The third weekend in May should be renamed Maryland weekend. The events that occur in Maryland during this weekend are always well attended. Usually the Nationals and/or Orioles are in town for a weekend series. The first round of the NCAA Lacrosse always features multiple teams from the D.C. and Baltimore area. Of course, the big horse race at Pimlico will draw a number of people. But increasingly, it appears that the Preakness is losing people to an event that keeps drawing more and more people to Columbia, MD. The Wine in the Woods Weekend festival is becoming so popular, that as my wife and I left yesterday in mid-afternoon, there were still hundreds of people trying to work their way into the festival, even though the event closes Saturday and Sunday at 6 pm.
The festival is now in its 18th year and it keeps getting more bigger and better. This year, over 30 Maryland wineries set up tents in the Symphony Woods area in-between Columbia Mall and Merriweather Post Pavilion. Crowds thronged to each of the tents to taste this years version of the Maryland harvest. In addition, local restaurants and shops set up tents allowing souvenior purchases. Entertainment also was present as guys dressed up as statues, musical acts, and stilt people were sprinkled across the woods. The fee of $30 covered unlimited tastings of regular wines (desert and reserve wines cost $1 for tastings). You could also purchases glasses and full bottles of wine to enjoy in the woods. A much larger section of the Woods area was opened up, and even that area was filled to capacity.
Certain wineries bring forward some special wines for the festival that you can't purchase in stores. Elk Run makes a Maryland Sangria that is very popular with the masses. Other wineries bring forward special reserves just for this weekend. Saint Michael's produces a Chocolate Zin and Serpent Ridge Vineyards had a special Cab reserve. Though Maryland Wines will probably never match the fame of California wines or their neighbor Virginia's wines, Maryland wines are growing in award recognition and popularity.
From a personal standpoint, Wine in the Woods has definite advantages over the debauchery in the Preakness infield. For one thing, you are limited to one type of beer that you can drink at Pimlico (provided that the Preakness doesn't run out), while Wine in the Woods has hundreds of wines you can enjoy. If you can't find at least a couple of wines you like, you aren't trying. A second advantage is the clientele. In the Preakness infield, the area is dominated with 20-somethings (mostly guys), while Wine in the Woods draws all ages of adults and has a clear female advantage. That female advantage has dwindled in recent years. The Alcohol Ban in the infield at Pimlico last year may have unwittingly pushed more young men to consider a look at the Wine Festival.
The future of the Wine in the Woods seems to be bright. And next year, it's possible that the festival will not be dealing with going head-to-head with the Preakness. Can you imagine how big the festival will be then?
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