NEWS AND HAPPENINGS IN FALL/WINTER 2017 THE INDUSTRY OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE Maryland I NDUSTRY AND TO URISM WINE PRESS A BIT OF THE Bubbly +A Beginner’s Guide

SPARKLING ALTERNATIVES 5 FUN FACTS Come play...

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Enjoy galleries and events in the downtown Arts & Entertainment District.

Savor local wine at the Port of Leonardtown Winery and fresh fare at dining spots around town. Whatever your preferred pace, you’ll find lots to love in Leonardtown. Located in just a short drive from D.C., and on the Patuxent Wine Trail. visitstmarysmd.com/leonardtown GIRLFRIENDS’ OVERNIGHT getaway package Treat yourself and your closest friends to a mini vacation at Turf Valley Resort and enjoy dinner in Alexandra’s restaurant, a deluxe hotel room with a golf view, breakfast delivered to you, two 60-minute Spa Services*, and more! book today! Call 410.203.2755 and mention this ad to receive complimentary mimosas during your getaway!

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FALL/WINTER 2017 3 Maryland WINE PRESS Fall/Winter 2017

The Maryland Wine Press is the official guide to the Maryland Wine industry and Tourism. It is produced by Custom Media Options, LLC in partnership with the Maryland Wineries Association and Grow & Fortify.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kevin Atticks Maryland Wineries Association and Grow & Fortify

Production, design and advertising sales by Custom Media Options

Custom Media Options, LLC specializes in creating custom niche publications for businesses and association. Call Custom Media Options to start your custom Cover photo of Crow Farm conversation about creating a by loblolly.biz magazine for your organization. Contact Beth Ditman at 410-705-6234 or [email protected] or through our website custommediaoptions.com. Also, don’t forget to ask about advertising!

PUBLISHERS ContentsContentsnts Beth Ditman Dorothy Doub 8 Toast of the Town PROJECT MANAGER Crow Vineyard’s award-winning Sparkling Pam Moss

Vidal Blanc is a “labor of love” WRITER Joe Cooney, Mayfield Media, Inc.

14 5 Fun Facts WINERY LISTINGS & MAP A handful of things you may not Maryland Association of Wineries know about sparkling wine GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emiko Danielian

16 Wineries in Maryland BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Jackie Panowicz 20 The “In” Cider Distillery Lane in Jefferson, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALISTS Maryland, produces several popular Kathy Berlin Cindy Fickey alternatives to sparkling wine Sheana Gillis

24 Maryland Wine Festival The information published is correct to the best of our knowledge. The publisher 28 Sparkling Wine in Maryland assumes no responsibility to any party for the content of any advertisements in this publication, including any errors or 29 omissions. All content in MD Wine Press How Sweet It Is is copyright-protected by CMO, LLC and/ or Maryland Association of Wineries and A beginner’s guide to sparkling may not be reproduced without prior approval from CMO, LLC.

4 MARYLAND WINE PRESS t i m o r e C o a l u n B t n y i

Ernest Hemingway once observed, “Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world.” County offers wine lovers seven civilized and inviting places to visit.

EnjoyBaltimoreCounty.com to plan your next trip.

FALL/WINTER 2017 5 Dear Wine Enthusiast,

Thanks for picking up a copy of the Fall/Winter 2017 Maryland Wine Press. The focus of this issue is on everyone’s favorite celebratory drink, sparkling wine. Our cover story highlights Crow Vineyard’s unique, always-evolving, award-winning Sparkling , which they call a labor of love. We also shed light on the many refreshing alternatives to the ordinary that can be found at Distillery Lane Ciderworks in Jefferson, Maryland. For those who may need a refresher course on the ins and outs of sparkling wine, we give you some fun facts that you may not be aware of, and we provide a beginner’s guide to this particular kind of wine that is most typically associated with festive events and occasions but can be enjoyed in so many other ways. Don’t forget that this is the ideal season to visit one of Maryland’s many wineries for tastings and tours. It is also the time that people mark on their calendars every year to enjoy the Maryland Wine Festival in Westminster. Make sure to check out our informative advertorial that will tell you everything you need to know to get the most out of this year’s festival. You can also visit Marylandwine.com for more info on area wineries, the Maryland Wine Festival, and much more. We had a great time putting together this special, toast- worthy edition of the Wine Press. We hope you enjoy it!

Joe Cooney, Editor

Be sure to find Maryland Wineries Association on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! We will share tips, recipes, and stories and let you know about our events.

@MDwine @marylandwine @marylandwine

Only current winery members of the Maryland Wineries Association are represented in the Maryland Wine Press. Maps and trails are on marylandwine.com PHOTO BY JAG_CZ/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK

6 MARYLAND WINE PRESS Celebrating the 12th Annual

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Check out our Oktoberfest Beer Garten Seasonal Micro-brews Stein Hoisting Contest SAVE THE DATE FOR NEXT YEAR! SPONSORED BY

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For tickets, visit www.harfordcountywinefest.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 7 Toast of the

