Live music by Laura Brino from 1:30pm-5:30pm
2015 Love Point Road, Stevensville, MD 21666
#localwine
A Maryland Wine Experience: March 20th-22nd, 2026
Join us in Frederick as the Maryland Wineries Association presents A Maryland Wine Experience, showcasing the best of Maryland wine in a two-part consumer event. Winemakers, winery owners and expert winery staff will be on hand to talk about their wines and offer a sneak peek into why they’re so passionate about what they do. Focused on exploration and education, you are invited to attend any, or all, components of A Maryland Wine Experience.
This unique spring wine experience will be hosted around downtown Frederick. Our full-day package includes admission to one Master Class from each session and the Grand Tasting, featuring dozens of Maryland-grown wines.
If you’d prefer to attend individual sessions of the event, don’t hesitate to build your own experience and purchase individual session passes for the Master Class Sessions, the Grand Tasting, and a sparkling brunch at Simple Theory Wine Bar.
And if you love the featured wines, visit the Maryland Wine Bottle Shop during the Grand Tasting where you can purchase any of the wines to take home at the end of your visit. Winemakers not included, though…
We look forward to seeing you at A Maryland Wine Experience this March.
Learn. Explore. Taste.
PART I – EXPLORE
WINE DINNER AT BENTZTOWN | FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Kick off the weekend with a delectable wine dinner at Bentztown in downtown Frederick. Enjoy a five-course dinner paired with hand selected Maryland craft wines. Check out the menu below (don’t worry, our mouth is watering too!):
- Hamachi Crudo with Citrus Preserve, Cilantro, Persian Cucumber, Pickled Red Onion, Watermelon Radish
- with Urban Winery’s Silver Spring White
- Seared Scallop Topped with Herb Butter, Crispy Prosciutto, Red Chilli Pepper, Salmon Roe, Citrus Infused Honey
- with 61 Vineyard’s Pleasant Plains White Blend
- Braised Pork Belly with Herb and Fennel Salad, Spring Pea Puree, Orange Segment, Crispy Shallot
- with NOIR Sunshine Winery’s Rosé
- Prime NY Strip Served with Roasted Heirloom Carrot, Asparagus, Citrus Panko, Red Wine Reduction
- with Six Wicket Vineyard’s Teroldego
- Meyer Lemon Tart with Basil Cream and Lime Gel
- with Elk Eun Vineyards’ Vin de Jus Glace
DOWNTOWN FREDERICK COCKTAIL CRAWL | FRIDAY, MARCH 20
Participate in an exciting, immersive experience on Friday, March 20 at the Downtown Frederick Cocktail Crawl. Explore McClintock Distilling and True Standard Distilling and sip on specialty wine cocktails made with Maryland wines.
This event is FREE to participate; all drinks are purchased a la carte at each location by participants. All participants will receive a booklet complete with a map to each location, and information about each business + the featured drinks.
PART II – LEARN
Master Classes | SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 11:00 am – 3:30 pm
What’s better than learning about something you enjoy? Wine education is a large part of A Maryland Wine Experience and we’ve curated a selection of excellent Master Classes. Each of these classes gives you an opportunity to experience wine with a newfound sense of appreciation.
| SESSION 1 MASTER CLASSES | – March 21, 11AM-12:30PM
Blind Tasting Experience | Hosted at Tenth Ward Distilling Company | 11AM
Become a sommelier for a day and learn how to use the Deductive Tasting Grid method as you blind taste some of Maryland’s most delicious varietals. Led by our seasoned wine pros, you’ll discover how to improve your tasting skills and more accurately describe the wine in your glass.
Your blind tasting gurus include:
- Cheron Cowan, Writer-At-Large | Wine Enthusiast
- Jeff Lund, CSWS | Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
2025 Vintage Preview | Hosted at The Y Arts Center | 11AM
With the 2025 harvest complete and the newest vintage resting in barrels, we invite you to be among the first to preview a selection of exceptional Maryland wines before they’re bottled. Enjoy exclusive barrel and tank samples while discovering how winemakers transform freshly harvested grapes into the finished wines you love.
