Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard

A lady was so patience with us giving us details about their homemade wine. Though, we have a tip for them… provide mugs for mulled wine instead of styrofoam coffee cups.

We became members and loved this place
Great wine with many notes — nice musical entertainment — great views and people to talk to

I went here for a grape stomping event with my girlfriends. I drove from Northern Virginia and it was a scenic and beautiful 1 and a half hour drive up highway 15.
There aren’t any signs to direct you, but eventually we made it up the hill and past the SEVERAL bike riders on the two lane road out that way.
I’m not sure if it was because of the event but there were parking attendants directing where to park your vehicle and to tell you not to walk in the road, although there aren’t really any other places to walk.
It was $ 15 if you were going to have any alcoholic beverages and $ 5 for non drinkers. The $ 15 included a free wine glass which could be engraved for free (which I felt was a nice touch) and one drink of choice… the sangria was my pick and it was very flavorful and refreshing.
There was plenty of seating with chairs and tables, and an open area for blankets to lay out while listening to the band.
The grape stomping was fun, but only 3 people could stomp at a time, so the lines got a bit long. There was a start time and a limit so that made it easier. There were also only two stomping songs-​the Italian version and Beyonce’s Put A Ring On It… seriously!!!
I didn’t do the tasting because when I tried some of the wine my friends purchased, it was a bit strong.
I like that pets were allowed, but the problem is you get the good with the bad and there are small kids there so I felt it wasn’t a safe combination.
It was a nice drive, but we won’t be going back.

I happened upon this place after hiking on the mountain. It’s a nice little winery, but certainly nothing like the wineries in California, but that’s understandable. The service was wonderful, and there’s a very young clientele, which was surprising to me, as in CA, it’s a mature, mixed age clientele, these folks seemed less so. I bet it’s rough running a place like this, as there’s really very few useful months out here. The wines are blends, and they are good, for the most part. When you go in, ask where the tasting is, as when I visited, there was a big line, but it was for buying glasses of wine, not tasting. The tasting was outside, in back… Hmmmmm!!!
The weird thing here, well, to me, was that it was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and the idiotic Maryland blue laws forced them to kick everyone out at 6 pm!!! Whatttt??? No alcohol at all! Even if you bought the wine, they had music, served food, no matter what! I bet they lost 10 grand in business doing that! Why couldn’t they have a nice function till 8pm or whatever and stop selling it after a certain time, or maybe just tasting?!? What??? Am I back in the Civil War ages? Ridiculous. MoCo must be really anti small business. I really hope this place can thrive, but I cannot see how unless things change. Its a sweet little place in a pretty location with good wine blends. They deserve better.

I am giving this Vineyard four stars because I loved almost all of the wines I tasted during the wine tasting, the atmosphere was very peaceful and serene, the staff was super friendly, they served snacks like crackers and lots of different cheeses at a reasonable price and they were dog friendly. Occasionally on the weekends they have live music which is really nice. My only critique is that the hours are noon to 6 PM seven days a week. I really really really wish they would stay open later on at least a Friday or Saturday like the vineyards in Virginia do, however the hours could be set due to the city or county regulation, I’m not sure. But nonetheless I’ve enjoyed my many visits to Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard so much so that I wish they would extend their hours so I would have more time to spend out there. If you make the trip out here you are sure to not be disappointed. It’s peaceful serene, and you cannot go wrong with a great bottle of wine, which they have plenty to chose from. Enjoy my friends!

We went here to check out the nearby Sugarloaf Mountain for hiking with our dog and lo and behold this winery is super dog-​friendly! The atmosphere was fun and relaxed. The wines were pretty good for Mid-​Atlantic wines (check out their sangria in the summer). My only gripe was the cheese and cracker prices. But, you can bring your own picnic to avoid that! I will definitely be making more appearances here!

Wine were pretty weak here. A nice lil drive to Sugarloaf Mt. I didn’t like the fact that Parents brought Children or Ppl with Pets. Really! Picnic area & your letting your dog poop. And bring them indoors when we’re trying to get away from them. Those of us with allergies don’t appreciate it. I was told the lil foo-​foo dogs were service dogs. My azz…

Great place to start if you’re looking to pick up wine tasting as a hobby! Enjoyed outdoor music and picnic with a lovely group of girls on a beautiful summer Saturday.

