The Maryland Wine Festival® celebrates its 37th year at the Carroll County Farm Museum.
August 10th – (ANNAPOLIS, MD) – The Maryland Wine Festival returns to the Carroll County Farm Museum on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19. Since 1984, enthusiasts seeking to learn about the Maryland wine industry have been invited to roam the grounds of the Farm Museum while tasting and buying local wine. While 2021 marks the 37th celebration of this tradition, updates to the event’s programming and layout promise festival-goers a fresh experience.
“Like Maryland’s growing wine industry, the Maryland Wine Festival continues to evolve,” says Kevin Atticks, Executive Director of the Maryland Wineries Association. “Just as wineries are prioritizing quality and consumer engagement in their tasting rooms, our association is focused on delivering on those expectations at our events.”
Sampling and Exploring
Each pass for the 2021 Maryland Wine Festival includes entry to the event venue, access to shop the juried artisan vendors, live music, and an opportunity to dine with any of the participating food trucks and concessionaires.
The “Sampler” and “Explorer” pass levels each include wine sampling. Attendees with Sampler tier passes receive a souvenir glass upon entry to the festival and are able to sample and savor dozens of wines from eleven wineries located on the Main Field.
Individuals holding the upgraded Explorer pass receive a 16 ounce wine glass. These pass holders may sample from Main Field wineries and gain exclusive access to the newly installed Maryland Wine Explorer Village. Located near the main entrance of the Farm Museum, the Explorer Village features dedicated tasting experiences and upgraded amenities. Eight additional wineries will be located in the Explorer Village, each showcasing Maryland-grown wines. The Explorer Village amenities include shaded seating areas and private, air-conditioned restroom facilities.
New for 2021, the festival is offering the $20 Á La Carte Pass. Á La Carte passes include a souvenir glass. This is the perfect ticket tier for enthusiasts who wish to come to the festival to purchase local wines that they can’t easily find elsewhere—in lieu of samples—to enjoy at the festival, or to build their home collection.
A Focus On Retail Wine Sales
The retail options at this year’s festival are expanding with the addition of the Maryland Wine Shop. This new retail location offers sales of wine by the glass or bottle and includes selections from wineries representing many of the state’s winemaking regions. A curated list of wine from wineries not attending the festival will also be available for purchase at this retail location. To make things more convenient, attendees are able to purchase bottles via an online store and pick them up at the Maryland Wine Shop when the order is fulfilled.
“Overwhelmingly, we hear from attendees and wineries alike that they’d like to see more unique retail opportunities at this festival,” said Atticks. “The Maryland Wine Shop is a great way for us to achieve that goal while offering a larger selection of local wine.”
The 2021 Maryland Wine Festival will be held at the Carroll County Farm Museum on Saturday, September 18 and Sunday, September 19. The event is open from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm each day. Passes to the 2021 Maryland Wine Festival are currently available for purchase via the event website. All event details and pass descriptions can be found at https://marylandwine.org/mwf. This is an outdoor event and social distancing is encouraged. The Maryland Wine Festival will follow all local and state guidelines related to COVID-19.
About the Maryland Wine Festival®
The Maryland Wine Festival returns to the Carroll County Farm Museum for the 37th annual celebration of Maryland wine. Wine enthusiasts are invited to enjoy the beautiful grounds of the Farm Museum while exploring delicious, local wine, shopping from juried artisans, and dancing to live music!
About the Maryland Wineries Association
The Maryland Wineries Association (MWA), formed in 1984, is the non-profit trade association that represents 80 member wineries in Maryland. MWA’s mission is to develop and expand the grape and wine industry in Maryland through education and promotion.
