Fridays Creek Winery was my first Maryland wine experience after we moved here last year. Their tent was the first one I saw at the Calvert Wine and Arts Fest, and I made a beeline for it. Moments later, I was sipping a Traminette, which I was told was similar to Gewurztraminer – my favorite wine. When I made it out to the winery a few months later, I was charmed by its rustic setting.
Fridays Creek is located in Owings, just a couple miles off of Route 4. It makes for a pleasant detour if you’re passing through the area and not pressed for time. The winery opened in 2006, with the tasting room located in a renovated tobacco barn. There is also an upstairs gallery with seating areas where you can admire and purchase local art as you sip your wine. During nice weather, you can opt to sit outdoors.
Visitors can bring a picnic. In addition, tours of the winery and vineyard are also available. Fridays Creek has a one-acre vineyard at the winery. A larger vineyard is located nearby on the Patuxent River.
You get 6 tastings for $5. Most of Fridays Creek wines are made from grapes grown in their vineyard. A few are made with imported grapes that can’t be grown on Maryland soil. As with other local wineries, Fridays Creek offers a variety of reds and whites (and a blush) ranging from dry to sweet. I also spied bottles of plum wine on my most recent visit.
If you don’t make it out to the winery, you can find bottles of Fridays Creek wines at several of the local liquor stores. In addition, you can usually taste Fridays Creek wines at many local events throughout the year, including the North Beach Farmers Market.
http://www.fridayscreek.com