Wine & Growing Regions in Maryland

Maryland has four distinct growing regions, allowing for a wide diversity of grape varieties that will thrive throughout the State.

Piedmont Plateau. A majority of the state's vineyards are planted in Central Maryland, from the foothills west of Frederick, Maryland to the head of the Chesapeake Bay. Here you’ll find the state's oldest wineries as well as the Frederick Wine Trail and Mason-Dixon Wine Trail – with clusters of them around Westminster and just north of Baltimore. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are the stars of this region, which consists of Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery and Frederick Counties.

Eastern Shore of Maryland. The Eastern Shore is known for its warm days and cool nights. The soil is sandy and well-drained, and the climate is moderated by the Chesapeake Bay. A wide variety of grapes are growing throughout the Upper Shore (Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties), Mid Shore (Talbot, Dorchester and Caroline Counties) and Lower Shore (Somerset, Worcester and Wicomocio Counties). This is the fastest-growing region in Maryland.

Southern Plain. Southern Maryland gets hot, and stays hot night and day for most of the summer. This may not be good for some varieties, but help Southern Italian and other Mediterranean varieties excel. Barbera, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Chardonnay, Vidal, Blaufrankisch, Symphony and other varieties excel in the region, which consists of Anne Arundel, Prince George's, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's Counties.

Western Mountain. Western Maryland plays host to a number of vineyards and one winery. Grapes in this region must be more cold-hardy and able to withstand long winters and a short growing season. Varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Norton/Cynthiana, Chambourcin, Vidal and Seyval grow well here. The region consists of Washington, Allegany and Garrett Counties.