Legends Vineyard

Vineyard and Winery

Partners in life, partners in wine, Ashby and Carrie Everhart of Legends Vineyard pair a passion for viniculture with a commitment to excellence to produce award-winning Maryland wines.

While this husband and wife team turned their first bottle of wine out on October 1, 2008, their story dates back much further. “We started out as hobbyists,” says Carrie, “when Ashby bought me a winemaking kit as a gift.”

Soon there was no turning back. “We found we had a real passion toward creating wine,” she says. The dream of owning a vineyard quickly emerged and the Everharts were able to bring it to fruition in 2006 when they purchased acreage in Churchville and planted 2100 grapevines.

“We want to bring wines that are comparable to those we’ve loved and shared in the past to the marketplace.”

Two years later, Legends Vineyard officially opened for business. Since then, 1600 more grapevines have been planted and the Everharts produce 15 different wines including Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon varietals as well as Meritage and other blends.

Equipped with a new tasting room, and situated among Harford County’s scenic rolling hills and farmland, Legends is a popular stop for travelers on the Piedmont Wine Trail. With wineries becoming a trend for wedding venues, Legends’ picturesque facility now accommodates special occasions. A patio aside a bubbling stream will be constructed by late spring.

Legends Vineyard wines are available in more than 300 Maryland retail locations and many Maryland restaurants, including Havre De Grace’s Laurrapin Grille and Bel Air’s Pairings Bistro. Not only does the vineyard offer the featured wines of Ripken Stadium and the Aberdeen Ironbirds, many of their wines have achieved award-winning status.

Most recently, Legends’ Cabernet was voted “Maryland’s Best Cabernet Sauvignon of 2009” by the Linden Green Wine Society. In 2009, Legends Vineyard won several medals in the Governors Cup Competition, including gold medals for their Cabernet Sauvignon, Meritage, and Pinot Gris; silver medals for their Vidal Blanc and Daylight White; and bronze medals for their Chardonnay and Midnight Red.

In 2009, Legends’ Pinot Gris was The Winemasters Choice Award silver medal winner and last year, their Sunset Blush, Daylight White and Midnight Red won silver while their Riesling won the bronze placement from that organization.

When it comes to deciding when a wine has reached perfection, the couple relies on their experience tasting wines from more than 500 wineries in their travels. “Our inspiration is more palate-based than regional,” says Ashby. “We’ve been able to sample many wines from numerous wineries and vineyards and exemplify those that we really enjoy.”

“We want to bring wines that are comparable to those we’ve loved and shared in the past to the marketplace,” he adds.

Both members of the Maryland Wineries and the Maryland Grape Growers associations, part of the Everharts formula for success is the synergistic business relationship between the couple. Focusing on their strengths, Carrie composes the labels and concentrates on marketing, while Ashby creates the wine and oversees the vineyard. “We have a basic agreement and it’s very simple,” Ashby laughs. “I have control of what’s inside the bottle and she has control of everything else.”

Legends Vineyard
521 Asbury Road
Churchville, MD 21028
410-914-5122

www.legendsvineyardmd.com

Pictured left to right: Ashby Everhart and Carrie Everhart
Photography: Coyle Studios