Sip a taste of local wineries at North Beach's Farmer's Market

Twin Beaches news

Friday, July 10, 2009

"It'll be just a taste," a small portion of wine that people will be able to sample for free, said Diane Burr, North Beach's events coordinator. Starting today and through mid-October, the Friday farmer's market will include wine tasting from all five of Calvert's wineries.

"It'll be good fun for everybody," she said. Burr also wanted to remind people that the wineries will be checking identification, so be prepared to show an I.D.

The wine tasting was made possible through legislation, sponsored by Maryland Senate President Thomas Mike V. Miller Jr. (D-Calvert, Prince George's) and Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert), passing in the Maryland General Assembly this past session. Previously, there were limits on the number of farmers' markets wineries could participate in, but this legislation lifts the restrictions specifically for the North Beach Farmers' Market, Burr wrote in an e-mail. Last year, the first time the bill was submitted, it was "attached to something controversial, so it didn't go through," Burr said. This past session, it was separated out so it would not die through guilt by association, and it passed becoming law on July 1, Burr explained.

The wines that people can taste will be available for purchase at the town's local wine shops, Bay Wine & Spirits and Coffee, Tea and Whimsey.

"All the Calvert County wineries will be represented," said Ann Ashcraft of her shop Coffee, Tea and Whimsey. This time of year when its warm out people generally buy white wines, she said, but she will have a variety on hand.

Prior to the opening of the farmer's market, the Town of North Beach is hosting a private wine tasting for local dignitaries and politicians in thanks and celebration for the town's newest venture.

Even though the wineries are still young, all five of Calvert County's wineries have earned awards for their wines in the past several years and continue to create new ones each season.

Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery's award-winning wines are grown at the St. Leonard vineyards. In 2008, the winery was recognized by the American Wine Society with three bronze medals for its Cabernet Sauvignon and medals for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay and Merlot at the Maryland Governor's Cup and Winemaster's Choice Competitions.

Running Hare Vineyard of Prince Frederick won silver and bronze medals for both reds and white wines at this year's Maryland Governor's Cup Awards and won three international awards.

"Our gold medals are Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay," said Barbara Scarborough, adding its dessert wine, made from grapes grown in Calvert, also won awards.

Plum and blackberry fruit wines became available last month from Friday's Creek Winery of Prince Frederick, which has a wide selection of red and white wines as well, earning an award for its Cayuga White in 2008.

Cove Point Winery in Lusby has specialized itself in a variety of light fruit wines in the beginning and has moved toward more traditional wines. At the 2008 Governor's Cup Awards, it won a gold medal for its Pinot Noir NV and silver and bronze medals for both reds and whites.

Lusby's Solomons Island Winery boasts that all of its wines have earned awards, focusing on premium, dry full-flavored wines, just releasing its blended bold red Mendana. The winery's most popular wine remains the light fruity white Solomons Island Mist.

For a list of this year's Governor's Cup Awards, go to www.marylandwine.com/mwa/awards/winemasterschoice09.shtml

charvat@somdnews.com