I used to go here when it first opened. I went again more recently. The place has become more popular which also means it’s super crowded now. The live music is always fun. They’ve made several changes that I do understand but actually take away from what used to be a great experience.
No more cheese and cracker platters. You get s giant block of cheese and a package of crackers. Most people bring picnics I suppose but that platter they used to have was great.
They only do tastings in one small back bar now up the hill. Sad face. There’s another tent that you just go for drinks. And the inside to buy bottles.
The place continues to grow which is great to see. And I still love their wines. Their Chardonnay is one of the only Chardonnays I really love.

I spent a beautiful few hours one Saturday afternoon at this winery and really liked it. It’s in a rustic setting, near the base of Sugarloaf Mountain. The surrounding area is very pretty. The tasting room is nice and new and features a pretty good set of Maryland wines. The bottles we bought state that the wine was produced and bottled at this vineyard, so I guess they make it there, unlike some wineries in VA I have been to.
The Good:
1) The red wine: The Circe, a red blend of merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot, and malbec – was actually really good. And I drink a lot of wine to think that I have an OK taste palate. At $ 23.95 plus tax, this was not a bad deal.
2) The tasting room was nice and new and even had that «new wood» smell that I like.
3) The scenery was beautiful. It was the perfect place to spend a long afternoon in the country with friends.
4) Dog Friendly
The Not so Good:
1) The white wine and the rose wine: these were pretty bad wines being sold for around $ 22, so not a good deal.
2) The lack of food options in the vineyard. The day we were there, it was a Saturday and really crowded, so maybe there was food, but I just didn’t really notice it. I thought that if they opened up a BBQ grill or something, it would have been perfect.
3) Gnats all over the grassy area where we were sitting. Now to be fair, this is not the fault of the vineyard – it’s the outdoors, I should be prepared for nuisances like this. But I listed it as a negative because it was very annoying.
4) Was very crowded on a nice Saturday, so be prepared and bring a blanket.

4 stars for the wine, 3 for the experience. The EVOE was delicious enough that it warranted us buying a bottle to save for a special occasion. The tasting room is a tent behind what appears to be a main building. During our tasting, it was clear that our server was reading straight from the descriptions on the bottle rather than speaking from experience. There’s s small menu of wine tasting snacks like cheese, crackers and summer sausage as well
That can be enjoyed with an extra glass by the fire pit on the patio. Also close to sugarloaf mountain and a great post-​hike spot!

4.5 stars
Yes, the tasting room is small, and limited to smaller groups of 4 people or fewer, but they have TONS of outdoor space. They get mega bonus points in my book for having sangria in the summer, and mulled wine in the winter, and *food*!!! The only problem is we bought one of the cheeses, and had a *hell* of a time trying to get it open with that tiny ineffective plastic knife! Another plus — you can buy an entire bottle of wine, and just sit and enjoy that — seemed like many people already had their favorites, as most tables seemed to be drinking a bottle as opposed to a glass or doing a tasting. I liked the sangria (although maybe a tad too sugary), and my friend got the chilled red wine, which I also liked. Great day trip spot from DC, as the drive is quite short, and the location is lovely.

Lots of fun! We hiked Sugarloaf Mountain first and then headed to the winery about 1 pm. It said on their website to bring a blanket if you arrive after 1 pm b/​c the tables might be full, and that is really true! We were lucky enough to grab a table with an umbrella for some shade for our dog, but I’d say they were all gone by 1:30.
This is a very DOG FRIENDLY winery. The tasting are in a tent, so you can bring your dog in there while you taste wine. The store where you buy the wines and use the bathroom is the only place dogs are not allowed b/​c there is also food (cheese) for sale in there. We drank our bottle of wine and ate our picnic lunch and had a great afternoon! Would definitely go again.

