September is almost upon us, ushering in the last bit of summer and hopefully giving us a glimpse of cooler temperatures and a glorious autumn season.  The kids are back in school, weekend harvest festivals will be in full swing – and what better way to celebrate than to check out some local wines!

Luckily, Washington County has plenty of wineries to choose from.  From sweet to dry, there’s certainly a bottle of locally–produced  goodness for everyone to enjoy – and sampling different varieties and vintages is a great way to expand one’s tasting palate.  Listed below are some great places to visit, sit back, and enjoy a glass or two of your favorite pours.

Antietam Creek Vineyards

4835 Branch, Ave, Sharpsburg, MD  21782

https://www.antietamcreekvineyards.com/

Located right next to the historic Antietam Battlefield, Antietam Creek vineyards offers a wide range of wines to sip and purchase.  Their barn tasting room is open from April through November, and they offer a wine club, offer live entertainment, and will cater private events.

Big Cork Winery

4236 Main Street, Rohrersville, MD 21779

https://www.bigcorkvineyards.com/

Big Cork offers a multitude of wines in an absolutely gorgeous setting, with 360 degree views of the mountains and hillsides.  They produce over 16 different wines and also offer a full schedule of live entertainment, a wine club, and will cater special event dinners, tastings, and weddings.

Cool Ridge Vineyards

19638 Cool Hollow Road, Hagerstown, MD  21740

https://www.coolridgevineyard.com/

With nine varietals and a number of vintages to choose from, Cool Ridge offers several distinct wines to choose from.  Tours and tastings are made by appointment only, and wines are available for purchase online.  A wine club (“Cool Club”) is also available, offering various discounts and other amenities.

Red Heifer Winery

12840 Red Heifer Winery Lane, Smithsburg, MD  21783

https://www.redheiferwinery.com/

Open since 2012 and featuring a wide variety of both dry and sweet wines, Red Heifer is open to the public Thursdays – Sundays and has plenty of outdoor seating space, cabanas (for rent), and live music on the weekends.  Wine flights are offered (for tastings) and a Wine Club is also offered.  

This is just a sampling of the many local wineries, breweries, and distilleries that are locally available.  Neighboring counties and the entire four-state region also have many, many choices.  Create your own “wine trail” and get out and about on a fall weekend.  Expand your taste horizons!