8 MARYLAND WINE PRESS BIZ 

CROW THE SPARKLING WINES most of us raise in our glasses when we toast happy events VINEYARD’S tend to be made from or possibly . Those are the grapes that are used in champagne, and they are the AWARD-WINNING industry standard for use by winemakers who offer champagne alternatives. SPARKLING This fact did not stop Kent County’s Crow Vineyard from creating a sparkling wine using VIDAL BLANC IS A its initial harvest of Vidal Blanc back in 2011, however, and the results from that decision “LABOR OF LOVE.” have been worth celebrating ever since. “We thought Vidal would do nicely,” explained Brandon Hoy, the son of Judy and Roy Crow, who first started the vineyard in 2009 on the 365-acre farm that had been in Roy’s family for generations. The decision PHOTOS TOP LEFT BY SUE STEINBROOK PHOTOGRAPHY; OTHER THREE LOBLOLLY had been made to plant Vidal Blanc among other varieties during the company’s infancy because it tends to be a high-yielding plant that offered several attractive options to the burgeoning winemakers. “We were looking at kind of a way to diversify what we were going to make with Town our Vidal Blanc, so we figured we can do a still wine, a sparkling wine, and when the years are right, we also do a dessert wine with Vidal. So it’s a way for us to use that crop

FALL/WINTER 2017 9 and not to put all of our eggs in one basket,” said Hoy. The Vidal Blanc grapes used to create the sparkling wine are harvested two to three weeks before the still-wine harvest, which thins the crop out a bit and helps the plants to thrive even more. BIZ “It allows for the fruit that’s still on the vine for the still wine to continue to . ripen at a faster rate basically, so it’s kind of a benefit for both the still and the sparkling,” explained Hoy. The benefit extends to wine drinkers as well. The 2014 vintage of Crow’s Sparkling Vidal Blanc was awarded a gold medal at the 2016 Maryland Governor’s Cup last August. Vidal Blanc grapes are only grown in a relatively small area of the world, so the sparkling Vidal Blanc is a bit of a rarity. Hoy says the wine’s recognition means a lot to the team at Crow and describes the process of creating it as “a labor of love” because it is a difficult wine to produce. “For us to make still Vidal is fairly simple. We can have it turned over into bottle in six to eight months, and then it will age a little bit in bottle,” said Hoy. But the sparkling version is a different matter because so much of the work is hand-done. “We can only do about ten to twenty cases at a time,” explained Hoy. “It’s a very slow process for us.” But the personal care and attention invested leads to a very interesting and somewhat difficult to categorize end product. “The interesting thing about it is, because we can only disgorge so much at a time, every vintage slowly evolves,” said Hoy. PHOTO OF SWEET TABLE BY SUNSHINE BEAUTY PHOTOGRAPHY; OTHER FOUR LOBLOLLY

10 MARYLAND WINE PRESS Don’t Let This Moment PASS YOU BY

Sip our award-winning wines, and soak in the exquisite scenery along the Antietam Highland Wine Trail.

Call or visit us online to get a free Visitor’s Guide! 888-257-2600 s visithagerstown.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 11 Escape to Easton Oxford St. Michaels Tilghman Island

Talbot County is home to some of the most beautiful and historic small towns in America. Explore our culinary treasures, one-of-a-kind boutiques and elegant 410-770-8000 inns. Or bike, kayak and sail the .Plan your escape today! TourTalbot.org

12 MARYLAND WINE PRESS Hoy says that the first batch of sparkling that has aged for only eight months to a year may be really fresh and have a more fruity quality, while the older bottles typically present more of a yeasty taste. “I think it makes it a little bit more complex,” said Hoy. “It’s not like we bottle 200 cases of it and each customer that buys it gets the exact same wine, so for us we have to do a lot of education in the tasting room so people understand it. We can’t just bottle 200 cases of it and have it all be exactly the same. It evolves. It can be anywhere between a really fresh and light and airy fruit-driven sparkling that’s kind of reminiscent of a prosecco, I would say, to a more of a brut-style, yeast-driven sparkling.” Hoy says the Sparkling Vidal Blanc pairs beautifully with seafood, especially oysters. But it seems it also does just fine on its own. “When we have tour groups come in, we start with a welcome sparkling, and they take it in with them and we tour the winery, and that’s always fun,” said Judy Crow. In addition to the winery alone, the Crows also provide visitors with the option of a “farmstay,” where they can enjoy all that the farm has to offer and then stay overnight in one of the five guest rooms on the premises. “People are really getting into coming out here and spending the night and enjoying tasting wines and touring the farm and hanging out at the pool and having a good old time,” said Crow. MWP

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FALL/WINTER 2017 13 A HANDFUL OF THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT SPARKLING WINE Fun It’s not all WITH VERY FEW EXCEPTIONS, the term “Champagne” 1 applies exclusively to French sparkling wine—but just Champagne. being from France is not enough. To be fully authorized, the wines must not only come from the designated northeastern Champagne region of France, they must also be produced using particular methods of fermentation, sediment/yeast removal, etc. C’est très spécifique, non? Sparkling wine originating elsewhere in France is called Crémant.