Not very impressed.
My group of 5 arrived to celebrate my birthday on the Bacchus celebration day for them. My friend called in advance to make sure we didn’t have to be members and were told no problem.
We got there at noon. The place was just a little busy. I should have gone with my initial red flag in that not 1 staff member said hello. Not one.
My friend, who got there a few minutes before us, was told that she couldn’t bring balloons she brought inside. We’re not talking Up movie status balloons. There were 6 regular sized latex balloons. She said she planned on staying outside with them but they still said no. Um… the outside area was empty when we got there.
On to the tasting… I guess that’s exactly what it would be called since we, like some of the other Unilocalers, received a thimble full. We all felt very (very) rushed and the guy pouring was so messy (like he was rushing). The pleasantries were short with him. He was very scripted with his knowledge. It was bad.
We went inside to order a glass to sit down outside. The signs posted inside make it VERY clear that if there are more than 4 people in your party, outside you go. Don’t move any chairs around either (also posted on multiple signs). I get that since its a super small space but I really felt like a 1^st grader with all of the posted reminders. Anyway, we’re ordering (or trying to) & the staff, although smiling, seemed annoyed. They didn’t try to help us choose between styles of wine («oh this is sweeter… if you’re looking for dry then pick this»). That’s been my experience at every other winery on the planet– helpful in an attempt to get you to buy more wine. It was like ordering at McDonalds. Keeping in mind this is the same staff that told us NO BALLOONS FOR YOU.
So, in short, the wines were average at best, not a friendly atmosphere, definitely don’t come here expecting to celebrate anything even if it’s a scheduled celebration day for this winery.
I highly recommend La Grange in Haymarket, VA. A few of the other women I went to Sugarloaf with and I are members. We all agreed that La Grange is much better. Taste, atmosphere, staff…
Good luck Sugarloaf.

Visited here on a chilly Saturday afternoon last weekend. I’m not always a huge fan of reds and they have quite a few — but I REALLY enjoyed our tasting! So close to Frederick, and next time, we’ll stay a little longer.

I’ve popped in to the winery post-​hike twice, and have not encountered any of the rude/​brusque behavior mentioned in some other reviews. In fact, I’ve been delighted by the service!
Our first visit was more relaxed, as it was the middle of a weekday during winter. The sommelier (I don’t know if that’s actually the appropriate term, but I’m going with it) was incredibly knowledgeable about wines, and the local wine industry and also filled us in on all the features of Sugarloaf Winery itself. He was super friendly and didn’t mind that we don’t know anything about wine except that we like to drink it. Left with a ton of knowledge and a desire to return ASAP.
My girlfriends and I stopped in after another hike, this time on a snowy Saturday afternoon. We had my dog with us, so I stayed outside on the patio with a glass of wine and some cheese (dogs are welcome but have to stay outside) while they did a tasting. While I waited for them to join me, a woman from the staff came out and brought treats for my pup! She went nuts for the Pupperonis! The only bummer is that they didn’t have what looked like a fire pit lit, although I can understand because we were completely nuts for being outside.
I love this place, and will always stop in after hiking Sugarloaf. I can’t wait for summertime visits!

I love this place! Sugarloaf is the first Maryland vineyard I’ve been to (and I obviously need to hit up more! Especially for comparison’s sake, vs. Virginia wine, which I am clearly a fan of!) I’ve been here twice now– once back in May and once last weekend. My boyfriend lives about 20+ish minutes from Comus so we went here last Saturday on a whim, having enjoyed our first visit enough to make a return.
It was a BEAUTIFUL day on Saturday and we did a tasting outdoors, on the ‘upper level’ by the barn and by the tables– and the vines, of course. We had the same gentleman do our tasting as the first visit– didn’t catch his name but he is very jovial and a self-​proclaimed messy pourer! So funny. We tasted the Penelope first and then the rest of the wines on the line-​up were ones we had the first time as well (but the Penelope was new to us). I absolutely LOVE their Stomp chilled! It tasted so good. I liked it at room temperature the first time too but it is so bomb chilled. I didn’t get a chance to have a glass of their Sangria this time (we got a glass of Penelope after the tasting) but I think we will have to make one more trip before the end of the summer.
The ambiance here is lovely as well as their wines– very laid-​back, I love how it’s tucked away a little in the ‘country’, and I loved all the flowers that were blooming last weekend! The customer service has been pretty friendly– we were especially pleased with our server– and the prices are moderate. We will definitely visit again! Especially for their Stomp festival this fall :)

