On Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Chateau Bu-De Vineyard & Winery hosted eleven Maryland wineries for a wine tasting featuring wines curated by esteemed wine journalist Paul Vigna, writer for PennLive’s “The Wine Classroom.” Called the Maryland Wine Summit, this gathering is intended to be an annual event highlighting the quality of Maryland’s viticulture and winemaking.
Mr. Vigna discussed how the Maryland Wine Summit came to be and why it was important to the region as an event. “This was an outgrowth of two other sessions that I organized,” said Vigna. “One was held at Waltz in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County and the second one took place at Big Cork in western Maryland. I did it because I’m a believer in the region acting as a region and being less concerned with the state boundaries, and the fact that all these wineries and winemakers have so much to share.”
According to Vigna, the wines were chosen to represent Maryland’s diversity of dry wine. “I wanted to assemble producers who are making quality dry wine and, more important, get a cross-section of the state. Between the 12 wineries, we covered every part of Maryland where people are making wine.”
Featured wines at this year’s Maryland Wine Summit were broken into white and red sessions. During each session wines were presented by the respective winemaker for discussion among the attendees. These discussions included summaries of each winery’s approach to growing grapes, harvesting, fermentation and aging practices, and decisions regarding blends. These discussions were moderated by Dr. Joseph Fiola, Specialist in Viticulture and Small Fruits for the University of Maryland Extension.
Offering insights about growing specific varietals throughout Maryland, Dr. Fiola asked attending vineyard managers and winemakers about their vineyards and sought feedback related to the success and struggles they see with specific grapes in the state. Through efforts like this, Fiola anticipates that Maryland wineries will remain encouraged to seek out the best practices with making quality wines.
“By tasting wines from other producers in the state and sharing the successes and challenges to producing those wines, winegrowers will know “where the quality bar is currently set” in Maryland, but most importantly to gain the knowledge and confidence needed to reach and exceed that bar,” said Dr. Fiola.
The wines featured at the Maryland Wine Summit were:
White Wines
- 2016 Knob Hall Vidal Blanc, Knob Hall Winery
- Vidal 2013, Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery
- 2016 Vidal Blanc, Janemark Vineyard & Winery
- 2017 Cool White Blend, Cool Ridge Vineyard & Winery
- 2017 Albariño, Linganore Wine Cellars
- 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Crow Vineyard & Winery
- Sauvignon Blanc (2015 & 2016 Vintages), Chateau Bu-De Vineyard & Winery
- 2015 Chardonnay, Basignani Winery
- 2016 Chardonnay Reserve, Boordy Vineyards
- Rosé 2017, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
- Rose Gray Rosé 2017, Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard
Red Wines
- Blue Roan 2016, Hidden Hills Farm and Vineyard
- 2016 Chambourcin, Janemark Vineyard & Winery
- Norton 2014, Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery
- 2016 Estate Syrah, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
- 2015 Reserve Merlot, Crow Vineyard & Winery
- 2016 Estate Cabernet Franc, Catoctin Breeze Vineyard
- Cabernet Franc Reserve 2016, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard
- Cabernet Franc (2015 & 2016 Vintages), Chateau Bu-De Vineyard & Winery
- 2013 Lorenzino Reserve, Basignani Winery
- 2015 Landmark Reserve, Boordy Vineyards
- 2016 Exposure, Linganore Winecellars
- 2016 Petit Verdot, Cool Ridge Vineyard & Winery
- 2015 Knob Hall Petit Verdot Reserve, Knob Hall Winery
Read Paul Vigna’s piece “Top Maryland producers gather to taste their best in dry wines” via PennLive.
