Hot News

3.06.2007

By STEPHANIE JORDAN
Staff Writer

Maryland vineyards are on the rise in Maryland, and even with their significant increase state wineries still have to import 1 1/2 tons of grapes for each ton of grapes produced in the state.
The 2006 Vineyard Survey, released two weeks ago, showed a 61-percent increase in the number of vineyards in the state since 2001, the last time a survey was administered. The number of vineyard acres has more than doubled since 2001, by 103 percent.
Surveys were sent out to members of the Maryland Grape Growers Association and Maryland Wineries Association last November.
Results were based on 182 surveys, which is 94 percent of those sent out.
Jennie Schmidt, MGGA secretary and owner of a Sudlersville vineyard, said the 2006 survey is the first comprehensive survey done of the industry.
“The industry has taken off,” she said.
Schmidt added that the reason wineries in the state must import so many grapes is because it takes a few years to really establish a vineyard, whereas wineries can open and be able to begin producing wine immediately.
For this reason, MGGA expects a seven-percent increase in the number of vineyards in 2007, and a 19-percent increase in the number of vineyard acres.
Kevin Atticks, MWA executive director, said the state is coming on board with the industry, showing support for the industry and encouraging growth.
Former Gov. Robert Ehrlich established a Wine and Grape Commission, which meets quarterly, to take a good look at what the industry needs.
Last year, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law to allow small wineries to continue to self distribute to retailers.
This year, the legislature will look at bills to expand the number of off-site events wineries are allowed to attend.
Currently, wineries may attend three events per county and no more than 12 for the year.
House Bill 522 and Senate Bill 425 would allow wineries to attend five per county and no more than 18 per year.
These bills would exclude farmers’ markets from counting as an off-site event, Atticks said.
Atticks said many vineyards are also opening wineries.
“There’s exponentially more money (involved),” he said. “Cases of wine are worth a lot more than a ton of grapes.”
Schmidt and her husband Hans sell to a Baltimore County winery, and say growing grapes is a great diversification venture.
Schmidt said they have tried various other ventures, including raising ostriches, to make their farm more economically viable.
“Maryland farmers really need to have the ability to diversify,” she said.
The advantage to growing grapes for wineries is that the market already is established; farmers don’t have to try to create the demand.
But there are some disadvantages to having a vineyard — there is a learning curve and a large upfront cost with a slow return.
It takes a couple of years of cultivating the vines before they are ready for harvest, and farmers should research what varieties of grapes grow best in their region of the state.
Some varieties are more winter hardy, and some stand up better to humidity.
The Schmidts grow two varieties, Vidal Blanc and Sangiovese, and have made an effort to experiment with others to see what will grow best.
Schmidt said there is now a state viticulturist, someone who can do that research, which will make deciding on different varieties a much easier task.
And growing grapes has another advantage — it’s consumer friendly agriculture that won’t create neighbor issues and is conservation friendly because it requires very little nutrient input.
All these advantages contribute to the vineyard and winery industries in the state being in an upward momentum swing, with vineyards existing in almost every Maryland county.
By the end of 2007, Carroll County will have almost 39,000 vines, the most of any county in the state.