The following is a list of recommended wine grape varieties for Maryland, as of 2021. It is based on a combination of evaluations from Maryland grape growers and regional University of Maryland supervised variety trials. This list has changed and it is anticipated that it will continue to change as more knowledge and experience is gained with different varieties.
The Maryland Grape Growers Association cannot guarantee commercial success with any of these varieties. Some growers will be very successful with varieties that MGGA does not recommend. Others will fail even when growing these recommended varieties. Successful grape growing is an outcome predicated on a combination of many things, including, but not limited to, vineyard site, soils, mesoclimate, disease pressure, grower skill, and weather conditions in any particular year.
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Recommended Wine Grape Cultivars for Regions of Maryland |
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VARIETY |
RIPENING |
VIGOR (1) |
YIELD (2) |
MARYLAND ZONE (3) |
VARIETY |
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RED VINIFERA |
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Barbera |
Mid to Late |
M – V |
3 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Barbera |
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Cabernet Franc |
Mid to Late |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Cabernet Franc |
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Lemberger (Blau) |
Early to Mid |
M – V |
0 to 3 |
East but West (preferable) |
Lemberger (Blau) |
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Malbec |
Early |
M – V |
1 to 3 |
East, South, & West (best sites only) |
Malbec |
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Merlot |
Mid |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West (best sites only) |
Merlot |
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Petit Verdot |
Mid to Late |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Petit Verdot |
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Sangiovese |
Mid to Late |
M – V |
3 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Sangiovese |
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Souzao |
Early |
M – V |
1 to 3 |
East, South, & West |
Souzao |
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Teroldego |
Mid to Late |
V |
3 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Teroldego |
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WHITE VINIFERA |
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Albarino |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Albarino |
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Chardonnay |
Early to Mid |
V |
2 to 3 |
East, South, & West |
Chardonnay |
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Colombard |
Mid to Late |
V |
3 to 8 |
East, South, & West |
Colombard |
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Gruner Veltliner |
Early to Mid |
M – V |
1 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Gruner Veltliner |
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Muscat Blanc |
Early |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Muscat Blanc |
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Petit Manseng |
Late |
M – V |
3 to 4 |
East & South Only |
Petit Manseng |
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Pinot Blanc |
Early to Mid |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Pinot Blanc |
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Pinot Gris/Grigio |
Early |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Pinot Gris/Grigio |
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Roussanne |
Mid |
M – V |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Roussanne |
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Sauvignon Blanc |
Early |
V |
3 to 6 |
East, South, & West |
Sauvignon Blanc |
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RED HYBRID |
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Chambourcin |
Late |
M – V |
3 to 8 |
East, South, & West |
Chambourcin |
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WHITE HYBRID |
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Cayuga White |
Early |
M |
4 to 6 |
East, South, & West |
Cayuga |
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Chardonel |
Mid |
M – V |
3 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Chardonel |
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Seyval Blanc |
Mid |
M – V |
4 to 6 |
East, South, & West |
Seyval Blanc |
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SK77 5-3 |
Early |
M |
3 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
SK77 5-3 |
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Traminette |
Mid-Late |
M – V |
4 to 6 |
East, South, & West |
Traminette |
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Valvin Muscat |
Mid |
M – V |
3 to 4 |
West Only |
Valvin Muscat |
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Vidal Blanc |
Mid-Late |
V |
4 to 6 |
East, South, & West |
Vidal Blanc |
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Vignoles |
Early- Mid |
M – V |
2 to 3 |
East but West (preferable) |
Vignoles |
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SUPER HARDY HYBRIDS (4) |
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Marquette (red) |
V early |
V |
2 to 4 |
West Mountains Only |
Marquette (red) |
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TRIAL Wine Grape Cultivars for Regions of Maryland |
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VARIETY |
RIPENING |
VIGOR 1 |
YIELD 2 |
MARYLAND ZONE 3 |
TYPE |
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Chelois |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red Hybrid |
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Gamaret |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red vinifera |
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Gamay Noir |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red vinifera |
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La Crescent (white) |
Mid |
V |
2 to 4 |
West Mountains Only |
White SH Hybrid |
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Montepulciano |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red vinifera |
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PicPol |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
White vinifera |
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Tannat |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red vinifera |
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Tempranillo |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
Red vinifera |
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Verdejo |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
White vinifera |
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Verdelho |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
White vinifera |
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Vermentino |
Mid |
M |
2 to 4 |
East, South, & West |
White vinifera |
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N |
1 Vigor: L=low – M=medium – V=vigorous |
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O |
2 Yield: tons per acre |
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T |
3 Maryland Zones: The Route 95 corridor separates the East/West zones |
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E |
4 Super Hardy Hybrids: These varieties have been developed to tolerate temperatures down to -30F |
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S |
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