Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery

Sitting above the Patuxent River in Calvert County, Maryland, on a scenic plot with eight acres of vineyards, we found a charming and enjoyable winery: Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery. It was a spur of the moment day trip to wineries within about an hour and a half of the house and we were not disappointed. All of the wines which carry the Perigeaux label are estate grown--which is no small feat considering the size of the vineyard.

Perigeaux Tasting Room

It was a beautiful, late-May afternoon and our visit to the winery was thoroughly enjoyable. We were met as soon as we walked  into the tasting room by Katie who demonstrated a deep knowledge of the winery and wines produced. Varieties grown on the estate include: Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, and Zinfandel. 

I learned something really interesting while in the tasting room. One of the pairings they proposed for their 2011 Chardonnay was with quiche! Yup--quiche. Wine is not just for dinner anymore and can rival the cheap sparkling wines used to make breakfast mimosa's. 

The winery is most proud of its dry red offerings, but we also found a unique interpretation of Chardonnay. 

The 2011 Chardonnay was very impressive and found an excellent balance between the steel tank and oak barrel fermented Chardonnays. This Chardonnay is held in oak barrels for just a few weeks--and this imparts soft tones into the wine without becoming overpowering oaky or buttery. 

The 2012 Pinot Gris Reserve was also very nice and definitely worth the taste.

The reds, however, were truly the hit of the visit.

We were able to sample some of the double gold winning 2011 Montepulciano and it was every bit as good as a double gold winning wine should be. Sadly, there were only a few bottles of this wine left.

Gift Area in the Tasting Room

But, there were some other great reds to be sampled. The 2011 Cabernet Franc was very nice and surprisingly full bodied, while the 2011 Mackall Road Cabernet Sauvignon was similar to a Washington State interpretation with a very light body and almost no tannins.

It was a perfect day to visit the Winery and Vineyard and I recommend it as a must do stop on Maryland's Patuxent Wine Trail. 

-- Bob and Christina Doan, Elkridge, MD