Old Westminster Winery

In the rolling countryside foothills of Blue Ridge Mountains—a stone’s through away from the Chesapeake Bay—lies the key to the American viticulture and wine industry. Known for its similar latitudes, climate, and topography as traditional wine producers like Spain, Italy and France, Maryland is now bringing a renaissance to U.S. wine-making with its unique terroir. The hillsides in Maryland are lined up with vines, rough and leafless, glinting under the overcast sun. Though the vines lie dormant, the cellars of Old Westminster Winery are bracing themselves for the much-awaited annual ferment.

A leading wine producer in Maryland, Old Westminster Winery is at the forefront of steering the region’s wine culture forward. It brings the Baker family’s passion for wine making, their combined experience and time-tested methods together to master the art of vinification, all while upholding Maryland’s unique terroir.

Named a top winery in the U.S., Old Westminster Winery’s journey began in 2009, when the Baker family decided to plant grapes in their 17-acre Carroll County family farms to navigate the storms of time, shaped by the Great Recession. With Drew as the family’s vigneron, Lisa at the helm of winemaking, and Ashli documenting the journey, it has soon become the most inventive and buzzed-about winery on the eastern seaboard.

In other words, what started as the family rescue fantasy has now grown big, emerging from the confines of local winemakers to Maryland’s wine evangelists. Today, Old Westminster is known for its welcoming sprawl of 134 acres of vineyards at Old Westminster and Burnt Hill Farm, which surround the original farmhouses, and a spacious modern farmhouse style tasting room. The vineyards are located at the heart of Maryland, a region resembling the Loire Valley region of France. This is ideal for viniculture, with the constant breezes staving off mildew-inducing humidity and rocky soils draining excess precipitation, facilitating the growth of white grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay and red varieties like Cabernet Franc.

All of this allows Old Westminster to produce a broad spectrum of premium wines, including Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, and Albariño. Today, it proudly makes roughly 120,000 bottles a year from the grapes grown on its farms or neighboring vineyards, showcasing the potential of the region’s wine growing. Old Westminster’s wines spice up the savor of almost 30 states nationwide.

“We’re committed to making terroir-driven sustainable wines, farmed with meticulous care and minimal interventions, building a model that leans into our region,” says Ashli Johnson, co-founder of Old Westminster Winery.

Known as the advocate of low intervention winemaking, Old Westminster embraces a vibrant, clean, and unique style of wine. It also excels at crafting many special blends that stand out for their savory and spicy notes. A wine crafted from a blend of Cabernet Franc, Blaufränkisch, and Chambourcin grapes sets Old Westminster apart, testifying to its passion for producing delicious and food-friendly wines.

Collaborations with local apple orchards in Pennsylvania add to its winemaking excellence and legacy. Apples are fermented at its facility using native yeast and with minimal intervention to produce wines with unique flavor profiles. The process involves minimal to no filtrations or fining, ensuring the natural essence of wines. Each wine offers a bright and aromatic experience, with the white wines offering approachable alcohol content and fresh acidity, ideal with Chesapeake Bay dishes. Red wines, on the other hand, provide the best dining experience when paired with cured meats and heavily roasted vegetables.

The winery’s expertise extends to producing high-quality canned wines primarily inspired by Maryland’s lifestyle. This is ideal for consumers who find traditional bottles impractical, especially while hiking, traveling or exploring Maryland’s water outlets.

Guided by the Baker family’s commitment to excellence, Old Westminster operates with a simple objective—offering noteworthy wines to people. Its serene vineyard provides an opportunity to savor thoughtful wines, creating connections and bonds across borders over the exemplary taste and flavor profile.