THE 2018 HARVEST SEASON STARTS AT LINGANORE WINECELLARS

PR Newswire Release

MT. AIRY, MD., August 29, 2018/PRNewswire/ — Linganore Winecellars, located at 13601 Glissans Mill Road in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

Even with a late spring and excessive rain this summer, the grapes are perfectly ripe this year for the 43^rd harvest at Linganore Winecellars. Cayuga White, a hybrid grape used in creating popular wines such as White Raven and Skipjack, was the first variety to be harvested this morning at the winery outside of Mount Airy, Maryland.

Eric Aellen and his crew picking Cayuga grapes to start the 2018 harvest season.

Over the course of the next ten weeks, over 15 varieties of grapes will be picked to make upwards of 30 different wines. White grapes are typically harvested earlier in the season with reds following as autumn progresses. Once inside the winery, the grapes are destemmed, crushed, and pressed to separate the juice from the skins, seeds, and stems. Looking like cloudy apple cider, the juice is pumped into tanks where clarification occurs before yeast is added for fermentation. Yeast primarily converts sugar in the juice into alcohol and enhances grape aromas.

The first crop of Cayuga grapes, harvested and ready to be processed.

After fermentation is complete, the wines age in tanks or oak barrels depending on the style desired. Most of Linganore’s dry reds and a few dry whites are barrel aged for five to twelve months while the remaining are left to rest in stainless steel. During aging, the wines soften and the flavors begin to integrate. The wines are bottled when the winemakers determine they are ready to be shared and enjoyed.

Founded in 1976, Linganore Winecellars has been producing quality, award-winning wines for forty-two years.  The winery is the largest producer in the state of Maryland and is proud to boast a third-generation family winemaker.  Come out to the winery through mid-October, sample the wines, and take a tour to be a part of the experience.