DID YOU PICK GERMANY? Give yourself a sausage. Year after year, traditional European winemaking nations like France and Italy can be found near the top of the list of sparkling Guess which wine enthusiasts (along with Russia, Britain, and the U.S.A.). But while all of those nations country is consume their fair share of bubbly, no one 2 beats the Germans (who call their sparkling obsessed with wine Sekt). With so much in-country demand Sekts! and competition, it’s probably no surprise that German-produced Sekts have been gaining in reputation and popularityarity lalately—withte the dry (i.e., “trocken”)n ) whwhiteite varieties being favorites.vorites. EVERY YEAR, especially around New Year’s Eve and other festive holidays, revelers end up in emergency rooms because of eye injuries caused by exploding corks. Have you ever noticed that a sparkling wine bottle’s glass is BeerBeer gogglesgo thicker than normal? There’s a reason: the might be a good pressure inside can equal that of a nail gun (@90 psi), and popped corks have been idea—real ones, clocked at speeds between 20 and 60 that is. miles per hour! Thankfully, serious damage 3 is relatively uncommon, but optical ruptures and blindness have been reported in some cases. In other words, have fun—but be careful where you point that thing!

14 MARYLAND WINE PRESS MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE that the Benedictine monk Pierre Pérignon invented sparkling wine. Well, he didn’t (sorry to burst your bubbles), but that fact doesn’t make Dom Pérignon any less influential. Facts Why? Because much like Ford (who did not invent the automobile), Dom Pérignon’s legacy as a pioneer in the production of Champagne remains undisputed. In fact, many of the techniques the “Father of Champagne” developed or refined three centuries ago are still in use today. So, the Is he the next time you raise a glass, you might want to toast the man whose name has graced Henry Ford of prestigious bottles of Moët since the 1930s. Champagne?4

Your choice is clear SPEAKING OF RAISING YOUR GLASS, what’s the best way to serve and savor sparkling wine? Most people would guess 5 a champagne flute, the familiar, tall, narrow, elegant glass with its medium-to-long, often slender stem (please, use a glass with a stem). Introduced in the early eighteenth coupe, a glass identified by its wide, shallow century, flutes were designed to accentuate bowl and shorter height. It is a style often the fizz (i.e., texture) of sparkling wine, associated with jazz-age celebrations— while also driving the aromas upward, think Great Gatsby—except it was actually jobs they do very well. However, some introduced in the late seventeenth century wine aficionados actually prefer another (before the flute). Coupe glasses are glass shape, the tulip, known for its bowl’s probably the easiest to drink from and narrower base, gentle mid-rise flare, and pour into, but they also allow the swiftest slightly tapering top. With their larger surface dissipation of aromas and bubbles. They areas (compared with flutes), tulip glasses sure look swanky, though. There are other are believed to be even more effective at glass styles as well, but these three are the showcasing a sparkler’s aromas, while not most traditional. Flutes or tulips or coupes. being so large as to allow carbonation to Music or flowers or sports cars? Decisions, escape too rapidly. Which brings us to the decisions . . . MWP

FALL/WINTER 2017 15 Wineries

18 33 4 42 68 70 81 47 11 68 57 62 5 HagerHagerstownH n 66 Cumbmberland 15 5 70 1 44 3 38 65 Oakland 67 17 F AH The Antietam Highlands include the world-renowned 340 Antietam National Battlefield, and several other Civil War battlefields and sites. South Mountain climbs to 2,140 feet, high above the Potomac River, and valleys below. The area includes five national parks, 10 state parks, and more than 30 museums.

Ca Enjoy superb wine along back roads and in historic towns. Each winery along the Carroll Wine Trail will welcome you with charm, character and delicious hand-crafted wines. Walk through the and meet the wonderful people who craft these local and sustainable wines.

C Nestled into the suburbs of our nation’s capital is a unique array of wineries, just as diverse as the very city they surround. Let the Capital Wine Trail take you from downtown Silver Spring into the foothills of Sugarloaf Mountain and you’ll see the rich diversity this unique region offers.

Ch To the East of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay lies Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Whether you are on your way to the beach or just taking a drive to admire the beautiful Bay, the Chesapeake Wine Trail will lead you through one of the most scenic and charming parts of the state.

F With the Frederick Wine Trail, you are invited to discover some of Frederick County’s best agricultural bounty: its beautiful vineyards and outstanding wines. On the Frederick Wine Trail you will find a wide selection of fine wines, warm hospitality and a glimpse of the ancient art of wine making.

Pa The Patuxent Wine Trail presents the wineries of southern Maryland, the birthplace of Maryland. The area is rich in history and flavor, and home to many historical landmarks, lighthouses, and quaint waterfront towns. These local winemakers are creating sumptuous award-winning wines to rival those anywhere.

Pi The Piedmont Wine Trail winds through Baltimore and Harford counties’ countryside, a vibrant landscape of rolling hills dotted with thoroughbred horse farms and nationally-recognized wineries producing cellar-worthy reds and lively white wines— all just a short drive from Baltimore.

Visit MarylandWine.com/Wine-Trails before your trip to get directions, see suggested itineraries, accommodations and more.

