Wine Month Challenge & Winemakers Series: March is Maryland Wine Month

March is Maryland Wine Month

March is Maryland’s official wine month.  March is an ideal time to visit Maryland’s vineyards and wineries.  March is a slower time in the tasting rooms, not as crowded as the summer and fall months. Your visit is relaxed, and often there is live music.   Take advantage of this opportunity.  Now before you think it is too far to visit, there is almost a winery in every county.  You may be surprise what is your backyard. There is a month full of events.  Here is the calendar of events.There are a couple of activities I want to highlight for you - Wine Month Challenge and Winemakers Series. 

Wine Month Challenge

The state celebrated Maryland wine with Maryland Passport Experience in previous years.  This fun activity allowed you to traverse the state sampling wine at all participating vineyards and wineries at a single price. The Passport Experience has been redesigned and now is Wine Month Challenge.  You download a Challenge card and bring this card with you when you visit Maryland’s wineries and vineyards. Present the Challenge card and your card will be marked.  Over 60 vineyards and wineries are listed. Submit your marked card to the Maryland Wine Association by April 10, 2017. You will receive rewards for visits. Rewards begin when you visit as few as five vineyards and you can receive 10 percent off specific wine festival events.  Other rewards include invitations to exclusive Maryland Wine Association events.  The Grand Prize is a Wine Lovers Weekend.  Here is the list of rewards.

Winemakers Speaker Series

If you ever want to know what was the winemaker thinking, here is your time to ask.  You can meet winemakers from around the state outside of the tasting room.  Winemakers speaker series will be held throughout the state starting today at Crow Vineyard.  An interactive seminar will occur every weekend in March.  The seminars will be led by multiple winemakers.  The final seminar discusses cider making. Below is the schedule of events. You can reserve your tickets here. 

EASTERN SHORE: Vines & Variety @ Crow Vineyard        March 5, 2017

What’s growing in Maryland?! Explore Vidal Blanc grown from around the state & learn about the exciting red varietals growing from Western MD to the Eastern Shore.FEATURED WINEMAKERS:

• Catrina North, Crow Vineyard
• Gary Cohen, Mazzaroth Vineyard
• Roy Albin, Royal Rabbit Vineyards
• William Layton, Layton’s Chance Winery & Vineyard

Crow Vineyard (12441 Vansant Corner Rd, Kennedyville, MD 21645) 1:00 pm -3:30pm 

CARROLL CO: Everything Bubbly @ Old Westminster Winery     March 12, 2017

An in-depth look into sparkling wines and the different methods, grapes and philosophies used to create them. Sample vaious wines of both méthode champenoise & pétillant-natural styles.FEATURED WINEMAKERS:

• Lisa Hinton, Old Westminster Winery
• Fred Wilson, Elk Run Vineyard
• Matt Cimino, Great Shoals Winery

Old Westminster Winery (1550 Old Westminster Rd, Westminster, MD 21157)  5:00 pm -7:30pm 

FREDERICK CO: The Craft of Barrel Aging @ Linganore Winecellars          March 12, 2017

Learn the ins and outs of Barrel Aging. Explore how wines change as they spend time in the barrel, about different types of oak & more! Also, get a sneak peek at what these winemakers are currently working on. FEATURED WINEMAKERS:

• Anthony Aellen, Linganore Winecellars
• Mike Lentini, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
• Jacques van der Vyver, Chateau Bu-De Vineyard & Winery

Linganore Winecellars (13601 Glissans Mill Road, Mt Airy, MD 21771) 1:00 pm -3:30pm 

MONTGOMERY CO: The Mystery of the Mix @ Rocklands Farm                 March 19, 2017

Learn how to blend wine from the pros!  They’ll walk you through their particular blending methods & strategies for white and red blends. Also, learn how port-style wines are made!FEATURED WINEMAKERS:

• TJ Flemming, Rocklands Farm
• Lauren Zimmerman, Port of Leonardtown Winery
• Dave Collins, Big Cork Vineyards

Rocklands Farm (14525 Montevideo Rd., Poolesville, MD 20837) 1:00 pm -3:30 pm 

 BALTIMORE CO: Anything But Grapes @ Millstone Cellars           March 26, 2017

You know cider is made of apples and mead of honey, but what ELSE are our local makers using to make their product unique?  Explore chili peppers, spices, berries, rhubarb & more! FEATURED WINEMAKERS:

• Curt Sherrer, Millstone Cellars
• Andrzej Wilk, Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery
• Linda Blades, Faulkner Branch Cidery
• James Boicourt, Charm City Meadworks

Millstone Cellars (2029 Monkton Road, Monkton, MD 21111)  1:00 pm -3:30pm