Learn from our expert panelists, including:
- Adam Fizyta, Owner & Vigneron | Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
- Tony McDonnell, Winemaker | Windridge Vineyards
- Lauren Zimmerman, Winemaker | Port of Leonardtown Winery
|| 12:30 – 2:00pm LUNCH ON OWN ||
Explore local restaurants!
| SESSION 2 MASTER CLASSES | – March 21, 2PM-3:30PM
Blending Master Class | Hosted at Tenth Ward Distilling | 2PM
Join us for this hands-on seminar and learn about why wine blends are so important to a winemaker’s portfolio. You’ll learn how to create your own Super Tuscan-style red blend using Maryland grown wines, and will take away your own small bottle of a customized wine.
These winemakers will help you craft your perfect blend:
- Rachel Lipman, Winemaker | Loew Vineyards
- Michael Zollo, Winemaker | Crow Vineyard & Winery
High-Low Pairings Master Class | Hosted at The Y Arts Center | 2PM
Highbrow meets lowbrow in this down-to-earth master class. Learn how exceptional wines can take your everyday cravings — think potato chips, fried chicken, and vintage desserts — to the next level. Because great taste doesn’t have to take itself too seriously.
Say hello to your snack sommeliers:
- Jon’ll Boyd, Founder & Owner | Boyd Cru Wines
- Vanessa Cominsky, Sommelier & Co-Founder | Vin. Vitalité
PART III – TASTE
The Grand Tasting | SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 3:30PM – 6:30PM | UNION MILLS PUBLIC HOUSE
The Grand Tasting at A Maryland Wine Experience features a curated selection of over 70 wines that are renowned for their exceptional flavor and quality. Discover the varietals that truly shine in our state, and enjoy the rare opportunity to meet the talented winemakers and winery staff behind the bottles. As you sip, enjoy an array of scrumptious hors d’oeuvres that complement your tasting journey.
Featured Wineries
Sip & socialize with your favorite Maryland wineries:
- 61 Vineyard
- Black Ankle Vineyards
- Big Cork Vineyards
- Boordy Vineyards
- Boyd Cru Wines
- Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
- Celebration Cellars Winery
- Chesapeake Manor Vineyard
- Crow Vineyard & Winery
- Elk Run Vineyards
- Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery
- Linganore Winecellars
- Links Bridge Vineyards
- Loew Vineyards
- Noir Sunshine Winery
- Port of Leonardtown Winery
- Seven22 Wine Company
- Simple Theory Wine Co.
- Six Wicket Vineyards
- Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
- The Crossvines
- The Vineyards at Dodon
- Windridge Vineyards
PART IV – BRUNCH
SUNDAY BRUNCH WINE PAIRING | SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 10:30AM-1:00PM
Brunch. But make it bubbly.
Enjoy a final farewell to the 2026 Maryland Wine Experience with a cozy Sunday brunch at Simple Theory Wine Co., located in downtown Frederick. A delectable array of brunch bites paired with a variety of sparkling wines—because there’s too much good Maryland wine to try just one. It’s all part of Maryland Wine Month and the Maryland Wine Experience this March, and trust us, this lineup is anything but ordinary.
- Prosciutto Wrapped Melon with The Wine Collective 2024 Balt Nat Petinay
- Potato Egg Chive Cups with Bohemia Manor Farm 2024 Blanc de Blanc
- Cranberry Brie Puffs with Big Cork Vineyards Brut Rosé
- Cajun Shrimp Deviled Eggs with Narcisso Wine Cellar Jubilee Sparkling Rosé
- Beef & Blue Sliders with Chesapeake Manor Vineyard Sparkling Chambourcin
- Honey Lavender Latte Cookies with Orchid Cellar Juniper + Spruce Tips + Lemon Sparkling Mead
BOOK YOUR HOTEL STAY AT VISITATION HOTEL NOW
Book your stay with Visitation Hotel TODAY and secure a great rate for your Maryland Wine Experience. Click here to reserve using the MWE group booking rate. You can also call 888-236-2427 and ask for SRP Code: MWA.