Only current winery members of the Maryland Wineries Association are represented in the Maryland Wine Press, Passport, maps, trails and on marylandwine.com

16 MARYLAND WINE PRESS IN MARYLAND

PENNS YLVANIA 30 24 491 136 20 50 Elkton 10 274 140 30 23 77 29 1 39 95 64 213 55 WestminsterWWe stterr 2 42 45 19 Belell Air 40 155 52 15 6 37 83 24 21 27 13 97 75 4 25 8 31 35 147 795 rederickrederick 26 95 41 Baltimoreal 17 301 70 12 695 Ellicott City 695 ChestertownCh wnw 57 27 43 270 14 61 28 48 313

Rockvillekv 295 213 95 97 CentrevilleC tre D ELAWARE 301 495 59 Annapolisnnapolis 9 50 2 27 50 WAS HING T ON 60 D.C . 63 Denton 58 36 495 Upperp 4 56 22 Marlboroar ro 33 23 EastonEa 301 382 25 26 4932 2 La Plata Prrince Frederick CambridgeCa 51 50 508 506 235 45 34

16 54 C Salisbury 46 h e s 7 Leonardtowneonardto a 13 V IRG INIA p e 5 a Sno k e St Clements Princessss Anne B Islanlanand a 53 y

FALL/WINTER 2017 17 Wineries IN MARYLAND

8 Broken Spoke Winery Ch 21 Elk Run Vineyards F Refer to the previous page 924 Glebe Rd. • Earleville, MD 21919 15113 Liberty Rd. for description of trails 301-547-6022 • brokenspokewinery.com Mt. Airy, MD 21771 and location on map. 410-775-2513 • elkrun.com 9 Cascia Vineyards Ch 22 1200 Thompson Creek Rd. Far Eastern Shore AH = ANTIETAM HIGHLANDS Stevensville, MD 21666 Winery Ch Wine Trail 410-604-2127 8370 Ocean Gateway mcascia.wix.com/cascia-vineyards Easton, MD 21601 C = CAPITAL Wine Trail 410-690-8756 • feswinery.com 10 Catoctin Breeze Ca = CARROLL Wine Trail 23 Vineyard F Faulkner Branch Cidery Ch = CHESAPEAKE Wine Trail 15010 Roddy Rd. • Thurmont, MD 21788 and Distilling Company Ch 240-578-3831 • catoctinbreeze.com 4822 Preston Rd. F = FREDERICK Wine Trail Federalsburg, MD 21632 11 Charis Winery 410-829-0334 • faulknerbranch.com Pa = PATUXENT Wine Trail 17 Howard St., C5 24 Cumberland, MD 21502 Fiore Winery and Pi = PIEDMONT Wine Trail 240-581-3875 • chariswinery.com Distillery Pi 3026 Whiteford Rd. Only current winery members of 12 the Maryland Wineries Association Charm City Meadworks Pylesville, MD 21132 are represented in the Maryland 3511 8th Ave., Suite A 410-879-4007 • fiorewinery.com Wine Press, Passport, maps, Baltimore, MD 21226 25 trails and on marylandwine.com 610-724-1981 Fridays Creek Winery Pa charmcitymeadworks.com 3485 Chaneyville Rd. Owings, MD 20736 13 Chateau Bu-De Winery & 410-286-9463 • fridayscreek.com 1 Vineyard Ch Antietam Creek 26 Gemeny Winery and Vineyards AH 237 Bohemia Manor Farm Ln. Chesapeake City, MD 21915 Vineyards Pa 4835 Branch Ave. 410-885-2500 • chateaubude.com 8606 Cedarville Rd. Sharpsburg, MD 21782 Brandywine, MD 20613 antietamcreekvineyards.com 14 Clovelly Vineyards Ch 301-442-4670 • gemenywinery.com 301 Clovelly Ln. 2 Pi 27 Basignani Winery Chestertown, MD 21620 Great Frogs Winery 15722 Falls Rd. • Sparks, MD 21152 410-708-1775 • clovellyvineyards.com 3218 Harness Creek Rd. 410-472-0703 • basignani.com Annapolis, MD 21403 15 Cool Ridge Vineyard 410-626-6193 • greatfrogs.com 3 Big Cork Vineyards AH 19638 Cool Hollow Rd. 28 4236 Main St. Hagerstown, MD 21740 Great Shoals Winery C Rohrersville, MD 21779 301-991-9246 • coolridgevineyard.com 14526 New Hampshire Ave. 301-302-8032 • bigcorkvineyards.com Silver Spring, MD 20904 16 Cove Point Winery Pa 410-849-9616 • greatshoals.com 4 Black Ankle Vineyards 755 Cove Point Rd. • Lusby, MD 20657 14463 Black Ankle Rd. 410-326-0949 • covepointwinery.com 29 Harford Vineyard Mt. Airy, MD 21771 and Winery Pi 301-829-3338 • blackankle.com 17 Crow Vineyard 1311 W. Jarrettsville Rd. & Winery Ch 5 Forest Hill, MD 21050 Blue Mountain 12441 Vansant Corner Rd. 443-495-1699 • harfordvineyard.com Winecrafters AH Kennedyville, MD 21645 117 E. Baltimore St. 302-304-0551 • crowfarmmd.com 30 Harmony Vineyards Funkstown, MD 21734 18 1338 Harris Mill Rd. 240-675-0845 Deep Creek Cellars Parkton, MD 21120 bluemountainwinecrafters.com 177 Frazee Ridge Rd. 410-357-5280 • harmonywinemd.com Friendsville, MD 21531 6 Boordy Vineyards Pi 301-746-4349 • deepcreekcellars.com 31 Hidden Hills Farm & 12820 Long Green Pike Vineyard F Hydes, MD 21082 19 Pi DeJon Vineyard 7550 Green Valley Rd. 410-592-5015 • boordy.com 5300 Hydes Rd. • Hydes, MD 21082 Frederick, MD 21701 443-253-9802 • dejonvineyard.com 7 301-660-8735 Bordeleau Vineyards 20 hiddenhillsfarmandvineyard.com & Winery Ch Dove Valley Winery Ch 3155 Noble Farm Rd. • Eden, MD 21822 645 Harrington Rd. 410-677-3334 • bordeleauwine.com Rising Sun, MD 21911 410-658-8388 • dovevalleywine.com

