Blog Post

Wine connoisseurs love traveling to vineyards and wineries. If you live in the North Atlantic region of the US, did you know there’s 93,000 acres of agricultural reserve land where grapes are cultivated and wineries that welcome visitors? Montgomery County is Maryland’s wine country! And it’s worth some exploration.

Where is Montgomery County, Maryland?

More than a million people live in Montgomery County, the most populated county in the state. The Potomac River separates Montgomery County from Virginia. The county, which includes such large cities as Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, sits adjacent to DC to the south.

Montgomery County earned an “A+” for livability from Niche.com, with high marks for Public Schools, Good for Families, Nightlife, and Diversity. The region is known for its quality lifestyle, a combination of a strong economy, vibrant cities, an abundance of natural beauty and agricultural reserves, and, of course, so many things to do in Montgomery County!

Raise your glass!

You might not associate Maryland with vineyards and wineries, but Montgomery County is home to a variety of wineries. The most recent addition, The Crossvines, brings a full viticultural experience to Poolesville, a scenic town in western Montgomery County. This new facility is a truly unique venue that goes beyond most wineries. The Crossvines is funded by the people of Montgomery County with the purpose of “cultivating the cultivating business”. 

The science of farming and winemaking come together here, blending education with culture. The Crossvines’ wine production facility features state-of-the-art equipment, including customized fermentation vessels, temperature-controlled aging and wine storage, and a place for do-it-yourself grape crushing. Farmers can process their harvest and make their own wine. Under the guidance of the University of Maryland Extension and The Crossvines’ own research, development and vineyard management team, students can learn winemaking, culinary arts, and agritourism.  

Or you can just enjoy the fruits of their labor in the tasting room and bistro cafe. The brand new winemaking facility is open to the public and worth a visit. You can tour the winery, see the crushing of grapes from local farms, and taste the product of this careful effort. A truly unique winemaking business, The Crossvines welcomes local growers to use the facility to produce their own wines, expanding the selection. 

While you’re planning your visit, get a taste of epicurean excellence at The Farmhouse Bistro on the site. Take in the panoramic views of the  Poolesville Golf Course while you dine on artisanal specialties prepared with locally sourced ingredients (like rockfish fresh from Chesapeake Bay) and paired with local wines.

More wineries in Montgomery County, Maryland

The Crossvines certainly expands your vineyard adventure, but Maryland wine country has many more places for your tour. 

Windridge Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Darnestown with three vineyard sites and event-worthy spaces for enjoying their award-winning wines. The family has been farming in Montgomery County since 1959, so they understand the unique characteristics of the “terroir”, leading to exceptional wines.

Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard is, as the name implies, nestled in a valley among rolling hills in Dickerson, MD. Since opening in 2006, the vineyard has produced award-winning vintages from 22 acres of vines of French vinifera clones. The grapes are carefully picked by hand and used to create six red and six white varieties, which you can sample without a reservation seven days a week.

The 61 Vineyard in Damascus is named for the birth year of the vineyard’s owners, Mark and Pam Giganti. About ten years ago, they turned their love of Maryland’s farmlands and appreciation for wine into a small vineyard, planting just one acre of grapes. Today, this cozy winery welcomes visitors with wine tastings and special events, like sunset yoga and live music.

Rocklands Farms Winery is located near Poolesville close by the Potomac River. Owners Greg and Anna Joy Glenn take pride in applying holistic practices, dedicated to sustainability through regenerative agriculture—natural fermentation, no additives, and unfiltered bottling. They produce their wine in small lots, using grapes harvested from their 16 acres.

Olney Winery sources their grapes from suppliers around the world, and cultivates more than 34 varietals in Maryland wine country. The winery began as an idea that came about while Joe McCall’s friends and family were sitting around and chatting on his front porch. The tasting room in Olney is open every day. If you’re tempted to try your hand at winemaking, ask about Olney Winery’s make-your-own-wine experience. 

Follow the trail through Maryland wine country.

With so many vineyards and wineries to explore, why not make a weekend of it? The Tastemakers Trail guides you to six wineries, thirteen breweries, and two cideries, with ideas for dining your way through Montgomery County. Be sure to include a stop at Mayorga Organics, an artisanal coffee roaster in Rockville.

While you’re exploring Maryland wine country, here are some places to add to itinerary:

• Take a hike up Sugarloaf Mountain, a designated Registered Landmark that rises just 800 feet above the surrounding farmlands.
• Walk, hike, or bike along part of the 185-mile  C&O Canal (the Chesapeake & Ohio) Georgetown to Cumberland along the Potomac River.
• Play a round of 18 holes at the recently upgraded Poolesville Golf Course, with a nearly 7,000-yard championship course, adjacent to The Crossvines.
• Paddle along the Potomac River, where you can experience everything from relaxing stand up paddling to whitewater kayaking.
• Visit one of many local orchards or farms in Montgomery County for locally grown, seasonal produce or bring your kids out in the fall to pick a pumpkin and wander through a corn maze.
• Follow a scenic drive through UpCounty and choose your own detours and distractions!

Living in Poolesville: The heart of Montgomery County

Montgomery County offers a warm welcome to visitors. If you want to make this a permanent lifestyle, Kettler Forlines Homes invites you to look at luxury homes in Montgomery County—specifically, our homes for sale in Poolesville, a small town just 23 miles from Bethesda and 33 miles from DC. The quaint charm of the town is enhanced with the sprawling landscapes of farmlands, meadows, and rolling hills. Niche.com also gave an A+ livability score to Poolesville, ranking the town #4 on its list of “Best Suburbs to Buy a House in Maryland”.

There’s plenty of things to do in Poolesville—shopping and dining at locally-owned businesses, community events, and recreation. The Poolesville Golf Course, adjacent to The Crossvines, has been recently upgraded for an ever better day on the greens.

Poolesville  schools are one of the standouts on the list of reasons to move here. From elementary through high school, Poolesville schools are recognized for delivering a well-rounded academic experience. Ranked one of the best in Maryland and in the top 100 nationally, Poolesville High School, in particular, adds real value to living in Poolesville.  

Kettler Forlines Homes recently launched Foxwood Crossing in Poolesville, an intimate neighborhood of just five homes. Each of the luxury estate homes is situated on a large, private lot, from 2.12 to 3.2 acres. You’ll enjoy even more privacy here because Foxwood Crossing is bordered by conversation land!

With only five homes to be built at Foxwood Crossing, don’t wait. Email George Neill or call him at (301-807-8266) to learn more about these luxury homes for sale in Poolesville and to schedule a private tour during your visit to Maryland wine country!