Owning your own winery involves more than sipping whites and reds all day. It's farming, after all, and thus, a lot of manual labor, says John Wilkerson, who, with his wife, Denise McCloskey, started DeJon Vineyards.
"It's hands on in the vineyard, pruning and pulling leaves," Wilkerson says.
The couple started planting grapes three years ago after spending $400,000 to convert their cattle and hay farm. The couple has converted the barn into a 2,400-square-foot tasting room.
DeJon currently bottles five wines, two whites and three reds that sell for between $14 and $20. The varietals include a merlot, chardonnay and a chambourcin. The vintners are selling the wines at their winery at 5300 Hydes Rd., the Valley Wine Shop in Baldwyn, and at festivals.
But Wilkerson says the hard work is worth it because he enjoys talking to people about wine. DeJon joins Maryland's expanding list of wineries. The Free State currently has 41 wineries that sold $15.4 million in wine last year, according to the Maryland Wineries Association. The wineries sold 1.4 million bottles last year, a 3 percent increase over 2008.
The couple have bottled 540 cases of wine since April 3 and are promoting their grapes at wine festivals such as Howard County's Wine in the Woods and Great Grapes at Oregon Ridge.
The 45-acre Hydes winery will open to the public June 23 with a Wednesday night event, Wine Up Wednesday, that includes wine tasting, music and food from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Though it's back-breaking work, being in the wine business has its perks, Wilkerson says. He enjoys talking to fellow wine enthusiasts about his grapes and his property's location, next to a horse farm and the site of a wetland conservation area.
"We have one of the nicest views in Baltimore County. It's very nice to enjoy the scenery and bring a picnic lunch."
Source: John Wilkerson, DeJohn Vineyards
Writer: Julekha Dash