18 MARYLAND WINE PRESS 32 44 55 JaneMark Winery & Orchid Cellar Springfield Manor Vineyard Pa Meadery and Winery AH Winery & Distillery F 15915 Bald Eagle School Rd. 8546 Pete Wiles Rd. 11836 Auburn Rd. Brandywine, MD 20613 Middletown, MD 21769 Thurmont, MD 21788 301-535-9126 • janemarkwinery.com 301-473-3568 • orchidcellar.com 301-271-0099 springfieldmanor.com 45 33 Knob Hall Winery AH Perigeaux Vineyards 56 Ch 14108 St. Paul Rd. and Winery Pa St. Michaels Winery Clear Spring, MD 21722 8650 Mackall Rd. 609 South Talbot St. 301-842-2777 • knobhallwinery.com Saint Leonard, MD 20685 St. Michaels, MD 21663 410-586-2710 • perigeaux.com 410-745-0808 34 st-michaels-winery.com Layton’s Chance 46 Port of Leonardtown Vineyard & Winery Ch 57 4225 New Bridge Rd. Winery Pa Sugarloaf Mountain C Vienna, MD 21869 23190 Newtowne Neck Rd. Vineyard 410-228-1205 • laytonschance.com Leonardtown, MD 20650 18125 Comus Rd. 301-690-2192 • polwinery.com Dickerson, MD 20842 35 301-605-0130 • smvwinery.com Linganore Winecellars F 47 Red Heifer Winery AH 13601 Glissans Mill Rd. 58 Mt. Airy, MD 21771 12840 Red Heifer Winery Ln. Thanksgiving Farm 410-795-6432 • linganorewines.com Smithsburg, MD 21783 Winery Pa 301-824-5210 195 Harwood Rd. 36 Little Ashby Vineyards Ch redheiferwinery.com Harwood, MD 20776 410-630-1511 27549 Ashby Dr. • Easton, MD 21601 48 410-819-8850 Rocklands Farm C thanksgivingfarm.com 14525 Montevideo Rd. MarylandWine.com/wineries 59 Poolesville, MD 20837 The Urban Winery C 37 301-825-8075 949-A Bonifant St. Loew Vineyards F 14001 Liberty Rd. rocklandsfarmmd.com Silver Spring, MD 20910 301-585-4100 Mt. Airy, MD 21771 49 301-831-5464 • loewvineyards.net Romano Vineyard theurbanwinery.com & Winery Pa 38 60 The Vineyards Mazzaroth Vineyard AH 15715 Bald Eagle School Rd. 8333 Myersville Rd. Brandywine, MD 20613 at Dodon Middletown, MD 21769 301-752-1103 • romanowinery.com 391 Dodon Rd. 301-639-0303 Davidsonville, MD 20135 50 mazzarothvineyard.com Royal Rabbit 410-798-1126 Vineyards Pi dodonvineyards.com 39 Pi Millstone Cellars 1090 Jordan Sawmill Rd. 61 2029 Monkton Rd. Parkton, MD 21120 Tilmon’s Island Monkton, MD 21111 443-721-6692 Winery Ch 443-470-9818 royalrabbitvineyards.com 755 Millington Rd. millstonecellars.com Sudlersville, MD 21668 51 Running Hare 443-480-5021 • tilmonswine.com 40 Mount Felix Vineyard Vineyard Pa 62 and Winery Pi 150 Adelina Rd. Toasted Goat Winery 2000 Level Rd. Prince Frederick, MD 20678 10 E. Main St. Havre de Grace, MD 21078 410-414-8486 Frostburg, MD 21532 410-939-0913 • mountfelix.com runningharevineyard.com 301-268-3010 toastedgoatwinery.com 41 52 Serpent Ridge New Market Plains 63 Vineyards F Vineyard Ca Triple Creek Winery Ch 11111 West Baldwin Rd. 2962 Nicodemus Rd. 11138 Three Bridge Branch Rd. New Market, MD 21774 Westminster, MD 21157 Cordova, MD 21625 240-674-5734 410-848-6511 • serpentridge.com 302-362-2795 newmarketplains.com triplecreekwinery.com 53 Slack Winery 42 64 Turkey Point Old Westminster & Vineyard Pa Winery Ca 19860 Pear Hill Rd. Vineyard Ch 1550 Old Westminster Rd. Leonardtown, MD 20650 116 S. Main St. Westminster, MD 21157 301-872-5175 • slackwine.com North East, MD 21901 410-881-4656 410-287-WINE 54 turkeypointwines.com oldwestminster.com Solomons Island Winery Pa 43 65 Willow Oaks Craft Cider Olney Winery C 515 Garner Ln. • Lusby, MD 20657 18127 Town Center Dr. 410-394-1933 and Wine AH Olney, MD 20832 solomonsislandwinery.com 6219 Harley Rd. 301-570-1907 Middletown, MD 21769 olneywinery.com 301-371-4814 willowoakscraftcider.com