Reservations must be made by February 20 in order to receive the discounted rate.
Frederick also offers many other lodging options to fit your budget and the style of place you like to stay.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
A Maryland Wine Experience is curated for Maryland residents and visitors. In Frederick, museums meet martini bars, scenic landscapes provide thrill seekers with adventure, and cutting-edge cuisine is served up in Civil War-era buildings alongside unique specialty shops, galleries, museums, and theaters.
Located less than one hour from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Gettysburg, the city of Frederick, Maryland is surrounded by mountain views, wineries, orchards and vibrant Main Street communities. Visitors can hike the Appalachian Trail, visit local breweries, and tour a battlefield all in one day.
SILVER SPONSORS:
BRONZE SPONSOR:
WINE DINNER SPONSOR:
The Urban Winery | Where To Next – A Travel Podcast With Francesca
June 28, 2023
93.1 WPOC
On this week’s episode of Where To Next, we stop by The Urban Winery to chat with CEO Damon Callis about everything wine! Damon gives us an inside look at everything going on at the winery, how it came to be, their private wine-making classes, the barrel club, their personal family connection to wine, and more!
Listen to the podcast episode at 931. WPOC here.
A Maryland Wine Experience: Celebrate Local Wine In Annapolis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Maryland Wine Experience: Celebrate Local Wine In Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Wine lovers should mark their calendars for April 15th and April 16th, as the Maryland Wineries Association and Graduate Annapolis host “A Maryland Wine Experience.” This two-day event showcases wines from Maryland and abroad and features educational master classes, a bubbly and fun sparkling reception, the walkaround grand tasting and guided winery tours at two esteemed Maryland vineyards.
“We are thrilled that the inaugural Maryland Wine Experience is taking place in Annapolis,” says the Maryland Wineries Association’s acting Executive Director, Kelly Dudeck. “We’ve been planning this event for three long years and can’t wait to celebrate the state’s growing wine industry. This event and our venue provide us with the perfect setting to highlight quality, discuss terroir and experience a diverse collection of wines.”
On Saturday, April 15, attendees may attend Master Classes, covering topics ranging from wine and oyster pairings to creating collaborative wine, beer and spirits releases with other local producers. Following the day’s classes, guests are invited to enjoy tastings and live music at the sparkling reception and walkaround grand tasting, where the wine selection includes offerings from local and international wineries.
The program for Sunday, April 16 includes guided wine tours of Great Frogs Winery and the Vineyards at Dodon. Led by a Vino 301 Tour Ambassador, these great excursion packages include transportation, bottled water, charcuterie, and private tours of the vineyards and wineries. Those taking the tour will learn about local winemaking and sample delicious, locally-made wines.
“We are thrilled to partner with our Maryland Wineries Association friends to welcome guests to savor Maryland wines in the historic city of Annapolis and encourage all to enjoy the many shops, attractions, and restaurants throughout the region,” said Kristen Pironis, Executive Director of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County. “We’re proud that Anne Arundel County is home to a growing craft beverage industry and we raise a glass to occasions like these that bring people together to support our state’s thriving wine industry—Cheers!”
Tickets for A Maryland Wine Experience are currently on sale as packages or as á la carte options. Don’t miss out on your chance to experience the best of Maryland wine. For more information about this event, and to purchase your tickets, please visit our event ticketing page. Guests interested in booking a stay at the Graduate Annapolis can do so here. The Maryland Wineries Association has partnered with Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County and the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism to promote A Maryland Wine Experience. Maryland wine is a vital contributor to the state’s tourism economy; Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County and the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism have remained dedicated to promoting the success of agritourism throughout Maryland.
About the Maryland Wineries Association. The Maryland Wineries Association (MWA), formed in 1984, is the non-profit trade association that represents more than 85 member wineries in Maryland. MWA’s mission is to develop and expand Maryland’s grape and wine industry – through education and promotion.
#####
