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 vineyards are planted in Central Maryland, from the foothills west of Frederick to the head of the Bay. Here you’ll find 10 of Maryland’s wineries as well – 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.

Eastern Shore. The Eastern Shore is seeing more and more vineyards planted – with Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Vidal and many other varieties in smaller lots. There is one winery on the Eastern Shore, with more planned in the coming years.

Southern Plain. Southern Maryland is a "newer" region, and one with great prospects. Southern Maryland gets hot, and stays hot night and day for most of the summer. This may not be good for some varieties, but may help Southern Italian and other Mediterranean varieties excel. There are currently three wineries in Southern Maryland, with more on the way.

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 Norton/Cynthiana, Vidal, Seyval, DeChaunac and Foch grow well here, as well as Cabernet Franc.