Why is local wine more expensive?

Yes, it is true, local wines can seem to be more expensive generally, but not when you compare the quality. There are a few factors that go into the price differences.

For European wines, such as those from Italy, the cost of the grapes is much lower due to the vineyards in these countries being around for hundreds of years or more! They do not typically have mortgages to pay on that land anymore as the land has been passed down for generations. By contrast in Maryland, we have to purchase the land, which around the Washington, DC area is very expensive! Then, plant the vineyard, and of course has to have a deer fence around it. The cost to plant the vineyard alone is around $100,000 for a small vineyard of less than 10 acres. Then you have to wait several years before grapes are even ready to be harvested. All the while, you must pay around another $1,000-$2,000 per month to maintain the vineyard with pruning, weeding, mowing & spraying (and this is on top of the mortgage on the land)! So, yes, on the east coast many of us are far behind Europe and California with our vineyards. But that is only the first factor.

Grapes in Maryland and Virginia are even more expensive than California grapes. The market is run completely different and the price on the east coast is determined by the growers and their cost. Because of our late spring frosts, which can damage or completely ruin grapes for the year, and large amounts of rain in August (plus chances for hurricanes), we have to work harder (which can equate to more expensive) to grow grapes on the east coast.

Lastly, and most importantly, is quality. Once wineries get very large, it is common for quality to go down. As with anything, when you begin to make any item in mass quantity, the quality control is not a priority. Our grapes were hand picked, then hand sorted. Why is that important? Everything from big leaves to stink bugs and wasps were picked out of our grapes on a sorting table before they were pressed. Big companies allow grapes to go through after being mechanically picked (which grabs anything and everything that is in the vines) and they only pull out large items that may break the presser, such as irrigation equipment before they are pressed. This means, it is possible for all sorts of things to get mixed into the wine. Then, to try to keep their varieties simple and consistent, they may add additives and sugar to their wine. Our wine is pure, clean and changes depending on which grapes were outstanding year to year.

So, yes, it is true, our wine is not made in mass quantities for mass consumption. It was made using the best, high quality grapes we could source around Maryland to bring the best tasting wine.