Boordy Vineyards is celebrating its 80th birthday this year.
Few on the East Coast go back further than the producer that was founded by Philip and Jocelyn Wagner and operated by them for the first 35 years on their property in Riderwood, Maryland.
One of the oldest post-Prohibition wine labels in the United States, the business was purchased by the Deford family in 1980 and, since then, upgraded into one of Maryland’s premium producers. Before the transaction, the Wagners bought grapes from the Defords’ vineyard on their family farm in the Long Green Valley, which was originally settled in 1725.
It’s the current home of Boordy, located at 12820 Long Green Pike, in Hydes, about 25 miles northeast of downtown Baltimore.
To celebrate, the owners have released an 80th anniversary Founders Reserve. You can read more in the copy that accompanied a photo of the bottle posted Feb. 1 on Facebook. Available to club members now, it will be made available to the public on May 1.
The cost is $100/bottle.
Phineas Deford manages the winery along with his parents, Julie and Rob Deford.
He confirmed in an email to PennLive that this is the first time Boordy has made a special-occasion wine like this.
“What makes it unique is it’s a blend of our Reserve wines, meaning we first created the four reserve wines that we make each year [or most years] — Landmark, Lost Order, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot — then borrowed a bit from each and blended it all together with a few barrels of really nice Petit Verdot,” he said. “We were fortunate because we needed an excellent year, which 2022 was, in order to make a wine that would be ready for release in 2025.”
After farming grapes on our home vineyard in the Long Green Valley for 33 years, Boordy expanded to a second location, South Mountain Vineyard, which sits 80 miles west of the winery in the Blue Ridge Province of Frederick County.
A majority of the grapes for its top-of-the-line Landmark Series of dry wines grow at that site. Between 2008 and 2018, the vineyards at both locations were replanted with superior vines, and in 2013, a state-of-the-art winery was constructed on Long Green Farm. In 2023, it undertook an eight-month restoration of its 1800s barn, home to many events and its tasting rooms.
On most days from spring through fall, the patio and lawn — dotted with picnic tables and trees — are packed with visitors, who can be served from an outdoor building. More seating is available in front of the barn in addition to the inside seating on both floors of the barn.
Recognizing their importance to the Maryland wine industry — March is Maryland Wine Month — the Deford family in 2024 was honored with induction into Maryland’s Agriculture Hall of Fame. Previously, Long Green Farm was placed in permanent preservation with the Maryland Environmental Trust.
In addition to its Landmark Series, Boordy also produces a series called Chesapeake Icons, a lower-priced line of quality dry and semi-dry wines made primarily from grapes grown at the estate in addition to being sourced from partners within Maryland and other states.
Finally, its sweeter wines more than a decade ago were given a new label and brand: Sweetland Cellars.
As part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Boordy will be partnering with some of the area’s top chefs to host monthly Supper Clubs at the winery from March through September. Supper Club evenings are limited to 30 guests and will feature five courses paired with Boordy’s estate-grown wines. Tickets already are on sale. The cost is $135 per person, including sales tax and gratuity.
Here’s the schedule:
- March 19 – The Food Market, Chef Chad Gauss (sold out)
- April 16 – Grano, Chef Gino Troia
- May 21 – Clavel, Chef Carlos Raba
- June 18 – Costiera, Chef Brian Lavin
- July 16 – La Barrita, Chef Sebastian Cordona
- Aug. 20 – Daniela, Chef Daniela Useli (featuring a completely gluten-freee menu)
- Sept. 17th – True Chesapeake, Chef Zack Mills
In addition, the Baltimore Symphony is planning two performances there in July.
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