SPRING/SUMMER 2017 19 The “In” Cider DISTILLERY LANE IN JEFFERSON, MARYLAND, PRODUCES SEVERAL POPULAR ALTERNATIVES TO SPARKLING WINE.

ob Miller and his wife, Patricia Miller. “You’d be hard pressed to eat one Power, were both working just because of the tannins or the acidity.” outside of the house that sits Not only are the cider apples grown on their Frederick County farm like wine grapes, but the production of Rin the early 2000s when the farmer who cider is very similar to the production of leased their land at the time decided it was wine. In fact, Distillery Lane has partnered time to retire. Miller, who was a financial with area winemakers to help them advisor at this point, says that’s when he make sparkling wines utilizing the same and Power decided to try something on equipment used to create the company’s their own. sparkling cider. “We were cider fans,” said Miller. “The “We just bottled a sparkling wine for soils around this area are really good for a Maryland vineyard that didn’t have a apple growing. It’s a nice sandy loam. counter-pressure bottle filler, which is a And we looked into a variety of different machine that force carbonates a cider products that we could grow. We wanted or wine,” said Miller. “They wanted to try to do something where we could produce their hand at it, so we did an experimental the finished product. We looked at wine batch for them so they could see, one, grapes, everything from mushrooms to how the process worked, how our ginseng and other specialty crops, and machine worked, and two, now they have we just decided to go with apples.” a small amount of product that they can Miller and Power converted eleven test with their customer base to see if it acres of their farmland into an apple works.” orchard and planted their first 1,000 trees In addition to force carbonating in 2001. Today, the orchard at Distillery sparkling cider, Distillery Lane also Lane Ciderworks produces about forty carbonates some of its sparkling ciders different types of apples, about one-third by allowing secondary fermentation of which are specifically for cider. to occur naturally in the bottle. Miller “Our apples are grown like wine grapes. says that using the second technique They’re grown for tannins; they’re grown produces a dry cider that he especially for acidity, for certain flavor profiles; and enjoys. like wine grapes, a lot of the true cider “We do a cider called Traditional apples—the bitter sweets and bitter Dry Sparkling, and it’s got the very fine LANE CIDERWORKS PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTILLERY sharps and sharps—are inedible,” said bubbles. It’s just lovely carbonation,

20 MARYLAND WINE PRESS Celebrating 31 years

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117 East Baltimore Street NEW LOCATION Funkstown, MD HOURS: W–Sat 11:30–5:30, Sun 12–6

15722 Falls Road | Sparks, MD | 410-472-0703 301-791-2882 | 240-675-0845 www.basignani.com BlueMountainWineCrafters.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 21 and it’s fully dry, which is not everybody’s is always looking to offer its customers cup of tea, but it certainly is my personal something unique to enjoy. favorite,” he said. “Cider is probably like the beer world or Miller says that a lot of customers the wine world. There are just hundreds of compare the Traditional Dry Sparkling flavor profiles, and for us, the flavor varies Cider to a dry prosecco. “It’s very similar,” depending on the apples,” said Miller. he said. “There’s a huge difference in flavors from According to Miller, the acidity in a dessert apple versus an apple like a sparkling ciders can help cut spicy ‘Trem’ that’s bitter or a Kingston Black, an flavors, and they also pair very well with apple that actually has been grown just for seafood. “Especially our Celebration, the flavor that it imparts to the cider.” that’s one of our biggest sellers,” he said. While there seems to be no end to the “In the summer and fall, we sell quite a number of herbs and spices that people bit to people who are having crab roasts are adding to cider these days – “I saw or crabcakes, and it’s just a nice cider somebody recently had jalapenos in their for sitting out on the patio on Saturday cider,” noted Miller – that’s not really what afternoon.” visitors should expect to find when they Distillery Lane also produces a sparkling visit Distillery Lane. “Our niche, if you will, cider named Woodberry that incorporates tends to be dry to off-dry with traditional aronia berries grown on the premises. cider-making apples,” he said. It is produced in partnership with the Miller says more and more people are Baltimore restaurant Woodberry Kitchen. giving hard cider a chance and are then And they offer a variety of additional still happy that they did. As a result, it’s more and sparkling hard ciders from which to common than ever to see cider offered as choose. an option alongside other beverages. The company also grows an impressive “What we see here is, when a husband selection of apples for more traditional and wife come into the tasting room, consumption, and it holds events, such one will like this and one will like that,” as its annual Explorer’s Festival, where said Miller, “and I’ve been to a bunch of visitors can “explore all things orchard- events where they’ve had beer, cider, wine related.” This event is held yearly on and liquor, and people enjoy it because Columbus Day weekend and includes everybody in the group has different taste tours, classes, apple and cider tastings, preferences.” MWP and more. But cider is the reason Miller and Power got into apple growing, and the company PHOTOS ON LEFT COURTESY OF JOHN CANAN PHOTOGRAPHY; RIGHT COURTESY OF DISTILLERY LANE CIDERWORKS RIGHT COURTESY OF DISTILLERY PHOTOS ON LEFT COURTESY OF JOHN CANAN PHOTOGRAPHY;

22 MARYLAND WINE PRESS [ SIP. CELEBRATE. STAY. ]

SPRINGFIELD MANOR WINERY & DISTILLERY

Sip and sample local wine, brews, cider, mead, and spirits at dozens of unique tasting rooms across HIP & HISTORIC FREDERICK COUNTY, MD visitfrederick.org GETTYSBURG, PA

FREDERICK BALTIMORE

WASHINGTON, D.C.

