The Maryland Wine Festival is a tradition, not only in Maryland but all over the United States and even in Europe. This annual gala has a brilliant history - a history that has seen continuous expansion, improvement and refinement; a history thathas seen this celebration become a bonafide Maryland tradition and achieve national recognition.

The Maryland Wine Festival was conceived by John Barker, who in 1984 was the Public Information and Tourism Officer for Carroll County. Barker saw the festival as the perfect way to promote and gain recognition for Maryland's fledgling wine industry as well as a vehicle for attracting more tourism to the County. The 1st Annual Maryland Wine Festival required a special license authorized by the Maryland State Legislature to display and sell wine one weekend a year at an annual event. That first festival was a one-day affair on September 29, 1984, and was held at the Union Mills Homestead. It was attended by approximately 4,500 people. The following year the Festival was expanded to two days and was moved to the Carroll County Farm Museum, which has hosted every Maryland Wine Festival since.

In 1990, The Maryland Wine Festival Poster Competition was initiated. Each year, artists enter poster designs that promote the Festival in competition for a $1,000 prize. The winning design becomes the poster publicizing the event for that year. Posters are sold at the Festival, as well as T-shirts and sweatshirts with the same design. The competition is sponsored by the Carroll County Farm Museum's Board of Governors.

In 1991, the 1st Annual Maryland Wine Festival Bike Tour was held and has been a part of the weekend celebration ever since. Sponsored by the American Lung Association, this activity offers bikers the opportunity to complete a 10-, 25-, or 50-mile bike route the Saturday morning of the Festival. Registrants receive a discounted admission to the Festival itself and a variety of other bonuses, including a commemorative T-shirt. For more information about the Bike Tour, call the American Lung Association of Maryland at 1-800-642-1184.

Also in 1991, the Governor's Cup Award was instituted when William Donald Schaefer endorsed this annual recognition for Maryland wines. The competition is sponsored by the Maryland Wineries Association and is judged by a panel of wine experts. The wine receiving the highest overall score wins the Governor's Cup. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to other wines outstanding in their respective classes.

The year 1993 marked the Festival's 10th Anniversary, and a number of special events and activities helped to mark the occasion.

In 1995, the Festival added a shuttle service to better accommodate the growing number of festival-goers and ease parking conditions by busing people to the Farm Museum from nearby Carroll Community College located on Route 32.

Sixteen wineries are members of the Maryland Wineries Association and will be represented at the Wine Festival. All sixteen wineries will be offering samples of their finest wines, many of which are award winners. Premium wine samples and bottles of your favorites may also be purchased.

The twenty two year history of the Festival has seen the attendance climb from approximately 4,500 to an average of almost 25,000 annually. It has provided The Maryland Wine Festival Committee the experience and expertise required to produce an annual event that is unparalleled in what it has to offer and unsurpassed in quality. It is what prompted Tours Magazine in 1994 to name The Maryland Wine Festival as one of the five best festivals of its kind in North America. It is why, in 1997, the American Bus Association identified The Maryland Wine Festival as one of the Top 100 Events of any kind in the United States.

Cooperative marketing sponsorship is provided by the Carroll County Times, WZBA 100.7 The Bay, David's Jewelers, Maryland Life magazine, Carroll County Bureau of Economic Development/Office of Tourism, and the Maryland Office of Tourism Development.

The admission price of $20.00 for adults 21 and older with I.D. entitles ticket holders to a logo-engraved wine glass, twenty samples of Maryland wines, attendance at the Wine Education Seminars, continuous on-stage entertainment, guided tours of the Museum's 19th Century Farmhouse, and self-guided tours of period artisan exhibits and demonstrations. Those aged 7-20 are admitted for $5.00 with paying adult, and children 6 and under are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult.

Free handicapped-accessible shuttle is provided from Carroll Community College on Route 32.

For additional information, call the Farm Museum at 1-800-654-4645 or 410-386-3880.

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For more information on tourism in Carroll County, please contact the Carroll County Visitor Center at 1-800-272-1933 or contact us at www.carrollcountytourism.org.