August 10, 2026 (Annapolis, MD) — The Maryland Wineries Association, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, conducted six ceremonies the weeks of July 20th and 27th at the tasting rooms of some of the industry’s founding members. The purpose was to bring state and local elected officials and agency representatives, winery representatives and Maryland Wineries and Department of Agriculture teams together to celebrate the hard work undertaken by the men and women who grew Maryland wine into what it is today: more than 75 licensed wineries, and 1,000 acres of grapes.
The visits included:
- Basignani Winery (Baltimore County), founded by Bert and Lynne Basignani (established 1986)
- Boordy Vineyards (Baltimore County), founded by the Deford family (established 1945)
- Elk Run Vineyard + Winery (Frederick County), founded by Fred and Carol Wilson (established 1979)
- Fiore Vineyard + Winery (Harford County), founded by Mike and Rose Fiore (established 1986)
- Linganore Winecellars (Frederick County), founded by Jack and Lucille Aellen, now owned by Anthony, Eric, Melissa and Parker Aellen (established 1976)
- Loew Vineyard (Frederick County), founded by William and Lois Loew (established 1986)
“We are thrilled and honored to be able to recognize the achievements of these wineries”, said Maryland Secretary of Agriculture, Kevin Atticks. “As life-long farmers they have been stewards of the land for decades and are still crafting award-winning wines that showcase our local terroir.”
“The beginning was difficult – no roadmap to follow, no established buyer base, and no association to help advocate for industry change. They placed a bet that the fertile soils in MD would produce wonderful wines that would create enough to build a business and life around,” said Melissa Aellen, Board President of the Maryland Wineries Association. “And that bet paid off. As a member of the Maryland wine industry’s third generation, the impact that these founders have had on every winery that’s opened since is not lost on me. They all walked, perhaps even crawled, so the rest of us could run.”
Janna Howley, Maryland Wineries Association Executive Director, emphasized to those in attendance that a recent April 2026 freeze badly damaged vineyards across the state, which will result in grape losses, and decreased wine availability for years to come. “Our wine community took a beating, but it is strong, and it is resilient. The best thing all of you can do is go to a state winery, relax with a glass of wine, and take wine home with you. That is what will keep our industry going and moving forward.”
In addition to the ceremonies, the Maryland Wineries Association conducted interviews with each founder, to save their stories, capture institutional knowledge, and enshrine the vibrant personalities of those who built the industry. Follow #marylandwine for video posts, and the interviews will live on the marylandwine.com website.
ABOUT THE MARYLAND WINERIES ASSOCIATION
Maryland Wineries Association, a non-profit, member based, trade association, represents more than 80 wineries across the state. MWA’s mission is to cultivate a sustainable wine-growing community by expanding agricultural products and by increasing awareness through special events, industry education, advocacy, promotions, and tourism. For more information, please visit www.marylandwine.com.
ABOUT THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: For more information, please visit mda.maryland.gov.