Had a great time here on Saturday afternoon. I’ve only ever been here once before (I believe it was in 2010) for their Stomp The Grapes event. We brought lunch and did a tasting. The weather was absolutely phenomenal. It’s also worth noting that the staff are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable. They grow nearly all the grapes they use in their wines on the farm.
They’re also dog and kid friendly. They have lots of tables, chairs and umbrellas around, plus plenty of shaded grassy areas to picnic on. You can bring in your own food, but not alcohol. I’ll definitely be back with the hubby and the pups!

I was going to give them three stars, but our experience as we left changed my opinion. First, the good. I enjoyed a few of their wines especially their Viogner. The person who poured our tasting was knowledgeable about their wines and answered all of our questions. The grounds are gorgeous and there is something to be said for sitting outside and overlooking vineyards while enjoying some wine. A huge plus was that they have a ton of tables for their patrons. I also really liked that they had a variety of locally made cheeses. Love supporting local establishments!
Next up, the bad. Their prices. $ 10 for a tasting when you are not a part of a group is ridiculous. While I enjoyed their Viogner, I don’t think it is worth $ 25. Most of their wines were very expensive which was a bummer as Sugarloaf is much closer than many other wineries that I go to.
Lastly, the ugly. We went to leave and brought our finished wine bottle and wine glasses down to the staff. We mentioned that we didn’t know where to place it but didn’t want to just leave it sitting on the table. The staff member’s response? «Well if you were considerate, you would have left ten minutes ago». No joke! I looked at my friend and had to confirm that is what I heard. I was shocked. Yes, it was 6:15 and they close at 6. Truthfully, we lost track of time in the beautiful surroundings and in our conversation. We would have had no problem leaving 15 minutes earlier if they had come over and mentioned something to us. But, they didn’t. Additionally, we were not the last people to leave. There were many others still sitting outside with wine glasses when we left.
To say I am disappointed is an understatement. While I found them to be expensive, I would have returned as the surroundings are gorgeous and they are closer than many other wineries. Due to one staff member’s comment, I won’t return.

I sought out Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard for a nice fall wine-​tasting with my wife and her friend, but when we pulled into the parking lot on Saturday at about 11:00 and saw tents, a band, and like 70 cars, we worried that we had picked the wrong day.
NOT SO! Turns out we had lucked upon a Grape Stomp and Wine festival. SMV holds these events on weekends throughout the fall, and we could not have been more pleasantly surprised. What do you get for the $ 15 admission fee? You get a wine glass (w/​engraving, at least the day we went), placement into a grape stomp competition, and a glass of wine of your choice. You can buy food (like crab cakes and burgers) from a few food booths, play cornhole, and listen to a bluegrass band. Kids can attend, you can bring your own snacks, and there was room for about 200 people, but it might have topped 100 while we were there.
Now, once you get in, you still have to pay their normal $ 10 fee to taste all of the wines, but then you pick your fave and they’ll fill up your glass, and about every hour they run a grape stomp competition. I chose to refrain and be the photographer, and a good time was had by all. One couple even got engaged while grape seeds still clung to their feet. Not my ball of cheese, but whatever floats ur boat!!!
Now, what if you go to SMV on a non-​grape stomp day? Well, I had to go back and try that too!!! It’s still $ 10 for the tasting, and you can sit around their tasting room and order a cheese plate, or just drink a bottle of wine and pet the cat (which WILL claim a spot on your lap.) My favorite wine of their is probably the Stomp wine, which they will tell you DOES NOT come from the nasty sludge left over from the fall competitions, but rather from a blend of all of the extra grapes left over from the other wines (and some sugar lol). I’m not much of a wine guy, but I’m confident that you’ll find a wine you like, and you’re sure to be relaxed in mind and body.