About
Southern Maryland Wine Growers Cooperative formed in 2007, the first agricultural cooperative in Maryland. Two years later, the cooperative entered a lease with the Town of Leonardtown to operate the Port of Leonardtown Winery, the first commercial winery in St. Mary's County. The tasting room opened in May 2010, inside a repurposed historic commercial building in the Port of Leonardtown Public Park. Grapes come from 12 cooperative vineyards across St. Mary's, Calvert, Charles, and Kent counties. Winemaker Lauren Zimmerman studied Enology and Viticulture in Niagara Falls, Canada, graduating in 2006, then spent a year at Coopers Creek Winery in New Zealand. Her wines have won the Governor's Cup in 2018 and 2020, part of a run of more than 150 awards, including multiple Best in Class honors and international medals, since the winery opened in 2010.
When to go
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Location
Leonardtown, Maryland, United States of America