Had a fantastic time with the very knowledgeable staff and high-quality wines. We will be returning…read moresoon!

If you're looking for a big, fancy winery with a bustling tasting room, this isn't for you. But if…read moreyou want a very friendly place where the owner (Ed) will greet you at the parking lot and take you on a terrific golf cart tour - up close and personal with the grapes used to make the wine you'll soon be sipping - Six Wicket (tastings by appointment only) is superb. After the golf cart tour, which features wonderful mountain views (SW is high up, not far from Camp David but reasonably close to route 70), Ed will stop at his beloved croquet court and invite you to partake. Do: it's a blast. Then you can choose an indoor or outdoor tasting location (bring your own nibbles; there's no food served here) and check out some excellent wines including a delicious Cab Franc in Slovenian Oak and a fine Petit Verdot, among others. Coming soon: a Gruner Veltliner!

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!

Paradise Springs Winery is such a beautiful spot, especially if you're looking to spend a relaxing…read moreday outdoors. The grounds are amazing--surrounded by trees and rolling hills, with a vineyard nearby that really adds to the atmosphere. On a nice day, it definitely gets busy--almost every picnic table was taken when we visited--but there was still plenty of seating inside and on the patio. They had a food truck on site, and you can also order charcuterie platters at the counter. I liked that you can bring your own picnic too (just no outside alcohol). They are also dog-friendly! I was a little surprised to see so many kids, but thankfully parents were keeping a close eye on them, so it didn't take away from the experience. There's a solid selection of wines available by the bottle or as tasting flights, so it's easy to find something you like. Tastings at the bar with a wine educator are a nice touch, though they can be a bit limited if the place is really crowded. The only downside was that they seemed a bit short-staffed during, so tables weren't cleared as quickly as they could be. That said, there are plenty of trash cans and bottle bins around, so it's easy enough to help keep things tidy. Overall, a great place to unwind with friends, enjoy some wine, and soak in the scenery--just be prepared for crowds on nice days!

I attended the tour, and it was very fun. It was quite comprehensive, and insightful, both in terms…read moreof how they produce their wine, as well as the overall history of the vineyard. Our tour guide was very friendly and thoughtful. Outside of the tour, the vineyard has a very nice, quiet vibe. Very scenic. It's a very good way to spend a Saturday or a Sunday, with friends/family, or as a date.

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!

Sugarloaf Winery would have been perfect if the weather had been nicer. We visited with a large…read moregroup of 10+ people, and while the indoor space felt a bit tight but cozy, it ultimately was not enough room for a group our size. That said, it actually would have been great for a big group if the weather were good, since there is tons of outdoor seating available. The staff was friendly and the ambiance was great. I really loved that they had live music outside, but it was too windy for me to sit and fully enjoy it. I ended up staying for only a couple of songs and wished I could have stayed longer. An interesting setup is that wine flights are purchased outside, while glasses are picked up inside, which was a bit unexpected but easy enough once you figure it out. The wines were nice, nothing that really stood out in a good or bad way, but very enjoyable overall and perfect for a beautiful day spent outdoors. The crab fries my friends ordered from the food truck outside was fun to eat too, definitely satisfactory for those with munchies when you drink. Overall, this feels like an ideal spot for smaller groups indoors or larger groups when the weather cooperates. I would definitely come back on a nicer day to fully enjoy the outdoor space.

A friend and I finally got a chance to visit Sugarloaf after hearing great things about this…read moreparticular vineyard from word of mouth. I came on a Friday afternoon, the weather was perfect for sitting outside (not too hot, not too cold). Upon coming in, the staff was quick to great us and were very friendly. I got the mixed flight and the other person I was with got the all red flight. Once we got our flights, we sat outside. The did have fans on which helped with the heat and there were only a handful of people so it wasn't crowded. I did note that later in the evening more people came so coming a bit early did help us to secure seating. Both of our flights were absolutely delicious and fresh. We ended up getting a bottle of the Circe which was our personal favorite. I have to mention that the music they had over the speaker earlier in the day absolutely set the vibe (they played a lot of 90's R&B). After about an hour there was live music and the musician was very engaging, to the point where a toddler stood in front of him and stared in amazement for at least 2 minutes straight. We were please to see how the musician interacted with his littlest fan and the rest of the crowd. The food from the food truck was good. Although we could wished for more variety, we did buy a few sliders which was a nice snack while finishing the bottle we bought. Overall, if you are looking for a vineyard that isn't overly crowded, has live music, shade to enjoy your flights and isn't loud so you can enjoy conversation, this is the place to be. I will most certainly be back.

