on August 24, 2016 at 6:19 PM, updated So maybe this will open some eyes to the potential of Albarino in the region. The white grape with its roots deeply buried in Spain's production history won Maryland's Governor's Cup, the state's most prestigious wine competition. Results from the July competition were announced Monday, with Boordy Vineyards' 2015 varietal finishing atop the heap.  It's the fourth time that Baltimore County winery, the oldest operating in the state and one of the oldest on the East Coast, has won the Governor's Cup since the contest originated in 1991. Here's the list of winners through the year. "The Albarino has been very well received by our customers, and thus far quite successful in competition, having won "Best of Class" in the Comptroller's Cup [held in Maryland in May], and now the overall top honors in the Governor's Cup," Boordy president Rob Deford wrote in an email Wednesday afternoon. "It's an exciting variety in many respects: it's proven quite resilient in the vineyard, is fruitful, and has a naturally bright acidity when it is fully ripe.

A number of varieties lose their acidity as we wait for physiological ripeness, so this is a distinct advantage in our climate. best wine chickenI think it might also help with disease resistance, but we are relatively new to the variety and there is much to be learned."best sweet wine uk Crisp, versatile Albarino set for weeklong international toastbest texas wines 2016 In a region where wineries have been around long enough to learn what grows well here and what doesn't, Albarino has come along as a "second generation" planting. food and wine top 100 recipesSuccess has accompanied it, with Maryland wineries such as Old Westminster and Black Ankle finding a growing interest in a white that offers minerality and zestiness and, in many drinkers' vocabulary, a taste of fresh pineapple.food and wine top 100 recipes

Albarino has found other homes on the East Coast outside Maryland, including at   Allegro in southern York County and The Vineyard at Grandview in Lancaster County. top france wine regionsJohn Cifelli, general manager at Unionville Vineyards in central New Jersey, said they like the wine they made for a time out of Albarino grapes sourced from the Jersey shore. "Albarino ... not given enough of a chance in the mid-Atlantic," he wrote in an email Wednesday. "Unionville made one for about 3 years and it was lovely, but the vineyard that we bought the fruit from, Atlantic Gardens in Cape May Co lost its financial backing and the vineyard is no longer tended. Boordy has bucked the trend of a competition that largely has settled on red wines for its Best in Show winners. It won in 2001 for its sweet Riesling called Eisling, and then in 2006 for its Vidal. The winery also won in 2010 with its Landmark Reserve, its premum red blend.

Slideshow offers peek at Boordy Vineyards' past, present and future Since 2002, a red wine has won Best in Show 13 out of 14 years, with Boordy's Vidal in 2006 being the exception. "Given the very good quality of many reds now being produced in Maryland, it was something of a surprise that our Albarino won the show, but definitely not a disappointment!" "I think this confirms that the judging is not locked into a preordained outcome, but is on an earnest quest for the best wine. I believe Albarino has a very promising future in our region." Here's the list of Best in Class wines, including the Cup winner. Best White Blend: Turkey Point Vineyard * Lighthouse White 2015 (Cecil Co.)Best Rose: Crow Vineyard * 2015 Barbera Rose 2015 (Kent Co.)Best Red: Catoctin Breeze Vineyard * Estate Cabernet Franc 2013 (Frederick Co.)Best Red Blend: Linganore Winecellars * Cabernet Reserve 2014 (Frederick Co.)Best Fruit: Big Cork Vineyards * Black Cap NV (Washington Co.)Best Cider: Great Shoals Winery * Hard Strawberry 2016 (Montgomery Co.)