2017 Maryland Comptroller’s Cup Winner Best In Show 2015

2016 Maryland Governor’s Cup Winner Jack Aellen Cup BLACK CAP NV

2015 Maryland Governor’s Choice Competition VINEYARDS AND WINERY Established in 1980 Best In Show 2013 25 YEARS OF Wine Down Friday 4236 Main Street, Rohersville, MD Now every Friday year round 6-9pm 301 302 8032 www.elkrun.com BIGCORKVINEYARDS.COM

FALL/WINTER 2017 23 ADVERTORIAL

Participating Winemakers Participants subject to change. For an updated list, please visit www.marylandwine.org/mwf

• Basignani Winery • Fridays Creek Winery • Port of Leonardtown • Bodegas González • Great Frogs Winery Winery Ruggiero • Great Shoals Winery • Royal Rabbit Vineyards • Boordy Vineyards • Knob Hall Winery • Running Hare Vineyard • Bordeleau Winery • Layton’s Chance • Solomons Island Winery • Cove Point Winery Vineyard & Winery • St. Michaels Winery • Dragonfly Farms • Linganore Winecellars • The Urban Winery • Elk Run Vineyards • Olney Winery • Turkey Point Vineyard • Far Eastern Shore Winery • Orchid Cellar Meadery • Winecream • Fiore Winery and Winery PHOTOS BY DUANE HEATON

24 MARYLAND WINE PRESS ADVERTORIAL

Everythingg you neeneedd ttoo kknownow aaboutbout THE MARYLAND WINE FESTIVAL®

WHO WHEN Organized by the Maryland Saturday, September 16, 2017, Wineries Association, The from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. & Maryland Wine Festival® attracts Sunday, September 17, 2017, 20,000 wine enthusiasts to from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carroll County every year. In addition to the many Admission prices and details: wineries, scores of other $30 General Admission | $25 Sunday vendors, artisans, musicians • Commemorative wine festival and more will be on hand. glass with sampling $50 VIP Explorer Pass | $45 Sunday WHAT • Commemorative 16-ounce More than thirty Maryland tasting glass with sampling Wineries Association member • Sample an additional 40+ wineries will be on hand again exclusive, premier wines this year to provide a sampling • Access to Hilltop Hangout with shaded seating, bottled water and private restrooms of their newest, best and/or most • Participate in the 5th Annual Free State interesting beverages. Throwdown—a blind tasting competition $20 Designated Drivers & Children 13 to 20 WHERE Children 12 and under free with paying adult Carroll County Farm Museum 500 S. Center Street Free handicapped-accessible shuttle Westminster, MD 21157 bus service available. For ticketing information and additional details, visit www.marylandwine.org/mwf

FALL/WINTER 2017 25 ADVERTORIAL

Music: HOW SATURDAY With its convenient location 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ...... Foreplay smack dab in the center of Carroll 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM ...... The Reagan County, Westminster is a great Years daytrip destination. Just throw SUNDAY some blankets and chairs in your 11:30 AM to 2:15 PM ...... Jah Works vehicle and spend the afternoon 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM ...... Wylde Fire at The Maryland Wine Festival®!

But if a weekend away sounds Food vendors: even more appealing, there are Chesapeake Food Concessions several local hotels, inns and bed Convenience Catering and breakfasts from which to Ekiben choose. Carroll County is famous Four Seasons Concessions for its quaint Main Streets, historic Friendly Farms attractions, beautiful scenery, lively Genova’s to Go farmers’ markets, and much more, Goganics Food Truck Gourmet Steve so why not extend your stay a bit? Hoffman’s PA Dutch Funnel Cakes For more information The Ice Cream Lady about Carroll County, visit Kiwanis of Mount Airy CarrollCountyTourism.org. Knights of Columbus Maryland Cheesecake Company Mediterranean Basil Salt WHY Mick’s Gourmet Soups & Gifts If you like music, food (did Mr. & Mrs. Jerky someone say cheese pavilion?), Myra’s New Orleans Food & Snowballs entertainment, crafts, history, and, Nectar of the Vine oh yeah, wine, The Maryland Wine Island Quizine ® Old Fashioned Kettle Corn Festival is for you! See you there! RockSalt Grille Salerno’s Restaurant Stone House Cakery

The Carroll County Farm Museum Home of The Maryland Wine Festival®, the Carroll County Farm Museum has been providing visitors a sneak peek into mid-nineteenth century rural life since it first opened its doors as a historic attraction in 1966. The museum site encompasses 140 acres and is highlighted by the circa 1852 farmhouse and living history center. The museum also offers a log barn, smokehouse, broom shop, saddlery, general store, firehouse, schoolhouse, and more to explore, all authentically outfitted to provide the most realistic experience possible. Skilled artisans and reenactors who demonstrate blacksmithing, quilting, hearth cooking and other daily activities of the time period add another level of realism and education to your visit. The museum also features a nature trail, a playground and picnic tables, and is available to rent For more information about the for special occasions. And don’t forget to say hello to Carroll County Farm Museum, visit the museum’s resident oxen, Jack and Jim! CarrollCountyFarmMuseum.org

