Thanksgiving Farm

THANKSGIVING FARM

Thanksgiving Farm, located approximately 12 miles SW of Annapolis, MD is everything Running Hare is not:  Small, quiet, unobtrusive, very easy to miss.

Do I say these things in a derogatory voice?

NOT ON YOUR LIFE.

This is what Amy and I call an honest to God hidden gem.  Something that you would not necessarily look for but WELL worth your effort to experience.  The tiny vineyard is the product of the love and effort of Doug and Maureen Heimbuch.  Two of the absolute nicest people we’ve had the pleasure to meet in our little viticultural voyage.  We stumbled across Thanksgiving Farm the week after the derecho storm laid waste to the DC area.  Set on a beautiful little farm in the town of Harwood, the subtle appearance of Thanksgiving Farm with its comparatively small field of grape vines might lead you to think that you might have taken a wrong turn.  DO NOT BE FOOLED. 

Doug and Maureen have set up a wonderful little tasting room: Classy, comfortable, welcoming, uncomplicated by clutter, everything a tasting room should be.  There is also a nice outdoor seating area for the warmer months.  You take a seat at the bar area and see a few obligatory wine bottles with award medals draped over them.  “Ah!” You think.  “These are their stand-outs.”

Not so.

Thanksgiving Farm only produces three wines:  A red, a rose and a white.

“THREE?!?” You ask incredulously.  “Why am I bothering with a three-wine tasting  when I can go down the road for an hour and have eight or more at just about any other vineyard in Maryland for the same price?”

Because these are some of the best wines that either Amy or myself have ever tasted.

The very embodiment of clean, pure wine flavor without pretention, but surprisingly sophisticated in their simplicity.

Try saying THAT five times fast.

Amy: Doug and Maureen also add to the aesthetics of the experience. Doug is meticulous in his alchemy, creating a combination that is obviously a labor of love for many years. His knowledge about wine and his desire to make a vintage that reflects Maryland’s landscape and capacity for growing grapes is what truly makes this an elegant encounter. It’s not the fantasy of imported grapes, tempting you with the desires and hopes of elsewhere; rather it is the understanding of place right in our own backyard and what can make our own familiar vistas appear to us for the very first time. Maureen too is lovely. She too possesses an artistic eye and a joy for their vineyard that makes the visitor want to stay and share a glass, the idea that wine is a gateway for conversation. The tasting goes far beyond what the palate can experience. These two create a holistic wine-tasting event that is subtle and easy.

This is one of the rare instances where Amy and I are in complete agreement.  For us, their stand-out is their Franc Blanc.

A light semi-dry white made from Cabernet Franc grapes, for me, this is the very essence of a pure, unfettered wine.   Virtually no sulfide taste that I could detect, this wine would go well with cheese, fruit, seafood or poultry in almost any variation or combination.

Amy also came close to breaking my pinkie when I tried to take a sip from her glass.

However, don’t let this ringing endorsement make you skip over their red or rose.  Both of them are absolutely excellent and share the same essence of purity.

 

Amy: Their Meritage is one of the best I’ve ever tasted. Like a good roast or simple Italian sauce, it’s strength lies in its minimalism. Unlike the sweet vintages that seem to dominate the Maryland wine culture, tasting like berries and spice and caramel or chocolate, this red is a classic and could, like any good black dress in a woman’s closet, sit at a 5 course dinner in Manhattan or cozy up on a snowy evening to complement a romantic dinner for two in front of a New England fire.

As if all this wasn’t enough, there’s also the aforementioned Doug and Maureen.  As I mentioned previously, these are two absolutely charming people.  They are gracious and friendly and remember repeat customers.  Take the time to chat with them about…well…anything really.  You’ll be very glad you did.

Wine: 10 out of 10:  I’m probably sounding a little gushy, but this really is some of the best wine I’ve ever had.  And despite the small selection, Thanksgiving Farm doesn’t do sweet wines, if you love dry wine then this IS the place for you.

Amy: This would be a good place to learn about the classics and then branch out from here to all the variations that wine has become.

  

Tasting Room: 10 out of 10:  While it may not have the flash or glitz of a Running Hare, Doug and Maureen make their guests feel absolutely welcome and at home. 

Amy: This room has all kinds of details that perhaps are a metaphor for the wine maker himself and his attention to detail: the crown molding, the wood rail, the deep mahogany tones, etc. 

Location:  10 out of 10:  While there may not be much to do in Harwood itself, Annapolis is just  up the road a ways.  And if you need ME to tell you what there is to do there then you need a faster internet connection.

Amy: If you are a foodie, I recommend pairing this vineyard with a trip to Fresh Market where you can get gourmet sandwiches and salads, or my favorite café 49 West Street where you can get the best hummus or spicy feta cheese.  Or my favorite place for sausage pizza Vin 909. 

After all that food, you will need to walk around the water, the Naval Academy and then end up at my favorite place for used books, The Annapolis Bookstore.

Experience: 10 out of 10: Amazing wines, charming tasting room, great people.  This is one of those instances in life where less = so much more.

Why go?:  Because you get the whole package here in a tiny little bundle.

Do they let you keep the glass?  Unfortunately, due to some archaic and UTTERLY ABSURD Maryland law regarding the number and type of sinks you are required to have in a vineyard to give away glasses, Thanksgiving Farm is unable to do so at tastings.  They do HAVE monogrammed glasses however which they provide to guests at catered events.

ADDENDUM:

Since I first wrote (and promptly forgot) this post, Doug and Maureen told us that they would soon be releasing their first dessert wine.  I await it with baited breath!  :)