We’re struck with an overwhelming sense of gratitude as 2022 draws to a close. We had an incredible year — despite some life-altering challenges — and we couldn’t have done it without you. We cherish the privilege to not only steward our land and produce wines that bring you joy, but also to nourish and serve our community. There’s always a lot to recall, so we pause and reflect. What have we learned? How have we overcome challenges? How can we best navigate the opportunities that 2023 will bring? How can we use our wines to address real world needs?

In the spirit of reflection and gratitude we wanted to share a few highlights from this year with you:

Drew’s Health: Our family and team have never been more sure that what is truly meaningful is the gift of being together. After two years of remaining apart during the pandemic, this year was looking to be especially full of love, laughter, and togetherness. In early April, our family was hit with devastating news — Drew, one of our founders, had Leukemia, once again forcing separation from family and friends. Drew's livelihood is community-driven and not being with loved ones, missing meaningful events, and not being able to spend his days on the farm with the team was devastating. After nine grueling months of intense treatments, procedures, tests, and a successful bone marrow transplant, we are thrilled to report that Drew’s cancer is in remission!
The Winter Greenhouses: As we entered the winter season, we knew we wanted to create something special: something where people would be able to gather and make meaningful memories with those closest to them, even on the coldest winter nights. So, in November, we launched our Winter Greenhouses — the embodiment of our dedication and passion to providing experiences that draw people together. Our Greenhouses were designed and built by hand by our family. We worked diligently on prototypes all autumn long until we were satisfied with the details. We now have thirteen beautiful Greenhouses that host up to eight guests, and three larger Greenhouses that seat up to twelve guests. Each Greenhouse is heated and cozy for those windy winter days and cold evenings. Twinkling lights and fresh garland are strung and lit to mark the arrival of the holidays. Wine and food are brought table side so you can spend as much time as possible with the ones you love. The joy they have brought friends and families near and far is the joy we needed this season.
Brunch and a Pasty Chef: In 2022, we expanded our offerings to include a brunch program! We offer fresh baked donuts, savory treats and pastries all day long! In the bakery, Chef Jeanine uses organically grown flour from our farm in Clarksburg, Maryland, Burnt Hill, as the base to all of her creations. Her love for baking started at a young age making cherry pies from scratch with her grandmother. Born and raised in Maryland, Jeanine has a passion for showcasing local flavors in her pastries. She has a Bachelor's degree in baking and says, "to me, there's nothing better than seeing food come full circle. The mission here aligns very much with my own, and I think it speaks volumes about a place where they desire to support other local small businesses and communities, use the very best ingredients, and don't cut corners with quality. I’m thankful for their talent and passion in both cooking and agriculture. I hope you come by to enjoy it."

Artisanal Coffee and a Barista: Our Lead Barista, Kenzie Contestabile, is an innovator in the world of coffee, and we are thrilled to have her at the helm of our portafilters! Utilizing artisanal coffee from Black Acres Roastery in Baltimore, Kenzie is committed to crafting the best cup! She has always loved curating experiences that make people feel special and valued. When she started her career as a barista in sunny Florida, she quickly realized her passion for understanding the elements that make perfect espresso. It's not just a drink—it's love and creativity in a cup! After 5 years as a lead barista at a premium coffee shop in her home state, (Axum Coffee Co.) she joined the Old Westminster team and looks forward to making you an intentionally crafted coffee at your next weekend brunch visit!

Our first Ready-To-Drink spritz!: In 2022, we introduced Ver Juicy! Made from green, underripe grapes that are bright and tart — “verjus” is the by-product of good farming. To encourage vine balance, we "green harvest" our vineyards each summer. This involves removing excess grape clusters while they’re still mostly green, reducing crop level and improving the quality of the remaining grapes. We green harvest during a stage in the vine's lifecycle called veraison, a term meaning "the onset of ripening.” Although many grape growers simply drop green fruit to the ground, we resolve to let nothing go to waste. We carefully handpick the green clusters and press them in the winery to make verjus — or should we say Ver Juicy! A delightful blend of verjus, rosé wine and sparkling water. Enjoy from the bottle or over ice! Aromas & flavors: orange peel, lemon meringue, mandarin jam, lime zest, blood orange.

Summer Solstice Festival: After a two year interlude, we once again hosted our Summer Solstice Festival at Burnt Hill Farm and were able to celebrate the longest days of the year with friends near and far. Summer Solstice is a celebration of the best low-intervention winemakers from around the world under a giant circus tent atop a wild hillside. The festival is all about discovering the beauty of regenerative farming and soulful wine in an undomesticated environment. We had over 50 incredible producers pouring at the event and over 1000 attendees. We opened our farm for an outdoor gathering featuring winemakers, farmers, artists, musicians and purveyors from near and far. Our guests were able to sample 200+ unique wines, eat amazing food, listen to unique music and enjoy our stunning hillside.
Salt & Pepper: In 2022 we released a new duo of food and wallet friendly blends made for everyday drinking! Salt & Pepper were dreamed up by our Somm, Joey, who wanted us to prove we can make world class wines in Maryland for $25 or less. They were produced and blended by our dynamic winemaking duo, Lisa and Erin. Beautiful art and calligraphy were created by our creative team, Taylor & Maggie. The whole team was in on this! 2021 Salt is a blend of 85% Skin-Contact Grüner Veltliner, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Albariño -- it's bright and juicy with fresh acidity and those mouthwatering saline notes that will have you saying "pass the salt"! 2020 Pepper is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 30% Blaufränkisch, 20 Chambourcin -- it's rich and ripe with soft tannins and those spicy pyrazine notes you would expect from a wine called "Pepper."

We talk a lot about the importance of shopping local, supporting small farms and consuming wine and food with a sense of place. We believe that supporting local farms is essential to our communities! As local farmers and makers, we want to produce wines that speak for themselves and cultivate a community of customers who not only purchase our wines because they love them, but also because they know we support bigger causes. We hope our simple approach inspires you to discover a way to give back to your community to meet the needs of others.

This year, we felt the overwhelming sense of your support and love! We sincerely could not do it without you. Here's to discovering the new opportunities 2023 will present us.

Much Love,

A year in Community: 2022