26 MARYLAND WINE PRESS 150+ WINES FOR SAMPLING MARYLAND CHEESE PAVILION | JURIED CRAFTS | FOOD ENTERTAINMENT: Saturday - Foreplay, The Reagan Years • Sunday - Jah Works, Wylde Fire SATURDAY, SEPT. 16: 10AM–6PM | SUNDAY, SEPT. 17: 11AM–6PM

ADMISSION: Directions are available online at www.marylandwinefestival.org • VIP Explorer Pass: $50 / $45 Sunday Free handicapped accessible shuttle bus • General Admission: $30 / $25 Sunday service available from Carroll Community • Designated Drivers and ages 13-20: $20 College, Route 32, and the Carroll County Office Building, 225 N. Center • Children age 12 and under FREE with paying adult Street, Westminster. NO pets, please. www.MarylandWineFestival.org | www.CarrollCountyFarmMuseum.org

FALL/WINTER 2017 27 IN MARYLAND

Sparkling wine is a bubbling theme here in Maryland! Below, you can find a list of many of the sparkling wine producers in the state. SPARKLING WINE Bordeleau Winery SPARKLING CIDER (Wicomico Co.) Crow Vineyards Distillery Lane Ciderworks (Kent Co.) (Frederick Co.) Elk Run Vineyards Great Shoals Winery (Frederick Co.) (Montgomery Co.) Fiore Winery Faulkner Branch Cidery (Harford Co.) (Caroline Co.) Knob Hall Winery Millstone Cellars (Washington Co.) (Baltimore Co.) Layton’s Chance Vineyards Willow Oaks Craft Cider and Winery (Dorchester Co.) (Frederick Co.) Linganore Winecellars (Frederick Co.) Old Westminster Winery (Carroll Co.) Slack Winery (St. Mary’s Co.) Springfield Manor (Frederick Co.) Turkey Point Vineyard (Cecil Co.) PHOTO ABOVE BY MUENZ/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK; BELOW BY UMBRELLA SYNDICATE PHOTO ABOVE BY MUENZ/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK; BELOW UMBRELLA SYNDICATE

28 MARYLAND WINE PRESS How

Ź##1 It Is

n Spain, it might be called Cava; in A Italy, perhaps Prosecco or Asti; in Portugal, Espumante; in France, well, BEGINNER’S GUIDE Champagne anyone? But no matter whereI a sparkling wine calls home, there TO SPARKLING are certain characteristics that hold true WINES regardless of borders, languages, or price points. So, here’s a basic beginner’s guide—something to help with your choosing the next time you’re perusing all those fancy labels. PHOTO BY JUPITERIMAGES/STOCKBYTE/THINKSTOCK

FALL/WINTER 2017 29 EXTRA BRUT Broadly speaking, this category is for the driest sparkling wine (although hair-splitters may legitimately want Brut Nature, Brut Zero, or Ultra Brut to occupy the top spot). Basically, choose one of these if you want absolutely no sugar whatsoever.

BRUT Likely the most common sparkler, a brut blend (cuvée) should taste extremely dry with only the barest hint of sweetness on the finish. Also, include the following types of Champagne, as they will typically have brut levels of dryness as well: ❖ Blanc de Blancs: A light, delicate white wine made from all white grapes (e.g., chardonnay). ❖ Blanc de Noirs: Pale in color, these are made mostly (or Unfortunately, while dessert wines entirely) from dark grapes and speak for themselves, many people range in hue from golden to a are unaware that the dry sparkling light blush. wines are not just for toasting and ❖ Brut Rosé: Yet another product celebrating. They can also be served of dark grapes, except the skins with food. were temporarily retained in For instance, try some Prosecco or order to give this wine its pink a Blanc de noir with your pad Thai. appearance. Do you like seafood? How about a Brut rosé or Espumante with shrimp EXTRA DRY scampi? Maybe even a Cava or a Blanc de blanc with paella. A trifle sweeter than Brut (and a good Oh, and a Brut cuvée? It goes with mixer), this dry wine may also be just about everything. Deep fried referred to as Extra-Sec. Counter- chicken fingers appetizer? Check. intuitively, it is considered merely Cranberry walnut salad? Perfect. semi-dry. Cheese tray? Grilled bratwursts with DRY sauerkraut? Strawberry rhubarb pie? Yes, yes, and yes. Sometimes called Sec, this wine has These are just guidelines, of a more noticeable sweetness. course. But when it comes to spar- kling wines, why take anyone’s word DEMI-SEC for it? There are as many variations This variety is quite sweet compared as there are individual tastes… or to the drier types and should probably bubbles in a glass. So be adventur- be considered a dessert wine (along ous; make your next meal an occa- with the sweetest sparkler of all, the sion! Your palate—and your guests— hard-to-find Doux). will thank you. MWP PHOTO BY EKATERINA_MOLCHANOVA/ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK

30 MARYLAND WINE PRESS FALL/WINTER 2017 31 tastingwine event!

2017 Wine Just Off The Vine November 11-12 and 18-19 www.MasonDixonWineTrail.com