Representing the DMV runner-up to out of town pick for letter B for 2025, B is for Black Ankle…read moreVineyards. My girlfriend & I visited Black Ankle on a Saturday in September 2025. We were out somewhat in this direction, and there was a Meetup group going here, so we thought to check it out as it's rare we ever go to a winery as it's normally out of the way, more likely of an occurrence when on a vacation. We took some crazy back roads from where we were in western Howard County, through Carroll, & into eastern Frederick County, where Black Ankle is. We went to the bar inside to get wines. I got a white wine; I think Chardonnay, and I think my girlfriend got a sweeter Rose or something like that. Both were delicious, but we preferred our own more. We sat outside in a nice patio area. We were in the hot Sun on that sunny day, but that was cool with me. We learned of a tour going on, which we got in on. The tour guide who wore an Italian flag bowtie was entertaining and informative. We walked around the vineyard, going inside the cooled storage areas, centrifuge area where the wine is mixed, etc. We even saw some of the old wines they had made from years earlier. We saw sheep dogs, which protect the vineyard from pests, which were cute. Overall, this is a high quality winery with plenty of nice outside & inside seating.

A lot of folks will go to black ankle for their red wine, but I think their white wine is very…read moreunderrated! I love the ambiance in their tasting room and they have so much outdoor space! They allow dogs outdoors which is great for our pup. The staff there is so friendly and always happy to answer questions and let you try something before you commit. I just rejoined the wine club and can't wait to come to some of the members events! Love this spot!

This winery is gorgeous! I went here on a Sunday afternoon one hour before they closed and had the…read morebest customer service from Thomas and Wendy! My friends and I ordered some bottles of wine and we got some of their wine slushies. So good! I can't wait to come back here so I can try more options as we didn't have a lot of time. They also have horses that surround the property. That's a vibe in itself. Will come back! Especially since parking was a breeze too!

Popped into this winery while in Frederick. It was very cute with lots of options for outdoor…read moreseating. No reservation needed which was really nice given it was a spontaneous visit. We were able to get wine flights and try multiple options. The service was extremely kind. I will say the wine is very dry so if you enjoy that you'll like the options here. They were too dry for me but that's just my personal preference. I'd come back to sit near a fire pit!

Let me set the scene: tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere is this beautiful winery…read morewith an equally beautiful landscape. The vibes are peaceful, scenic, and honestly the perfect backdrop for a festival day out. They host several festivals throughout the year, and I had the pleasure of attending the Caribbean festival yesterday. Even with the rain and cooler weather, it was STILL a great time. The energy never dropped. Everything was very well organized from parking, to the wine samples, vendors, dance floor, and stage setup. You could tell a lot of planning went into making the experience smooth and enjoyable for guests. The music, food, and overall atmosphere made it easy to forget about the weather completely. This was my second time here, and it definitely will not be my last. I'll 100% be returning.

If you like a sweeter easy to drink wine, Linganore wines had you covered!…read more I first experienced Linganore Winecellars through a mocktail class for dry January. The host Sydney from The Plot Twist did a great job hosting and the ladies from Linganore were excellent in helping through out the class! There is a small parking lot that for everyday purposes is a perfect size. The bathrooms are well maintained and individual bathrooms. I returned another day to try their wines and was not disappointed! I enjoyed them so much that I took home 3 different bottles which me and my girlfriends all enjoyed. I'll be back for their Caribbean festival and can not wait!

The customer service (LOVE Molly), the live band (Lost and Found), the award-winning wine and even…read morethe Boar's Head charcuterie and crackers were top notch!! This hidden gem is tucked away off liberty road in Frederick County. If you blink, you might miss it. I've passed this winery a few times in route to Linganore festivals, so when my cousin secured a Groupon for wine tasting, I gladly accepted the invite. We spent our Friday evening sipping away and listening to a live band. It's so quaint and pet friendly! They have a few friendly pups just waiting to meet you. Tonight was unseasonably cool for August but after the heat wave we've had it was a welcomed treat. There is plenty of seating, in open areas or under a large tent. Bring your own food! Otherwise they have some small bites (charcuterie, cheese, crackers, pizza) for purchase. The wine we tried was delicious and the sunset over the grape vines was stunning. I'll definitely be returning - and with my goldendoodle this time!

We were greeted my Molly the winery dog at our car, so this winery immediately got a 10/10 from me!…read moreIt somehow only got better from there. My husband and I shared 3 flights to try as many wines as we could. We enjoyed each and every one of them but the syrah was our favorite. The Blanc de noir was also remarkable and I will be back for it!

We just stayed at the Stone Manor Inn ("SMI") this past weekend and had a lovely time. We were in…read moretown for a family reunion and hosted a dinner party at SMI one evening that was among the highlights of the family weekend. Manisha and Prashsant, owners of Stone Manor Inn, were personally involved in making sure all went smoothly with our cocktail and dinner party, and it most certainly did! SMI is a lovely old country inn on 14 acres, I believe, with a number of different venues (indoors and out) for meetings, parties, and weddings. The rooms (7 in total) were eclectic, in a good way. All four of their largest rooms that we occupied were spacious, with king beds and spa tubs with separate showers. All were well maintained and clean upon check-in. We had no complaints. I'm not sure when we will return to the area, but when we do, we will not hesitate to return!

