ugarloaf Mountain Vineyard was conceived with awareness of the unique character of the property, the quality of the soil, and with familial commitment. The double-bank red barn – built in the early 1900s – the silo and windmill are all signature landmarks of the farm. Purchased by Dan and Polly O'Donoghue in 1962, the 92-acre “Windmill Farm” has been a working farm and family retreat ever since. Owned and operated by the four children – the McGarry, McKenna and two O’Donoghue families – the transformation from a traditional farm to a vineyard broke ground in 2002. A wine making team was formed, and soon vines were planted and being nurtured. By 2005, the winery was complete and we were making our first vintages. The award-winning results are worth a taste!

Breaking Ground
The soil of the farm is comprised of equal parts clay, shale and sand. Combined with a unique microclimate at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, the family believed that a vineyard dream might be possible. In early 2002, after soil tests proved the land was ideal for producing grapes, the vineyard plan moved off the drawing board. Through 2004, while the stock was being nurtured and prepared for planting, an infrastructure of fences, irrigation, and trellis system was installed. Two fields were chosen and four separate cover crops providing necessary nutrients were planted, and upon maturity were worked back into the soil.

A Well-Cultured Team
We assembled a team of experts to ensure we produce successful quality-focused wines. Our vineyard manager and winemaker, Carl DiManno, attended the University of California at Davis where he obtained a Masters in Oenology. Our renowned vineyard consultant, Lucie Morton, obtained a PhD in viticulture from the University of Bordeaux, and she has worked in and studied vineyards in France, California and Virginia. John Caldwell of Caldwell Nurseries in California nurtured the grafted vines to assure they were well prepared for planting.

Very Fine Vines
With our team in place, Caldwell Nurseries grafted 19,000 French certified vinifera vines which were shipped here to Maryland. The vines were individually inspected for quality assurance and hand planted by our experienced crew. The vineyard contains 2.5 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5 acres of Pinot Grigio, 2 acres of Chardonnay, 1.25 acres of Merlot, 1 acre of Cabernet Franc, .5 acre of Petit Verdot, and .25 acre of Malbec. A third field has recently been prepared and beginning in 2007 we will be planting additional certified French Bordeaux clones.

Wine Making
We built our winery in 2005, designed by the acclaimed Washington, DC architectural firm Cunningham & Quill and furnished with state-of-the-art equipment. We harvested our first grapes in the fall of 2005 and debuted our first vintages in April 2006. Our winemaker, Carl DiManno, blends precision with passion in his creative approach to the science and art of winemaking. His prior engineering education and Masters in winemaking from the University of California-Davis brings SMV quality results consistent with our vineyard goals.

A Little Room for Taste
During renovations of our signature red barn, we provide daily tastings of our wines in a temporary tasting room just next to our winery. Hosted by a cheerful, knowledgeable and helpful staff, you can enjoy samples of various vintages, take a winery tour, and hopefully purchase a bottle you like. We want to make your visit memorable and pleasant; one that will bring you back to us again (and again...with your friends and family!). We always welcome your comments and suggestions. Contact us.