Calvert County has long been known for its rolling farmland, pristine waterways and quaint town centers. Maryland’s smallest county is now gaining national and international attention for its burgeoning collection of wineries and vineyards. Five wineries in Calvert County are producing wines that rival the quality of those anywhere. Visitors interested in wine tastings, tours and more can enjoy all that Calvert County has to offer through the Patuxent Wine Trail.

The Patuxent Wine Trail is a comprehensive guide to Calvert County wineries that showcases the sophisticated tastes of local wines and the diversity of the county’s beautiful landscape. Ranging from north to south, from rolling farmland to creek-side retreats, the Patuxent Wine Trail winds through some of the region’s most stunning scenery. At each stop, the winemakers’ art is on full display, from vine to vat to bottle.

Beginning in the north, visitors to Fridays Creek Winery (www.fridayscreek.com) in Owings are greeted in a converted tobacco barn dating from the 1920s. The rustic setting includes a second-floor art gallery featuring local art, antiques and collectibles. Samples are available from a lengthy wine list, include four wines made from varietals grown in the Fridays Creek vineyard.

The next stop is Running Hare Vineyard (www.runningharevineyard.com) in Prince Frederick, set on a 300-acre site reminiscent of the rolling hills of Italy’s Tuscany region. An outdoor tasting room is nestled in the folds of the vineyard where wine enthusiasts can enjoy a picnic and sip wines that have won accolades in recent international competitions.

Between the Patuxent River and St. Leonard Creek lies Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery (www.perigeaux.com), a small family-owned enterprise specializing in red wines. From the first planting of vines at the St. Leonard site in 2001, Perigeaux has grown to offer wines under three labels from grapes grown in its vineyards. The winery is housed in a stately brick building that offers a bit of old-world charm.

The southern loop of the Patuxent Wine Trail leads to Cove Point Winery (www.covepointwinery.com), a micro-winery located in Lusby near the Chesapeake Bay. Cove Point features wine made from grapes grown on site and also from fruit sourced in Maryland and beyond. Award-winning varieties include reds, whites, fruit blends and dessert wines.

The last stop on the trail is Solomons Island Winery (www.solomonsislandwinery.com), perched along the banks of Hungerford Creek just north of Solomons Island. The beautiful 9-acre site includes a small vineyard. Visitors can sample a variety of reds, whites and fruit blends, including the recently released Mendana, a red blend named for the Spanish explorer Álvaro de Mendaña who discovered the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific.

Visitors who sojourn along the Patuxent Wine Trail will come to know why Calvert County is called the Pleasant Peninsula. “The Patuxent Wine Trail is a great way to tour this gorgeous county and experience the local wine craft,” said Calvert County Tourism Specialist Joyce Baki. “Calvert County is host to the only wineries in Southern Maryland. These vibrant businesses are showing that viticulture is a natural extension of our agricultural heritage, and that Southern Maryland wines can offer quality and diversity with a distinctly local flavor.”

Visitors interested in the Patuxent Wine Trail can visit www.patuxentwinetrail.com or pick up a wine trail brochure at area visitors centers, attractions and other outlets. For more information on Calvert County visitor sites and attractions and the services available to assist county businesses, contact the Department of Economic Development at (410) 535-4583 or 800.331.9771 send an e-mail to info@ecalvert.com; or visit www.ecalvert.com.