Happy New Year! Now that 2020 is here we can start using our 2020 Maryland Wine Passes. Now I know you all might be thinking, Paige, you are a Virginia wine blogger! Well I have decided to branch out! Maryland is not far from Virginia and there are some amazing places I have heard about. Let’s all learn a little more about Maryland Wine together.
Like Virginia, Maryland has been growing grapes since the 1600s. It has taken tenacity to figure out the best grapes that grow in Maryland. Hybrids really flourish in MD, they are specifically bred to withstand the cold and disease. You will see a lot of Chambourcin and Vidal Blanc while you are sipping around Maryland Wineries. A few European varietals that you might see are Cabernet Franc, Viognier and Barbara. Even though there were grapes planted in the 1600s, it took nearly 300 years for the first winery to be founded. Boordy Vineyards was the first winery in Maryland, they opened in 1945.
Today, Maryland has over 90 wineries and is growing! There are three AVAs and nearly 1,000 acres of grapes growing in the state. There are four grape growing regions in Maryland; Piedmont Plateau, Eastern Shore, Southern Plain and Western Mountain. The majority of the states vineyards are planted in the Piedmont Plateau.
What I love about Maryland is that they broke up their state into wine trails. Currently there are eight total:
- Antietam Highlands
- Capital
- Carrol
- Chesapeake
- Frederick
- Legacy
- Patuxent
- Piedmont
I still have a lot to learn and discover about Maryland Wine but I love learning and traveling! If you are interested in visiting more Maryland Wineries, you have to look into Maryland Wine Pass. This is amazing for my wine loving friends, especially those who live near DC, you can get the best of both Virginia AND Maryland. Make sure you are following along on Instagram @mdwinepass for all my Maryland Wine adventures!
Cheers, Paige
Sips and Trips with Paige 