members. Special events offered throughout the year include Saturday evening live music performances and Thursday evening farmer's markets throughout the summer months.
12820 Long Green Pike, Hydes, MD 21082, Phone: 410-592-5015
Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery
Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery was founded in 1999 by Thomas R. Shelton, housed on a beautiful farm property in Eden, Maryland overlooking the picturesque Wicomico Creek. Wicomico County's first licensed vineyard, which is named for a French word meaning "edge of the water," specializes in a dozen varieties of Bordeaux-style grape crops grown on 13 acres. Award-winning varietals focus on classic wine styles, including high-quality Cabernet Francs, Malbecs, Petit Verdots, and Merlots. A tasting room offers an intimate bar space and seasonal outdoor patio, with wine flights and pours offered for guests ages 21 and older. Special events throughout the year include wine club events, Yoga in the Vineyards sessions, and live music performances.
3155 Noble Farm Rd, Eden, MD 21822, Phone: 410-677-3334
Broken Spoke Winery
Broken Spoke Winery is a lovely boutique winery owned and operated by husband-and-wife duo Rob and Thea Hall, originally opened for business in 2017. The winery, which is located along Maryland's Chesapeake Wine Trail near the Rivers to Canal Wine Corridor, is located on the Hall family's pony farm grounds, which are also overseen by the couple's daughter Maggi. Winery visitors can sample a plethora of delicious traditional wines at the company's public tasting room facility, which is open to guests of all ages. Wine flights and pours are served up Tuesdays through Sundays throughout the year. Well-behaved pets are permitted at the facility during the summer season.
942 Glebe Rd, Earleville, MD 21919, Phone: 302-547-6022
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
Catoctin Breeze Vineyard has been voted as Frederick's best winery for 2019 by Frederick Magazine, noted for its handcrafted boutique and blend wines. The vineyards, which were founded in 2012, have received major best in show awards at competitions such as the Maryland Governor's Cup. Extensive selections of red and white wines are cultivated at the winery, along with high-quality meads produced with 100% American honey and aged in oak barrels. Wine tasting flights are offered throughout the week, including specialty sweet wine tastings. Food trucks are parked on site at the winery each Friday night between May and September, showcasing the best of the area's culinary scene. Tours are also offered Mondays through Fridays in season, exploring winery operations in detail.
15010 Roddy Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, Phone: 240-578-3831
Crow Vineyard and Winery
Crow Vineyard and Winery is located an easy day trip away from some of the East Coast's biggest cities and tourist destinations, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The high-quality winery, which is a wine trail stop within Maryland's Eastern Shore wine region, is located near Chestertown's historic downtown district on the 365-acre family farm of husband-and-wife duo Roy and Judy Crow. 12 acres are dedicated to cultivating grapes for classic Chardonnays, Merlots, reserve blends, sparkling wines, and dessert and sweet wines. Visitors can taste wines year-round at the winery's public tasting room, which also houses farm-to-table dinners with a renovated milking barn building. Overnight accommodations are offered at the winery's lovely bed and breakfast facility.
12441 Vansant Corner Rd, Kennedyville, MD 21645, Phone: 302-304-0551
Fiore Winery and Distillery
Fiore Winery and Distillery is a high-quality winery in Harford County, originally opened to the public in 1986. The family-operated winery oversees its private La Felicetta Vineyard facility, which brings Italian wine growing and winemaking traditions to the Chesapeake Bay region. Award-winning wines can be sampled at the winery's tasting room, which is open to guests ages 21 years and older. A variety of craft spirits are also distilled at the facility, available for tastings, in cocktails, or for purchase by the bottle. Complimentary tours are offered twice each afternoon, showcasing the company's production operations. A wide variety of wine-related merchandise and pantry goods are sold, including locally-produced cheeses for pairing from Hawk's Hill Creamery.
3026 Whiteford Rd, Pylesville, MD 21132, Phone: 410-879-4007
Serpent Ridge Vineyard
Many times, bigger isn’t always better. Serpent Ridge Vineyard is a great testament to this as their boutique vineyard and winery produces some of the most spectacular award-winning wines in the state from their location at the hills of Carroll County. At Serpent Ridge Vineyard, guests can look forward to sampling bottles from their small lots of passionately crafted handmade wine. Each bottle is started from grapes grown in their own vineyard as well as select vineyards around Maryland. Sample your choice of wines from within the cozy and peaceful grounds of the vineyard while learning about small-scale winemaking at this family-owned winery and vineyard.
