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Terrapin Station Winery
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The Diamondback Terrapin, a native of the Chesapeake Bay, is the Maryland state reptile. Once prodigious in number, the Terrapin is facing tremendous pressures on its environment that threaten its very existence. In much the same fashion, small-scale sustainable farming has been a staple around the Chesapeake Bay. The economics of farming are moving it to an industrial model, with the corresponding negative consequences to small family-run operations and impact on the environment around the Bay. This is being compounded further by development, which is converting farmland and threatening the Bay. The Terrapin Station Winery is a small-scale agricultural enterprise that will transform grapes into a value-added agricultural product, wine, using sustainable methods to the greatest degree possible. In so doing, we will bring a "sense of place" back to the agriculture that reflects the long history of the Chesapeake Bay. And by contributing a portion of our sales to research and preservation of the Terrapin, we hope to extend the legacy of the Bay, the Terrapin and the small farm for future generations.
But who says that conservation and wine have to be so serious? In developing our winery, we are planning to emphasize fun. We won't talk about our wines like geeks that like to use big, fancy words. While they will have the quality people expect in today's wines, they will be just plain good to drink. Likewise, our winery won't be some stodgy place with people talking to you like you haven't got a clue. Rather, we will use plain language and emphasize all that is good about wine, including eating food and striking up a fun conversation. We expect to open sometime in 2007. In the meantime, we will use the pages to keep you informed of our progress, talk about wine, farming and other interesting issues, and occasionally beg for volunteer help as we work to get established.
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Directions
Our winery will be located just north of Elkton, Maryland in Cecil County. This puts us in the northeast corner of Maryland, just a few minutes from the Delaware line, and just a few more minutes to the Mason-Dixon Line and Pennsylvania. We are located less than 5 minutes from I-95, either the last or first exit off of I-95 in Maryland, depending on your direction. The farm, and the future entrance to the winery, is located along Maryland Route 213, which is the main north-south road along the upper Eastern Shore of Maryland. Route 213 is a major thoroughfare for Pennsylvanians taking their boats to the Chesapeake Bay during the summer (we call it the "Pennsylvania Navy").
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Cabernet Franc
A big, bold Cabernet Franc that combines fruit from the mountains and the Eastern Shore, this wine is powerful proof of the quality of the 2008 vintage. Firm tannins and an alcoholic bite make this our wine for steak and potato meals.
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Cayuga White
Our Cayuga White is one of our most popular wines, and is extremely well adapted to our upper Eastern Shore climate. A slightly sweet, crisp, light wine - it is excellent on its own or with desserts.
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Cecil Red
This wine is a blend of Cabernet Franc and Shiraz from the excellent growing season of 2007. The wine has been aged with a touch of oak, and has a nice combination of fruitiness and structure. Have the wine with meats and strong cheeses, or all by itself.
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Five Rivers Rosé
Cecil County is known for its five rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay: Susquehanna, North East, Elk, Bohemia and Sassafras. This wine was made from St. Vincent grapes grown at our winery. Its lighter body and slightly sweet taste evokes warm summer days spent on these rivers. It pairs well with fish and fowl or on its own.
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Merlot
Our Merlot is a highly structured red wine from grapes grown in Queen Anne's County. It is drinkable now, but will also age quite well. It is an excellent wine to have with a big steak.
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Syrah
The Syrah was made from west coast grapes and exhibits a good fruity character in a lighter style.
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Traminette Reserve
This wine is our signature white wine. We treated this wine with special care, including an extended cold soak prior to fermentation to extract more of the Traminette grape's unique aroma and flavors. With its Gerwurztraminer parentage, the grape yields a spicy, crisp wine that goes exceptionally well with Asian foods, or all by itself. A crowd pleaser, it is our most popular wine.
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Vidal Blanc
Our 2007 Vidal was an award winning wine, and we think this vintage is even better. An excellent mouthfeel combined with crisp, tropical and citrus flavors pairs well with light snacks and fruit. Try this Vidal Blanc as a substitute for Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio; you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Vidal Blanc Semi-Sweet
Made from our own Vidal grapes, this version has a touch of sweetness and good acidity to make a refreshing wine.
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Add New Review
louise
says... 
this is the best wine i have ever tasted! you should come out. its beautiful out here. :)
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