We visited Big Cork on Saturday with a group of 14. Unfortunately, the weather was much colder and…read morewindier than we expected, and there was no space available inside. At that point it was also difficult to find another place for such a large group. Thankfully, Meghan from the Big Cork team truly made our day! She was incredibly kind, patient, and went above and beyond to help us with everything we needed. Thanks to her, we still had a wonderful time. We are very grateful for her help. We really liked Big Cork and look forward to coming back again when the weather gets warmer.

Met a buddy in Columbia for beer and in our discussion, we started taking wine, from Paso Robles to…read moreMaryland. He told me Maryland specialized in Cabernet Franc and Viognier and I knew nothing about Big Cork prior to arrival, but dad it was named as a top 10 tasting room by USA Today. Bold claim, especially coming from California. It was an absolutely beautiful day to visit Big Cory on Sunday. U called to confirm I didn't need a reservation, was told I didn't. That was nice, so I continued my drive to the winery, following three other vehicles that turned into the winery grounds. Ample parking, stunning grounds and views of the surrounding area. A big white building with a surround patio greeted me as I walked in, taking in the ambiance of the place. It was busy with patrons sitting outside, standing at mo sitting at the bar. I was greeted by an English chap, names Andy who said he works be right with me. Gave me a few minutes to look around and take in the experience. Andy greeted me and told me to grab any seat. Told him o was new to Maryland wine, as it was my first time at any winery outside of Paso Robles. I guts my expectations were high but I dialed them back as I ordered my tasting flight. Not a big white fan, I was impressed I'm with their Chardonnay, not buttery like the California. It was light, crisp and fruity. A very well done white. In fact I enjoyed it more than the Sauvignon Blanc, which if drinking a white I usually lean towards. Found this a bit too sweet. On to the reds, which is what I was reliably looking forward to. Andy took time to explain each wine, some characteristics and processes behind each glass. Their Meritage, a red blend was okay but was missing something for my liking. I did however enjoy the Cab Franc as single varietal. Never got to the Siberian Ice but was treated to the Syrah, Nebbiolo and Black Label Malbec. Those last two tasting were wonderful. My tastings done, I ordered a glass of the Rose Brut as I took care of Andy and my bill. I did walk out with a bottle of Chardonnay and Cab Franc. Overall a wonderful tasting with some good wines. Worth checking out but being from Paso I'm not going out of my way to find East Coast wines. I know what my palate enjoys but a little change now and then can be a good thing. If I get t girlfriend out, we will be back.

Wine, food truck, live music and a breathtaking view! I kinda summed it all up right there!…read more Grab a chair, sip on wine, listen to the live band and breathe in that fresh air and be grateful we're alive!

We had a great visit to the winery last weekend. Service was awesome and the wines were very good…read more They offer flights, by the glass and bottle. They also offer small snacks and sometimes have foodtrucks Plenty of parking, lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Live music, check their schedule My rating rationale  +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1 Atmosphere/vibe +1 Value

If looking for a winery with excellent hospitality, a beautiful view, and delicious wine look no…read morefurther! Heather warmly welcomed us, showed us around, and introduced us to the many wines. She graciously answered our questions and served us water, as we made our tasting selections. Michael served some of our wines and shared lots of insightful information about the wines we had selected. After our tasting, we sat outside by the fire pit for a bit and enjoyed the view. The drive up to the winery takes you off the beaten path and onto a gravel road, keep following the signs with the grapes that will lead you to the winery (a house), park in the driveway and prepare to enjoy the hospitality, view, and wine!

We ordered all of the wine for our November 1 wedding through Celebration -- Heather was an…read moreabsolute gem to work with and treated us so kindly! We found them while looking for a welcome party venue, and while that didn't work out, we were so pleased that we could still work with them as a vendor! The wine was outstanding and the service was even better!