Whether you’re a wine connoisseur looking to explore the flavors of Southern Maryland, or you’re seeking a fun cultural outing, why not go for one of the many wine tastings available in the area. The vineyards and tasting rooms in the southern part of the state offer inexpensive tastings year-round, making for a great day activity with your partner or some friends. Here are a few that I’d recommend checking out:

Solomons Island Winery

Where: 14571 S Solomons Island Rd., Solomon, MD

Hours: Weds – Sun: 11AM-6PM

 

Down in Solomons Island, there’s a winery and tasting room right on the Solomons Island Pier. While this isn’t exactly a vineyard experience, their tasting room is in a prime scenic location where you can overlook the Patuxent River while enjoying your drink. This is a newer location, as their previous spot was tucked away at the owner’s home in Lusby. They offer a standard tasting including seven wines for $10, and you can keep your Solomons Island Winery glass as a souvenir. They serve different cheeses and a few non-alcoholic beverages, and they welcome visitors to bring outside food to enjoy with their glass of vino. After your tasting, you can purchase bottles at their shop, in many stores in Maryland and Delaware, as well as online.

The Tasting Room Wine Bar & Shop

Where: 137 Waterfront St., National Harbour, Oxon Hill, MD

Hours: Wed – Thurs: 4-10PM | Fri – Sat: 12PM-12AM | Sun: 12-9PM

 

This tasting room in Oxon Hill features wines from Boxwood Estate Winery in Middleburg, Virginia, as well as other domestic and imported red wines. They have an outdoor seating area with small fire pits overlooking the lower-level restaurants and the Potomac. If the weather isn’t cooperating, they also have a cozy indoor space to enjoy your wine and a snack. This tasting room offers an extensive menu of small bites like appetizers, panini sandwiches, salads, and even desserts. Their tasting system works with a programmable card from which you can select several wines, or you can purchase by the glass as well. Make sure to drop by for one of their events, with occasional live music nights and happy-hour specials.

 

Robin Hill Farm and Vineyard

Where: 15800 Croom Rd., Brandywine, MD

Hours: Sat: 12-6PM | Sun: 12-5PM

 

For a true vineyard experience, pay a visit to Robin Hill Farm and Vineyard, located in Brandywine on the new Legacy Wine Trail. This trail includes 4 wineries in total to check out, and I recommend starting with this one, open year-round. This vineyard has been family-owned and operated since 1955 and lies in a charming rural countryside with rolling hills. You can relax with friends in their barn tasting room or out on their porch overlooking the farm winery. Their tastings are $12 and include a flight of 9 wines as well as a souvenir glass. You can also purchase bottles to take home with you. They don’t offer food regularly, but they do have occasional food truck events and pop-ups. Check out their next upcoming Winter Warmer Event this Saturday, January 19th from 12-6PM, where you can sip wine while enjoying live music by John Caine and a bite from the Smokey Oak BBQ food truck.

 

Janemark Winery & Vineyard

Where: 15200 Baden Naylor Rd., Brandywine, MD

Hours: Winter Tasting Hours: Sat – Sun: 12-5PM

 

This is another don’t-miss stop on the Legacy Wine Trail. The Janemark Winery & Vineyard stands out for its unique cozy atmosphere. It’s truly a mom-and-pop winery. The wine tasting room is located in a renovated barn from the 1930’s. You can visit this cozy spot and enjoy tastes of 7 of their wines for $8. Most of the wines offered are estate-grown from their own family vineyard properties of Foxes Den Vineyard and Four Degrees Vineyard. There is also a vineyard on-site as well. This is a charming up-and-coming winery you’ve got to experience firsthand.

 

 

If you plan to follow the Legacy Wine Trail, be sure to visit the other two wineries in Brandywine — Gemeny Winery and Vineyard and Romano Vineyard and Winery. You can make a day of it, or plan a weekend in the area so you can take your time. Do you have a favorite winery or tasting room in Southern Maryland? Share it with us in the comments.