10-02-2026 5:02am

35TH Governor's Cup

2026 Maryland Governor’s Cup Wine Competition Results

The results are in from the 35th Annual Maryland Governor’s Cup Wine Competition, held September 20 at The Royal Sonesta Baltimore.

This year, 163 wines from 27 Maryland wineries were evaluated by a diverse panel of sommeliers, wine educators, retailers, hospitality professionals, writers and other wine industry experts.

“The 2026 competition reiterated the diversity and quality of Maryland wines made from Maryland-grown ingredients,” said Janna Howley, executive director, Maryland Wineries Association.

“From brand new wineries to those with decades of experience, Maryland wineries are producing wines that hold their own against any other winemaking region. After a difficult April freeze, it’s especially meaningful to see our wineries’ hard work recognized and have something to celebrate.”

Jump to the full 2026 results ↓

The Biggest Awards Are Still to Come

While this year’s Best in Class and medal winners are now public, the competition’s two highest honors remain under wraps.

The Governor’s Cup Best in Show and Jack Aellen Cup Best in Show will be revealed November 5 at a special event with Edible DC at Windridge Vineyards, where guests can taste this year’s award-winning Maryland wines and see the winners announced.

The Governor’s Cup 10-pack, featuring all 10 Best in Class wines, will also be available for purchase at the event, with proceeds supporting the Maryland Wineries Association and its mission to develop and expand Maryland’s grape and wine industry.

What the Judges Saw

We asked the judges what stood out in this year’s wines.

“In years past, there’s been a lot of variation between different wineries. Here, I’m seeing a lot of the scores are similar to each other, so we’re getting a little bit more consistency within categories.” — Todd Cooper

“The Vidal Blancs, they were gorgeous. I like the trend of Maryland wine sticking to grapes they grow well here.” — Sarita Cheaves

“I’m taking a look at what’s happening with Malbec, and I’m getting really excited about it. The experimentation of the different soils in Maryland is clearly showing up.” — Sujata Mehta

“There’s still an upward trajectory in the quality of Maryland. Still lots of beauties in Cabernet Franc and rosé… also some great cider and fruit wine. It’s gorgeous to see meads in the competition as well.” — Alisha Blackwell-Calvert

“Tracking from five years ago to now, it’s very, very impressive, the quality, the experimentation, the creativity that’s coming from the vines themselves and also the wineries.” — Brett Drucker

Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks wasn’t judging, but stopped by to see the competition in action. “I’d say the overall theme is that the quality is so good. Not to say that there haven’t been wineries making top wines for decades, but when you see so many wines in this field, so many of them having top pedigree, just in terms of quality through winemakers that have deep experience.”

“We’ve been really quiet about it. But it’s all here.”

Full Results: 35th Annual Maryland Governor’s Cup Wine Competition

Best In Show | Governor’s Cup Award: To be announced on November 5th!

Best In Show | Jack Aellen Cup Award: To be announced on November 5th!

Best In Class

• Sparkling •••••••••••••••• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Brut Rosé
• White Blend ••••••••••••• Windridge Vineyards – 2025 White Blend
• White Varietal ••••••••••• Mazzaroth Vineyard – Vidal Blanc
• Blush/Rosé •••••••••••••• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Syrah Rosé
• Red Blend ••••••••••••••• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2025 Circe
• Red Varietal ••••••••••••• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve
• Sweet/Dessert •••••••••• Linganore Winecellars – NV Aria
• Mead •••••••••••••••••••• Loew Vineyards – NV Mechaya
• Cider •••••••••••••••••••• The Crossvines – 2025 Hit it Hard Cider”Strawbirdie”
• Fruit ••••••••••••••••••••• Layton’s Chance Vineyard + Winery – 2026 BoBerry Strawberry

Double Gold

• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Brut Rosé
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Syrah Rosé
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2023 Nebbiolo
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2024 Syrah
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2024 Cabernet Franc
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2024 Malbec
• Big Cork Vineyards – NV Big Finish Muscat Canelli
• Layton’s Chance Vineyard + Winery – 2026 BoBerry Strawberry
• Libertas Estates – 2025 Barbera
• Linganore Winecellars – NV Aria
• Loew Vineyards – 2024 Malbec
• Mazzaroth Vineyard – 2025 Vidal Blanc
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2025 Circe
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2025 Petit Manseng
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2023 Cabernet Franc Reserve
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2023 Comus
• The Crossvines – 2025 Hit It Hard Cider “Strawbirdie”
• Windridge Vineyards – 2025 White Blend
• Windridge Vineyards – 2023 Petit Verdot
• Windridge Vineyards – 2025 Portrayal

Gold

• Boordy Vineyards – 2025 Landmark Albariño
• Layton’s Chance Vineyard + Winery – 2024 Lazy Day White
• Links Bridge Vineyards – NV Swallow
• Loew Vineyards – NV Mechaya
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2022 Barbera Reserve
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – NV Home Sweet Home
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2023 EVOE

