#MDwines

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

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

 

 

 

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