Best Dessert: Big Cork Vineyards * Vidal Ice 2014 (Washington Co.) You can find the full list of winners here. If you want to purchase the wine, you'll likely have to visit the winery north of Baltimore. Deford said that while Boordy has a Pennsylvania winery license, it doesn't plan for the moment to apply for a license to ship its wines. "We are currently licensed as a winery in PA since that is what previously required in order to ship wines to PA customers, of which we have many," he said. "The new law would be simpler, but there is an advantage to having a PA winery license in that we can participate in PA wine festivals, which helps promote our wines that are carried by the PLCB. So, our future direction is most likely to stay with the status quo."Our beautiful state is a wine enthusiast’s heaven-on-Earth. With over 60 wineries in Maryland and more than 400 delicious varieties to choose from, wine tasting has become a popular local activity. During your stay at the Wayside Inn, we highly suggest visiting one of these stunning and unique wineries near Baltimore.

Each winery is close to The Wayside Inn, making for an enjoyable day trip with plenty of time to return to the Inn for a relaxing evening.If you’d like to find even more wineries in Maryland or other local attractions, claim your Free Maryland Vacation Guide today!If you’re ready to experience our list of the best wineries in Maryland, we recommend the Pierpoint Suite for your romantic getaway. You can also enjoy a terrific planned evening in Ellicott City before and after your winery tour with our luxury package.Basignani Winery is located in Sparks, MD, less than an hour’s drive from The Wayside Inn. It is owned by husband and wife team Bertero (Bert) and Lynne Basignani. Bert dreamed of following in the footsteps of his Italian grandparents who made wine at home, so he bought 10 acres of land in the Maryland Piedmont while he was still a college student as a step toward fulfilling that dream. Forty years later, Bert and Lynne run a successful winery that produces 6,500 gallons of wine annually.

Basignani Winery grows Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Seyval, Burdin and Villard grape varieties which produce several wines, including dry reds, dry whites, and several sweet wines.The tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. It is closed Monday and Tuesday. The winery hosts several special events throughout the year, including wine pairing events and a Tuscan Christmas celebration.Black Ankle Vineyards is nestled in the foothills of Mt. Airy, MD, a little more than 30 minutes from The Wayside Inn. Founded by Ed Boyce and Sarah O’Herron, the vineyard’s first grapes were planted in 2003 and harvested in 2006. The 2006 wines rested in barrels until the tasting room opened in 2008. The vineyard spans nearly 30 acres on a 145-acre farm in the Maryland Piedmont.You can learn more about the vineyard’s history, and the 12 grape varieties that are grown there during an extensive vineyard and winery tour offered Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m., weather permitting.

The tasting room is currently closed for the winter but will reopen in mid-April.The roots of Boordy Vineyards run deep, as it was founded in the 1930s by Philip and Jocelyn Wagner, who went on to establish Maryland’s first commercial winery in Baltimore City in 1945. In 1980, the vineyard was purchased by the R.B. Deford family and relocated to a 240-acre farm located in Hydes, MD. Forty acres of grapes are cultivated on the vineyard producing 97,000 gallons of wine annually.Located a short 30-minute drive from The Wayside Inn, Boordy Vineyards’ tasting room is open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Vineyard and winery tours, which include a walk through its 19th century stone barn, are offered daily at 2 and 3:30 p.m.Established in 1983, award-winning Elk Run Vineyard and Winery’s approach to making wine is an homage to the traditions and values of old world practices while integrating new world research and technology. All the varieties made at Elk Run are grown in the 25-acre vineyard.

The tasting room is open November through April Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. and other days by appointment. May through First week of October, Elk Run Vineyard is open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Wine Down Friday is an event held weekly from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., weather permitting.Fiore Winery offers a full range of wines, including dry reds, dry whites, sparkling wines and dessert wines. This winery was established in 1986 by Mike and Rose Fiore. Mike was a vineyard owner in Italy before moving to the United States in 1962.Located in Pylesville, Md., about an hour from The Wayside Inn, Fiore Winery produces 35,000 gallons of wine annually and has been the recipient of many awards. Pack a picnic lunch and plan to spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the vineyard and sampling the wines.Fiore Winery’s tasting room is open November through March Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. April through October, the winery is open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.This Maryland winery features a comprehensive experience for both wine and food.