Luxurious bed and breakfast, nice jacuzzi and dogs are welcomed! My hubby and I came here with our…read morepup for my birthday and the $300 room (additional $30 pet fee) didn't disappoint - well worth it! I was on the fence to book this place given its hefty price tag, and glad I went for it and completely agree with the glowing 5 star reviews. The bubbly host Manisha is very warm and welcoming. She cordially gave us a 20 min tour around the property, which was built in 1908, and even gave me a bonus tour of the other rooms afterwards. She kindly answered all of our questions and didn't rush us. The Peacecock Room is the most spacious and best room (aside from the bridal suite), elaborately decorated in peacocks. We loved it! The little touches like the handmade soap, a set of wine glasses, and a wine opener made the stay so memorable and special. While the rooms aren't temperature controlled, the electric flameless fireplace kept the room warm. The double capacity jacuzzi was perfect for my hubby and I and even had lights (some of the other rooms have smaller jacuzzi, so be sure to check). The rooms were clean minus a couple of lady bugs and stink bugs (which is too be expected out in the country). Dr. Fauci's assistant stayed here and Manisha informed us of the extensive sanitation process, even the pillows and decorations are quarantined for 6 days! The backyard is well groomed and really spacious with a nice patio and heat lamp, which kept us warm sitting outside in the frigid winter. Our dog loved running around! You can see the stars and constellations really well. It would make a great wedding venue! The Christmas decorations around the property are really nice. The owners really go the extra mile and put a lot of TLC into the property. The 6 course breakfast is delicious and bursting with flavor. Between the veggie quiche, cheesy potatoes, scone, pancakes, yogurt, and fresh OJ, I was stuffed! The fresh butterscotch scone was divine and devoured my mine and my hubby's! The cheesy potato had a nice spicy kick. Everything was so fresh and delicious. All the courses come out at once on a large tray. While my hubby and I chose to sit at the communal table (the chairs are roughly 6 feet apart), you can take the tray up to your room. Manisha and her family greeted us and thoroughly explained the dishes and chatted with us for a bit, even her son made an appearance! The bed and breakfast has a nice bar with wine, cider, and alcohol based on an honor code system. Water and soda is complementary, they even had Coke 0! The complementary fudgy brownies by the breakfast area during the day were sweet and tasty. Again the little complimentary stuff gives this bed and breakfast a nice resort feel. Very relaxing stay and looking forward to coming back!

Great atmosphere. Services was wonderful. Enjoyed the wine ! Plenty of outdoor seatingread more

Visited here yesterday with friends on a recommendation. The place is secluded behind someone's…read morehouse. Very nice little private area with ample outdoor seating and a pretty view. Limited bathroom and spot a pot. Inside is small with some seating and they do flights, which you order inside and they bring it to you, rather than standing at the counter. The people who work there were super nice and friendly. They have plenty of options. I ordered the Rosé, Merlot, Cab Franc, and Syrah. I didn't really like any of it, but the Syrah was the best of the four. I thought the Merlot and Cab Franc had an unfortunate smell, but still finished the entire flight.

I saw a sign for a winery while en route to another and decided to make a stop. I hadn't heard of…read morethis place and had no idea what to expect. Let me get the "bad" out of the way first, and note this is still a five-star review. You drive up a gravel country road to a small building that houses the tasting room. It's the smallest tasting room I've ever been in, and very simply decorated: a few beautifully framed pieces from the farm's history, some antique tools, and that's about it. This isn't going to be your upscale winery experience. If you're looking for Napa or Bordeaux vibes, you're in the wrong place. The single guy behind the counter turned out to be the owner. He mentioned that his wife usually runs the tastings, but she was on vacation. He was fantastic, fun to talk with, knowledgeable from both a production angle and a "yes, I actually drink these wines" perspective, which is surprisingly rare. He even spoke warmly about nearby wineries, treating them as colleagues rather than competitors. It's always refreshing to meet a winemaker who genuinely enjoys other people's wine. As for the wines: we tried all twelve. A couple were still young and could use a few years in the bottle, but they showed a lot of promise. I didn't care for the Muscat, but most of the others were excellent, and I had a hard time choosing which bottles to take home. Be sure to try the "Trop Elyts"; it's fantastic, and kind of port like. I'm not usually a rosé fan, but their take on it was so unique I bought a bottle of that, too. The farm itself dates back to the 1700s. George Washington probably slept there (he slept everywhere). It's full of character and history, and well worth the stop

Overall: small, casual winery, decent wines and prices, with okay service and a single restroom…read morethat you have to go outside to enter They have indoor seating, a covered patio, and outdoor seating. There is not strong AC anywhere there. The indoor seating is very small and feels like you're in someone's grandma's living room. Tastings are done in a flight with plastic cups, not one at a time in a glass. We did enjoy the wines and eventually enjoyed talking to the one employee who was there, but it was a rough start. When we entered the tasting room we were the only people there except for one other man. We had to initiate conversation with him to determine if we were in the right place and if we could get a tasting. It was confusing and we didn't feel clear about what to do or welcomed. I did enjoy the Rich Forest Chard, the Rose blend, and the Hogshead Red. It was interesting to learn about the residual sugars and how their rose is different. There is a cemetery on the premises which was an interesting choice.