History of MD Wine

  • 1648 - Earliest recorded instance of winemaking in Maryland, by Tenis Palee
  • 1662 - Governor Charles Calvert plants 200 acres of European grapes, the first European grapes in Maryland, on the east bank of St. Mary’s River
  • 1823 - John Adlum of Havre de Grace writes the first book in America on viticulture and winemaking
  • 1829 - Maryland Society for Promoting the Culture of the Vine is formed
  • 1933 - Philip Wagner, a columnist with the Baltimore Sun, publishes American Wines and How to Make Them, later revised as Grapes Into Wine; it is the definitive book on winemaking in America
  • 1945 - Boordy Vineyards opens in Riderwood, Maryland’s first bonded winery; Philip Wagner, proprietor
  • 1962 - Montbray Wine Cellars in Silver Run; Dr. G. Hamilton Mowbray, proprietor. It closes in 1992
  • 1974 - Provenza Winery opens in Brookeville; it closes in 1983
  • 1975 - Dr. G. Hamilton Mowbray receives the Merite Agricole award from the French Embassy
  • 1976 - Linganore Winecellars at Berrywine Plantation opens in Mt. Airy; Jack and Lucille Aellen, proprietors
    - Bon Sporanza Winery opens in Westminster; it closes in 1982.
    - Byrd Winery opens in Mt. Airy; it closes in 1996.
  • 1977 - Ziem Wine Cellars opens in Downsville; it closes in 1998
  • 1980 - Philip Wagner sells Boordy Vineyards to the Deford family, the winery moves to Hydes
  • 1981 - Maryland Grape Growers Association is formed
  • 1983 - Woodhall Vineyards and Wine Cellars in Parkton opens
    - Catoctin Vineyards in Brookeville opens; Bob Lyon, proprietor
    - Elk Run Winery in Mt. Airy opens; Carol and Fred Wilson, proprietors
    - The Linganore AVA area is formed
  • 1984 - Maryland Wineries Association is founded
    - The first Maryland Wine Festival is held
    - Maryland Winery and Grape Growers Advisory Board is formed
    - Whitemarsh Cellars opens in Westminster; it closes in 1987
  • 1985 - Loew Vineyards in Mt. Airy opens; Bill and Lois Loew, proprietors
    - The Maryland Wine Festival moves to the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster
    - The Cumberland Valley AVA area is formed
  • 1986 - Fiore Winery in Pylesville opens; Mike and Rose Fiore, proprietors
    - Basignani Winery in Sparks opens; Bert and Lynne Basignani, proprietors
  • 1987 - The Catoctin AVA is formed
  • 1993 - The first Wine in the Woods festival held in Columbia
  • 1996 - Cygnus Wine Cellars in Manchester opens, Ray Brasfield, proprietor
  • 1997 - Deep Creek Cellars in Friendsville opens; Paul Roberts and Nadine Grabania, proprietors
  • 2000 - Maryland House Bill 414 passes, allowing state wineries to sell wine by the glass at the winery and to bring product onto retail licensed premises for promotional activities
    - Penn Oaks Winery in Silver Spring opens
    - Record crowd of more than 25,000 attends the Maryland Wine Festival
    - Maryland’s wineries sell a record 86,954 gallons
  • 2001 - Maryland Wineries Association launches its first-ever major cooperative marketing campaign, "Ask For Maryland Wine"
  • 2002 - Little Ashby Vineyards in Easton opens; Warren and Lynne Rich, proprietors
  • 2003 - Maryland Wineries Association hires Dr. Kevin Atticks as executive director
    - Three new festivals debut: Great Grapes! in June in Timonium; Riverside Winefest at Sotterley in October in Hollywood; Autumn Wine Festival in October in Salisbury
    - Governor Robert Ehrlich presents the Governor’s Cup Award at the Maryland Wine Festival – the first time a sitting Governor has presented the award.
  • 2004 - Governor Robert Ehrlich plants a grapevine at Government House in support of the Maryland wine industry
    - Cove Point Vineyard and Winery in Lusby opens; Tim and Sheryl Lewis, proprietors
    - Chapel Cellars in Historic Saint Mary’s City opens; Ann and Ken Korando, proprietors; closes in 2006.
    - Solomons Island Winery in Solomons opens; Ken and Ann Korando, proprietors
    - Governor Ehrlich forms the Maryland Wine and Grape Advisory Committee to investigate ways of promoting growth in the industry
  • 2005 - Wine and Grape Advisory Committee releases its report: “Maryland Wine: the Next Vintage”
    - Tilmon's Island Winery begins production.
    - Great Grapes! festival moves to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville
    - Black Ankle Vineyards in Mt. Airy, and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards in Dickerson, begin production.
    - St. Michaels Winery in St. Michaels opens to the public.
    - Maryland Wine & Grape Advisory Commission is formed through legislation, making permanent the previous advisory committee.
  • 2006 - Cascia Vineyards in Stevensville begins production.
    - Dragonfly Farms in Mt. Airy begins production as Maryland's first wine vinegary.
    - Fridays Creek Winery in Owings opens to the public.
    - Heimbuch Estate Vineyards & Winery begins production.
    - Terrapin Station Winery begins production.
  • 2007 - Maryland Wine & Grape Legislative Caucus is formed.
    - Frederick Cellars forms, purchases Catoctin Vineyards and moves it to Frederick.
    - Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery begins production in St. Leonard.
    - Bordeleau Winery in Allen begins production.
    - Dove Valley Winery in Rising Sun begins production, opens to the public.
    - Mt. Felix Winery in Havre de Grace begins production.
    - Cassinelli Vineyards & Winery begins production in Church Hill.
  • 2008 - Galloping Goose Vineyard begins production in Hampstead.
    - Running Hare Vineyard begins production in Prince Frederick.
    - Orchid Cellars begins production in Thurmont.
    - Far Eastern Shore Winery begins production in Easton.
    - Legends Vineyard begins production in Churchville
  • 2009 - Knob Hall Winery begins production in Clear Spring.
    - Harford Vineyard begins production in Forest Hill
    - more coming soon!

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