2962 Nicodemus Road, Westminster, Maryland 21157; Phone: 410-848-6511
Harford Vineyard and Winery
Harford Vineyard and Winery has been open to the public since 2009, specializing in small-batch handcrafted wines produced from grapes grown on the company's 20-acre farm. The Harford County winery, which is located within Maryland's beautiful Piedmont Region, is operated by Teresa and Kevin Mooney and produces 13 craft wines throughout the year, including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Malbec variants and unique blush and fruit wines. Guests can sample up to six wines as part of tasting flights, which are offered up Thursdays through Mondays throughout the afternoon hours at the company's tasting room. Public special events include live music performances on Friday evenings throughout the summer and indoor fireside concerts during the winter.
1311 W Jarrettsville Rd, Forest Hill, MD 21050, Phone: 443-495-1699
Linganore Winecellars
Linganore Winecellars is set on the family estate of Jack and Lucille Aellen, located within Maryland's Berrywine Plantations/Linganore AVA, the state's first designated viticultural area. The winery, which was established in 1972 on a former dairy farm facility, is open to the public year-round with the exception of major holidays. More than 30 award-winning wines have received more than 200 international wine competition medals, ranging from red and white dinner wines to specialty wines and meads produced with locally-sourced honeys and fruits. A casual tasting room offers daily tastings, with wine and cheese pairings available for an additional fee. Complimentary guided tours are offered on select afternoons, lasting approximately half an hour and showcasing the winery's history and operations. Public special events include outdoor music festivals and picnic dinner events.
13601 Glissans Mill Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771, Phone: 301-831-5889
Old Westminster Winery
Old Westminster Winery has been owned and operated by married duo Virginia and Jay Baker and their three children since 2013. The delightful Carroll County winery produces more than 30,000 bottles of wine annually, grown on the premises at the company's home vineyard and in neighboring Maryland vineyards. Its public tasting room facility, opened in 2015, serves up delicious wines by the glass or by the flight, paired with locally-produced cheeses, charcuterie, and produce. Guests can also purchase wines by the bottle to pair with picnics to enjoy on the winery's outdoor grounds. Live music performances are showcased throughout the summer months on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Food trucks are also parked on site most weekends between May and October.
1550 Old Westminster Rd, Westminster, MD 21157, Phone: 410-881-4656
Olney Winery
Olney Winery was originally opened to the public in 2012, overseen by company president Joe McCall. The winery, which produces wines served or sold at more than 600 locations throughout Maryland, sources grapes from vineyards around the world to cultivate more than 30 high-quality wine varietals. Award-winning wines range from classic varieties such as Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons, and Rieslings to unique international varieties such as South African-style Chenin Blanc, Chilean Malbec, and German Muller-Thurgau. Fruit wines can also be tasted at the company's Hagerstown tasting room, which offers daily food specials and live music performances on the weekends. A unique make-your-own-wine experience is offered with advance reservations, letting participants work with the company's winemakers and graphic designers to create their own custom wine batches.
52 Olney Sandy Spring Rd, Ashton, MD 20861, Phone: 301-570-1907
Port of Leonardtown Winery
Port of Leonardtown Winery is located within Leonardtown, Maryland's McIntosh Ruh Park, offering convenient access to area walking trails, canoe and kayak launch sites, and day-use picnic sites. The winery sources its grapes from 12 vineyards throughout Maryland's St. Mary's, Charles, and Calvert Counties, showcased in delicious Barbera, Vidal Blanc, Chambourcin, Traminette, and Petit Verdot varietals. Guests can enjoy wine tasting flights highlighting the company's Swirl Series or Black Label wines, paired with regional cheeses, charcuteries, and crackers. Gift items are also sold at the company's tasting room, including wine and cheese gift baskets. Public special events include patio concerts, wine pairing dinners, and open houses held in conjunction with the First Fridays in Leonardtown event series.
23190 Newtowne Neck Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650, Phone: 301-690-2192
The Urban Winery
The Urban Winery is the closest winery to downtown Washington, D.C., located in upscale Maryland suburb Silver Spring. The winery, which is owned and operated by Georgia Callis, strives to cultivate the experience of wine tasting as a social occasion, best shared in the company of friends and family. Traditionally-crafted wines are prepared from the finest international imported grapes, showcased in high-quality red and white varietals and blends, including oak-aged variants. Full international import wine, craft beer, and spirits lists are also available for purchase, along with a selection of fruit wines showcased as part of the winery's Metro Series. Visitors can also take part in wine education classes or craft their own small-lot wines, aided by winemaking experts.
2315 Stewart Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone: 301-585-4100