Silver

• 61 Vineyard – 2024 Rolling Ridge
• 61 Vineyard – 2024 Petit Verdot
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Viognier
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2025 Pinot Gris
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2023 Founder’s Series Petit Verdot
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2023 Founder’s Series Cabernet Franc
• Big Cork Vineyards – NV Big Finish Petit Verdot
• Big Cork Vineyards – NV Black Label Cabernet Franc
• Bobesa Wines – 2025 Marigold
• Bohemia Manor Farm Winery – 2025 Sparkling Rosé
• Bohemia Manor Farm Winery – 2024 1660 Red Blend
• Bohemia Manor Farm Winery – 2025 Blueberry Sparkling Hard Cider
• Bohemia Manor Farm Winery – 2024 Grand Cru Chardonnay
• Boordy Vineyards – 2025 Pinot Gris
• Boyd Cru Wines – 2024 Liberated Embers Sparkling Vidal Blanc
• Boyd Cru Wines – 2025 Community Vidal Blanc
• Cascia Vineyards – 2021 Noir
• Cascia Vineyards – 2021 Queen Anne’s Reserve
• Celebration Cellars Winery – 2022 Dangerously RED
• Celebration Cellars Winery – NV Celebration Cider
• Corteau Vineyards – 2025 Vidal Blanc
• Corteau Vineyards – NV Petit Verdot
• Corteau Vineyards – 2025 Chardonnay
• Corteau Vineyards – 2022 Barbera
• Corteau Vineyards – 2025 Pinot Gris
• Corteau Vineyards – 2022 Sweet Barbara
• Crow Vineyard + Winery – 2024 Chardonnay
• Crow Vineyard + Winery – 2024 Merlot
• Layton’s Chance Vineyard + Winery – 2023 Amber Vidal
• Libertas Estates – 2025 Off Dry Viognier
• Linganore Winecellars – 2025 Sparkling Vignoles
• Linganore Winecellars – 2024 Merlot Reserve
• Linganore Winecellars – 2024 Vignoles Reserve
• Linganore Winecellars – NV Bella Rosé
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2022 Petit Verdot
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2025 Vidal Blanc
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2023 Merlot
• Loew Vineyards – 2025 Chenin Blanc
• Loew Vineyards – NV Malka
• Loew Vineyards – NV Savi
• Loew Vineyards – 2023 Wolf
• Mazzaroth Vineyard – 2024 Estate Tannat
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2025 Fiesta
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2025 Vidal Blanc
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2024 Serenity
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2023 Petit Verdot
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2022 Chambourcin Reserve
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2025 Vintner’s Select Rosé
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2023 RHF Russell’s Reserve
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2025 MD-32
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2025 Bliss
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2022 October Glory
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2023 Vintage Blend
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2023 Heritage
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2025 Legacy
• Seven22 Wine Company – 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2022 Reaction
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2022 Merlot
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2024 Vidal Blanc
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2025 Unoaked Chardonnay
• The Crossvines – 2024 Merlot
• The Crossvines – 2025 Hit It Hard Cider
• Windridge Vineyards – 2021 Black Label Blanc de Blancs

Bronze

• 61 Vineyard – 2025 Drytown
• 61 Vineyard – 2025 Pleasant Plains
• Big Cork Vineyards – 2024 Petit Verdot
• Big Cork Vineyards – NV Big Finish Black Raspberry
• Blackthorne Cellars – 2024 Cove
• Bohemia Manor Farm Winery – 2025 Bohemia Blue Sparkling
• Boordy Vineyards – 2023 Cabernet Franc
• Boordy Vineyards – 2023 Landmark Reserve
• Boyd Cru Wines – 2025 Living Legacy Red Wine Blend
• Boyd Cru Wines – 2025 Free Spirit Rosé
• Celebration Cellars Winery – 2022 Syrah
• Crow Vineyard + Winery – 2024 Barbera Reserve
• Layton’s Chance Vineyard + Winery – 2023 Lazy Day Rosé
• Libertas Estates – 2025 Petit Verdot
• Libertas Estates – 2025 Dessert Port Style Wine
• Linganore Winecellars – 2024 Saperavi Reserve
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2025 Vidal Blanc Reserve
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2024 Petit Verdot
• Links Bridge Vineyards – 2024 Nebbiolo
• Loew Vineyards – 2024 Syrah
• Mazzaroth Vineyard – NV Dessert Wine
• Metzger Winery – 2024 Autumn’s Revenge
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2024 Sunset
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2024 Midnight
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2024 Cabernet Sauvignon
• Narcisso Wine Cellar – 2025 L’Amour
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2023 Old Line Red
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2024 1634 Chardonnay
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2025 Albariño
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2024 Bubbly Blonde
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2024 Captain’s Table
• Port of Leonardtown Winery – 2022 PORT of Leonardtown
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2025 Harvest Blend
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2025 Pi’Goat Blanc
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2023 Generations
• Robin Hill Farm and Vineyards – 2022 Pier Pleasures
• Serpent Ridge Vineyard – 2024 Pinot Gris
• Serpent Ridge Vineyard – 2022 Basilisk
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2023 Saperavi
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2025 Blanc de Franc
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2023 Barbera
• Simple Theory Wine Company – 2022 Action
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard – 2025 Penelope
• Windridge Vineyards – 2025 Albariño
• Windridge Vineyards – 2023 Chardonnay
• Windridge Vineyards – 2023 Ithaca Reserve Chambourcin