1648 – Earliest recorded instance of winemaking in Maryland, by Tenis Palee
1662 – Governor Charles Calvert plants 200 acres of European grapes, the first European grapes in Maryland, on the east bank of St. Mary’s River
1823 – John Adlum of Havre de Grace writes the first book in America on viticulture and winemaking
1829 – Maryland Society for Promoting the Culture of the Vine is formed
1933 – Philip Wagner, a columnist with the Baltimore Sun, publishes American Wines and How to Make Them, later revised as Grapes Into Wine; it is the definitive book on winemaking in America
1945 – Boordy Vineyards opens in Riderwood, Maryland’s first bonded winery; Philip Wagner, proprietor
1962 – Montbray Wine Cellars in Silver Run; Dr. G. Hamilton Mowbray, proprietor. It closes in 1992
1974 – Provenza Winery opens in Brookeville; it closes in 1983
1975 – Dr. G. Hamilton Mowbray receives the Merite Agricole award from the French Embassy
1976 – Linganore Winecellars at Berrywine Plantation opens in Mt. Airy; Jack and Lucille Aellen, proprietors
– Bon Sporanza Winery opens in Westminster; it closes in 1982.
– Byrd Winery opens in Mt. Airy; it closes in 1996.
1977 – Ziem Wine Cellars opens in Downsville; it closes in 1998
1980 – Philip Wagner sells Boordy Vineyards to the Deford family, the winery moves to Hydes
1981 – Maryland Grape Growers Association is formed
1983 – Woodhall Vineyards and Wine Cellars in Parkton opens
– Catoctin Vineyards in Brookeville opens; Bob Lyon, proprietor
– Elk Run Winery in Mt. Airy opens; Carol and Fred Wilson, proprietors
– The Linganore AVA area is formed
1984 – Maryland Wineries Association is founded
– The first Maryland Wine Festival is held
– Maryland Winery and Grape Growers Advisory Board is formed
– Whitemarsh Cellars opens in Westminster; it closes in 1987
1985 – Loew Vineyards in Mt. Airy opens; Bill and Lois Loew, proprietors
– The Maryland Wine Festival moves to the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster
– The Cumberland Valley AVA area is formed
1986 – Fiore Winery in Pylesville opens; Mike and Rose Fiore, proprietors
– Basignani Winery in Sparks opens; Bert and Lynne Basignani, proprietors
1987 – The Catoctin AVA is formed
1993 – The first Wine in the Woods festival held in Columbia
1996 – Cygnus Wine Cellars in Manchester opens, Ray Brasfield, proprietor
1997 – Deep Creek Cellars in Friendsville opens; Paul Roberts and Nadine Grabania, proprietors
2000 – Maryland House Bill 414 passes, allowing state wineries to sell wine by the glass at the winery and to bring product onto retail licensed premises for promotional activities
– Penn Oaks Winery in Silver Spring opens
– Record crowd of more than 25,000 attends the Maryland Wine Festival
– Maryland’s wineries sell a record 86,954 gallons
2001 – Maryland Wineries Association launches its first-ever major cooperative marketing campaign, “Ask For Maryland Wine”
2002 – Little Ashby Vineyards in Easton opens; Warren and Lynne Rich, proprietors
2003 – Maryland Wineries Association hires Dr. Kevin Atticks as executive director
– Three new festivals debut: Great Grapes! in June in Timonium; Riverside Winefest at Sotterley in October in Hollywood; Autumn Wine Festival in October in Salisbury
– Governor Robert Ehrlich presents the Governor’s Cup Award at the Maryland Wine Festival – the first time a sitting Governor has presented the award.
2004 – Governor Robert Ehrlich plants a grapevine at Government House in support of the Maryland wine industry
– Cove Point Vineyard and Winery in Lusby opens; Tim and Sheryl Lewis, proprietors
– Chapel Cellars in Historic Saint Mary’s City opens; Ann and Ken Korando, proprietors; closes in 2006.
– Solomons Island Winery in Solomons opens; Ken and Ann Korando, proprietors
– Governor Ehrlich forms the Maryland Wine and Grape Advisory Committee to investigate ways of promoting growth in the industry
2005 – Wine and Grape Advisory Committee releases its report: “Maryland Wine: the Next Vintage”
– Tilmon’s Island Winery begins production.
– Great Grapes! festival moves to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville
– Black Ankle Vineyards in Mt. Airy, and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyards in Dickerson, begin production.
– St. Michaels Winery in St. Michaels opens to the public.
– Maryland Wine & Grape Advisory Commission is formed through legislation, making permanent the previous advisory committee.
2006 – Cascia Vineyards in Stevensville begins production.
– Dragonfly Farms in Mt. Airy begins production as Maryland’s first wine vinegary.
– Fridays Creek Winery in Owings opens to the public.
– Heimbuch Estate Vineyards & Winery begins production.
– Terrapin Station Winery begins production.
2007 – Maryland Wine & Grape Legislative Caucus is formed.
– Frederick Cellars forms, purchases Catoctin Vineyards and moves it to Frederick.
– Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery begins production in St. Leonard.
– Bordeleau Winery in Allen begins production.
– Dove Valley Winery in Rising Sun begins production, opens to the public.
– Mt. Felix Winery in Havre de Grace begins production.
– Cassinelli Vineyards & Winery begins production in Church Hill.
2008 – Galloping Goose Vineyard begins production in Hampstead.
– Running Hare Vineyard begins production in Prince Frederick.
– Orchid Cellar begins production in Thurmont.
– Far Eastern Shore Winery begins production in Easton.
– Legends Vineyard begins production in Churchville
2009 – Serpent Ridge Vineyard opens in Westminster
– Harford Vineyard begins production in Forest Hill
– Patuxent Wine Trail launched
– Chesapeake Wine Trail launched
– Piedmont Wine Trail launched
2010 – “The Maryland Winery Modernization Act” is signed into law, revising the laws affecting winery operations.
– Knob Hall Winery begins production in Clear Spring
– Port of Leonardtown Winery opens in Leonardtown
– Layton’s Chance Vineyard & Winery opens in Vienna
– DeJon Vineyards opens in Hydes
– Carroll Wine Trail launched
– Costa Ventosa Winery opens in Whaleyville
– Slack Winery opens in Ridge
– Orchid Cellar opens in Middletown
– Distillery Lane Ciderworks opens in Jefferson
2011 – Direct-to-Consumer Wine Shipping is signed into law, allowing Marylanders the ability to order and receive wine by mail.
– Royal Rabbit Vineyards opens in Parkton
– Romano Vineyard & Winery opens in Brandywine
– Great Shoals Winery opens in Princess Anne
2012 – “History of Maryland Wine: A Full-Bodied History” — written by Regina Mc Carthy — is released by History Press
– Detour Winery opens in Detour
– Crow Vineyards opens in Kennedyville
– Frederick Cellars closes
2013 – Law passed to allow wineries to attend farmers’ market
– Old Westminster Winery opens in Westminster
– Charis Winery opens in Cumberland
– Millstone Cellars opens in Monkton
– Red Heifer Winery opens in Smithsburg
– Big Cork Winery opens in Rohrersville
