Maryland Wine

10/16/2026

Fairy wings? Sure. Mushroom hat? Absolutely. Just coming for the Maryland b**r, w**e, spirits, c***r, and a good time in the woods? Perfect.

Halloween is right around the corner, and Wanderland is the perfect excuse to bring a little whimsy into your weekend. Wings, capes, woodland creatures, a touch of magic, or just your favorite fall sweater. It's all welcome.

Come for the craft beverages, stay for the music, roaming performers, and unexpected discoveries along the way.

Saturday, October 24
Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods

Come as you are. Or come as your weirdest woodland self. 🍄🦊✨

Tickets at https://marylandb**r.org/wanderland/

10/13/2026

Two BIG wins! 🏆🏆 Congrats to Big Cork Vineyards on taking Best in Class Sparkling with their 2025 Brut Rosé and Best in Class Blush/Rosé with their 2025 Syrah Rosé.

"Syrah Rosé is a staple for us; it’s always a fun w**e to make, but for our Brut, we’ve never taken the opportunity to work with Cabernet Franc in a rosé, let alone a sparkling. It just came together naturally with this vintage, and we were pleased with how it turned out." -Jay Cline, W**emaker

See this year’s medal winners, PLUS a peek at what’s to come: https://marylandw**e.com/2026-maryland-governors-cup-w**e-competition-results/

10/08/2026

Another one in the cup! 🏆 Congrats to The Crossvines on taking this year’s Best in Class C***r with 2025 Hit It Hard C***r “Strawbirdie.”

Strawbirdie is made using a “freeze-thaw” method of juice extraction developed with guidance from Dr. Joe Fiola at UMD Extension. The apples come from UMD’s Keedysville farm as well as other Maryland growers.

See all of this year’s medal winners, PLUS a peek at what's to come: https://marylandw**e.com/2026-maryland-governors-cup-w**e-competition-results/

10/06/2026

🏆 MOST of the results are in...

163 w**es. 27 Maryland w**eries. A panel of sommeliers, w**e educators, retailers, hospitality professionals, writers and w**e industry experts.

The Best in Class and medal winners from the 35th Annual Maryland Governor’s Cup W**e Competition have officially been named. 🍷

“From brand new w**eries to those with decades of experience, Maryland w**eries are producing w**es that hold their own against any other w**emaking region,” says Maryland W**eries Association Executive Director Janna Howley.

See who took home honors this year at https://marylandw**e.com/2026-maryland-governors-cup-w**e-competition-results/

As for the two biggest awards? We’re keeping those to ourselves just a little longer. The Governor’s Cup Best in Show and Jack Aellen Cup Best in Show will be revealed November 5, when we join Edible DC at Windridge Vineyards for an evening of award-winning Maryland w**e!

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09/28/2026

“If you really taste what’s going on here, there’s a soul to these w**es.” — Rob Deford, Boordy Vineyards

For Maryland w**e drinkers, that same pursuit can be part of the experience. Taste widely. Visit w**eries. Compare Maryland w**es with the w**es you already love. Be critical and curious. Pay attention to what’s actually in the glass, and maybe find some of that soul Rob is talking about...

Read the latest Maryland W**e Pioneers story featuring Boordy Vineyards.

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Rob and Phin Deford reflect on four decades at Boordy Vineyards, helping build Maryland’s w**e industry and pursuing a new era of quality.

09/24/2026

“Laser-like focus on quality.”

After more than four decades at Boordy Vineyards, that’s how owner Rob Deford describes the w**ery’s focus today.

It means paying closer attention to the details—from Ron Wates’ work in the vineyard and Jose Real’s in the cellar to the experience of visiting Long Green Farm.

“We’re in a more thoughtful, deliberate, quality-driven phase now,” Rob says.

For one of Maryland’s pioneering w**eries, the next chapter isn’t focused on making more. It’s focused on making what they do better.

Read more from Rob and Phin Deford in our latest Maryland W**e Pioneers story: https://marylandw**e.com/maryland-w**e-pioneers-boordy-vineyards/

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09/23/2026

🏆 Best in Class honors for Links Bridge Vineyards at the 2026 Atlantic Seaboard W**e Competition.

“This 2024 Norton was judged Best in Class, which was very exciting for us since it was only the second time we have worked with Norton,” says Joan Cartier, co-owner.

The Norton wasn’t their only winner. W**e club members were invited to experiment with their own Merlot blends, then taste them blind and vote on a favorite. The winning blend became the w**ery’s Gold-medal 2024 Merlot.

They rounded out their showing with Gold medals for the 2024 Petit Verdot and 2024 Right Bank Blend, plus Silver medals for the NV Pileated and 2025 Sauvignon Blanc.

See the full list of Maryland w**es that took home medals at this year’s competition: https://marylandw**e.com/maryland-w**e-atlantic-seaboard-competition-2026/

09/22/2026

“We can use terroir, but we can bring it down to just know where the hell you are.”

For Chef John Shields, eating and drinking locally starts with knowing the people behind what’s on the table.

After nearly three decades of shopping at the Waverly Farmers Market for Gertrude's Restaurant, he knows the farmers, their families and the work that goes into what they grow.

And he doesn’t see much distance between growing food and growing w**e.

“When you’re getting to the food growing part of it or even the distilling or the w**eries, that’s not a separate thing. It is all connected.”

So this time of year, start with what’s here: late-summer tomatoes, corn, Chesapeake seafood—and a bottle of Maryland w**e.

Know where the hell you are. Then eat and drink accordingly. 🍅🦀🍷

👉 More on the Blog: https://marylandw**e.com/john-shields-maryland-seafood-w**e/

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09/18/2026

🍇🍂 Harvest season meets sweater season at Maryland w**eries!

The first day of fall arrives September 22, and Maryland w**eries are ready with grape stomps, Oktoberfest celebrations, fall workshops, w**e tastings, live jazz, vineyard dinners and plenty more ways to welcome the season. 🍷

Whether you want to get your feet into harvest, get creative with a glass of w**e nearby, catch some live music or simply spend a crisp fall day at a w**ery, there’s something happening for you.

📅 Save this Reel and start making plans.

Check out more great Maryland W**e events at marylandw**e.com/events!

Featured w**eries: Boyd Cru W**es Casa Carmen W**es Corteau Vineyards Crow Vineyard & W**ery The Vineyards at Dodon Dove Valley Vineyard Janemark W**ery & Vineyard Linganore W**ecellars Love Point Vineyards Port of Leonardtown W**ery Running Hare Vineyard The Urban W**ery of Silver Spring Trueman Vineyards and W**ery Windridge Vineyards

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09/18/2026

Late-summer tomatoes. Chesapeake rockfish, crab and clams. A couple cups of dry white w**e. 🍅🦀🍷

Chef John Shields of Gertrude's Restaurant brings the season together in one big pot with his recipe for Chesapeake Bay Bouillabaisse.

Get the recipe and his thoughts on Maryland w**e, Chesapeake seafood, and eating what’s here now.

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Chef John Shields shares his take on Chesapeake seafood, seasonal cooking, Maryland w**e and a late-summer bouillabaisse recipe.