The Beautiful Work: Women Cultivating Maryland’s Wine Future
“I make wine not to impress, but to express.”
— A woman winemaker, somewhere between the vine rows and the cellar
In Maryland’s evolving wine country, a quiet shift is taking place—one that’s as much about identity as it is about innovation. Women are at the helm of this movement, not just managing vineyards, but shaping narratives—through land, labor, and legacy. They’re building spaces of ownership, creativity, and continuity in an industry where their presence has long been the exception, not the rule.
These are not borrowed titles or ceremonial roles. These are vineyards planted with intention. Labels born of long hours and deep love. Wines that carry the fingerprints of the women who made them—bold, nuanced, and unafraid to age beautifully.
And while the national spotlight often turns to the West Coast or neighboring Virginia, Maryland’s women winemakers are crafting something quietly extraordinary. You’ll taste it not just on the palate, but in the stories behind the glass.
🍇 Profiles in Grit, Elegance, and Vision
Hidden Hills Farm & Vineyard – Frederick County
Once an equestrian estate, Hidden Hills is now one of the region’s most thoughtfully curated wine destinations. Founded by Robin Sagoskin, the vineyard seamlessly bridges rural charm with refined hospitality. Each label—many named after horses that once roamed the land—tells a story of transformation: of the land, of purpose, and of womanhood redefined.
Robin’s wines are expressive, approachable, and quietly ambitious. In a region not yet saturated by trend, she’s found the rare space to lead with clarity, warmth, and confidence.
Loew Vineyards – Mt. Airy
Heritage meets forward momentum at Loew Vineyards, where fifth-generation winemaker Rachel Lipman has taken the reins of her family’s legacy. Since stepping into the role, she’s not only expanded production and introduced modern practices, but honored the deeply personal traditions of her ancestors—some of whom once made mead in Eastern Europe before immigrating to America.
Rachel’s presence is part of a larger wave of young, intellectually driven women redefining what it means to be a winemaker today: part scientist, part storyteller, all rooted in a deep reverence for craft.
Narcisso Wine Cellar – Landover
Cyndi Campbell and Dalia Chambers didn’t wait for a seat at the table—they built their own. Narcisso Wine Cellar, one of Maryland’s few Black woman-owned wineries, is at once intimate and expansive. Intimate in its size and scale; expansive in its vision and impact.
Their wines are personal and precise, and their work has created a network of mentorship and visibility for women of color in the region’s beverage industry. As entrepreneurs, they are clear-eyed and collaborative. As winemakers, they are uncompromising. Narcisso is proof that refinement can come from anywhere, and that representation in wine is not a trend—it’s a necessity.
🥂 A Future Rooted in Intention
Maryland’s women winemakers are not just participating in the conversation—they’re rewriting it. From the graceful transformation at Hidden Hills to the inherited wisdom of Loew, to the radical vision of Narcisso, their work is deliberate, dimensional, and deeply human.
So the next time you lift a glass from this region, pause.
What you’re tasting isn’t just well-made wine.
It’s the quiet power of women building something beautiful.
