The Promise of Growing Grapes in Montgomery County
What makes a site suitable for successful production?
By DR. Joe Fiola
Have you ever dreamed of growing grapes and making your own wine? The recent development of The Crossvines( TCV) facility in Poolesville is helping many to pursue that goal. And you are probably not aware, but many areas within the Montgomery County AG Reserve have characteristics very appropriate for growing quality grapes.
Maryland is currently the home to over 100 wineries around the diverse regions of the state.
There are four wine regions of Maryland, including the Eastern Shore, Southern Shore, Piedmont Plateau, and Western Mountains, and each offers various challenges and opportunities for producing quality grapes and wines.
The University of Maryland Extension( UME) conducts a comprehensive extension and research program to promote the planting of grapes in Maryland, designed to allow entrepreneurs to utilize proper research-based information to make decisions on site selection, ground preparation, grape varieties, establishment techniques, and have every opportunity to get the new venture off in an efficient and economical manner. Through detailed GIS analysis of critical factors UME developed“ Vineyard Suitability Maps” for all of the counties of Maryland. The purpose of the maps is to provide a graphic representation of where high quality potential vineyard sites exist statewide, and Montgomery County( MC) fares quite well.
Proper site evaluation is the first major critical step in determining the suitability of a particular location for sustainably producing grapes. A good site is necessary for optimizing winter survival and achieving proper grape ripeness and quality. When evaluating climate one must consider the macro-climate and meso-climate of that specific site.
The macro-climate refers to the general conditions of the
Montgomery County has a diverse range of soil types and locations, and many are excellent for growing grapes. There is not one best location to grow all types of grapes, and Montgomery County’ s diversity is a unique strength and opportunity for grape production in our region. Windridge Vineyards is an“ estate” winery that produces wine grown from our own fruit. We grow grapes on three vineyard sites located within a couple of miles of each other and despite their close proximity, each site has its own distinctive“ personality.” It has been a rewarding agronomic experience learning how to maximize their potential and this journey of education and understanding has been on-going. As a lifelong farmer in Montgomery County, I also enjoy sharing our wine with our customers and having a conversation about the potential for Montgomery County grapes and wine!
- robert butz, windridge vineyards plenty I summer growing 2025 39