Case Club Membership Level Options
There can be no doubt you are a wine lover! At Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, enjoy our bucolic atmosphere and fine selection of Bordeaux-style wines. So, ask yourself this question: How can I prolong these palatable pleasures? The answer is the SMV Case Club. As a member you will join a community of aficionados and enjoy special benefits. Our club features two levels: the Frequent Buyer Membership and the Bacchus Membership to satisfy the unique taste of the wine lover. Join today!

Please visit our Case Club page for more details and to download a membership form.

Bacchus Club Members
Cabernet Franc is now available by bottle or case, exclusively for Bacchus Club members. $28.95/bottle, $318.45/case plus the 10% club discount. The winemaker recommends letting the Cabernet Franc in the bottle until April.

If you have not picked up your January 2012 package, please stop by and do so. If you would like to opt to have your package shipped to you, please call the tasting room at 301-605-0130.

Valentine's Extended Weekend Celebration
February 11 - 14, Noon - 6 pm each day
Celebrate Valentine's Day with us! We will remain open Monday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 14. For all you Love-birds out there, we are offering 2 Tastings, 2 Glasses of Wine and a Valentines Platter for $35. Dont Forget: we have Hot Soup, Hot Mulled Wine and Apple Cider, and a cozy firepit on the patio to keep everyone warm!

SMV Six-Pack Promotion
Take advantage of our Six-Pack promotion in the Tasting Room. Purchase 6 bottles of wine, and receive two FREE Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard souvenir glasses.

Congratulations to Joshua Parker!
Joshua Parker, a long-time and beloved SMV employee, is now a Certified Sommelier. After intensive instruction and training in the world of wine, Joshua passed a two day examination to become a professional who specializes in all aspects of wine service, tasting and food pairings. SMV is proud of Joshua and his accomplishments and, as always, we learn from his passion for wine.

Direct Shipping of Wine Now Legal in Maryland
As of July 1, 2011 wineries in Maryland can ship directly to consumers in Maryland. For more information or to place and order, contact the SMV Tasting Room at 301-605-0130.

SMV Wins Medals from Maryland Winemasters Choice
SMV wines win gold, silver and bronze at the 2011 Maryland Winemasters Choice Competition. The SMV Comus 2009 won the gold medal for the best red blend; the Pinot Grigio 2010 and the Circe 2010 won silver medals in the best white and the red blend categories; and the Chardonnay 2010 won a bronze in the best white category.

Joining Forces with Sugarloaf Regional Trails
SMV is happy to join with Sugarloaf Regional Trails, a non-profit focusing on conservation of the cultural landscape in rural Montgomery County. The SRT organization began in 1974 and conducts cultural research and educational activities, holds preservation and environmental conferences and publishes trail guides which can be read and downloaded from their website.

Travel the Maryland Countryside with a Maryland Wine Passport
SMV is a member of the Maryland Wine Association and is participating in its Maryland Wine Passport program. Passports are available at participating wineries, simply pick one up and present it at each MD winery you visit. You will be given a code and stamp at each winery. The MD Wine Association is finalizing its new website and once live, you will be able to log on and enter your Passport codes collected from each winery. Using your Passport and collecting codes will make you eligible for discounts and invitations from the MD Wine Association. For example, after 8 winery visits, you will receive notification of discounted tickets to events happening around the state; after 16 visits, you will be invited to receptions around the state; after 32 visits, you will be eligible for discounted tickets, invitations to receptions and an annual drawing to win a basket full of MD wine valued at over $120. Notifications will be sent via email. The Frederick Wine Trail, which consists of the eight wineries in Frederick County, including Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, is also developing special perks for Passport participants. For more information, click here.

From the Tasting Room

A Warm and Comfortable SMV Winter
During the winter weekends, we offer selections of hot soup, mulled wine and hot cider in the Tasting Room to warm your tastebuds. We have installed additional heaters on the patio for your comfort when you want to sit outside with your glass or bottle of wine.

2012 SMV Tasting Room and Festival Calendar
January 1 – CLOSED
January 14 – Early Release Party for Bacchus Club members
January 16 – OPEN for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21 & 22 – Barrel Tasting for Bacchus Club members
February 12 & 13 – Valentine's Weekend
February 20 – OPEN for Presidents Day
March 17 – St. Patrick's Day Celebration
March 24 & 25 – Sangria returns to celebrate Spring
April 8 – CLOSED Easter Sunday
April 21 & 22* – Toast of Frederick, Frederick, MD
April 28 & 29 – Early Release Party for Bacchus Club
May – October: Live Music every Saturday and Sunday 2 - 5 pm - Check our website for listings.
May 5 & 6 – Bud Break Festival
May 12* – King Farm Wine & Music, Rockville, MD
May 13 – Mother's Day Celebration
May 19 – Dogs Day of May
May 19 & 20* – Wine in the Woods, Columbia, MD
May 26, 27 & 28 – Memorial Day Celebration
June 17 – Father's Day Celebration
June 23 – Dogs Day of June
June 23* – Urbana Music Festival
July 4 – Fourth of July Celebration
July 21 – Dogs Day of July
August 18 – Dogs Day of August
August 25* – Rockville "Uncorked", Rockville, MD
September 1, 2 & 3 – Labor Day Celebration
September 15 & 16* – Maryland Wine Festival, Westminster, MD
September 22 – Dogs Day Finale
October 6 & 7 – STOMP Festival
October 13 &14 – STOMP Festival
November 16, 17 & 18* – Sugarloaf Craft Festival
November 22 – CLOSED Thanksgiving Day
November 23 – Black Friday Sale – All wine on sale
December 8 – Photos with Santa Paws
December 24 – Closing at 3 pm
December 25 – CLOSED
December 26 - 31 – Open Noon - 6 pm each day
January 1, 2013 – CLOSED

*indicates off-site event

Serve SMV Wines at Your Event
When you are planning your next event, SMV’s award-winning wines are a perfect complement to the festivities. Whether a business, community or personal occasion, our selection of wines will suit the taste of your guests. Recently, SMV wines have been served at wine dinners at the Kennedy Center, the Knights of Malta event at the Mayflower Hotel, the Chesapeake Dinner at the Cosmos Club, and many other galas, weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties, country club events, and private dinner parties. For details please contact carolyn@smvwinery.com or anne@smvwinery.com.

Group Visits, Private Parties, Events and Meetings at SMV
Consider hosting your next private party, family gathering, or business meeting at SMV. We have facilitated many such events for individuals and groups, banks and corporations, Chambers of Commerce, commercial and private businesses, associations and charitable organizations. Private Event fees include wine tastings and a tour of the winery. Download our Private Events scheduling and fee information by clicking here.

Due to the volume of customer patronage during certain business hours, events must be scheduled. GROUPS PLEASE CALL AHEAD: we require two weeks advance reservation for large parties, with a 25 guest minimum. Groups of less than 25 guests can be scheduled on certain days and times.

Due to limited indoor seating, WALK-IN SERVICE FOR GROUPS IS LIMITED to parties of no more than four persons inside the Tasting Room during regular business hours. Walk-in groups of more than four persons are required to use outdoor tables only on a first-come, first serve basis; weather dependant. If inclement weather, we cannot facilitate large walk-in groups in the Tasting Room.

As with all our vineyard guests, private party attendees must follow our Vineyard policies.

Catering of your choice is permitted. We can make catering recommendations upon request. For additional information or to arrange your event, contact Susan Reed at susan@smvwinery.com or at 301.605.0130.

From the Vineyard & Winery

At this time of year we begin the pruning process in the vineyard. We have been hard at work since just before Christmas and at the rate we are going, we should be finished ahead of the scheduled late March date. At the winery, all the 2011 harvest has been tucked away to mature in our French oak barrels and tanks. Given the high yields of 2011 we will be bottling about 5000 cases this year. The Spring bottling will take place the first week of March and we expect to bottle about 4000 cases at that time.

Around Town

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Festival season is officially over. Thank you to all who volunteered! Consider helping us out next season. Our team is attractive, smart and fun! Volunteer a three hour shift and you will receive free admission to the festival, tastings of MD wines, a free wine glass and a complimentary bottle of SMV wine. For the most part, SMV volunteers pour samples of SMV wines. Training is provided. To volunteer, contact Robert Eckrich at robert@smvwinery.com.

We will continue to update our calendar and events on our website and in subsequent "Through the Grapevine" eNewsletters.