Old Westminster is a 50-acre low-intervention family winery that has raised the profile of Maryland wines. Over the last decade, Old Westminster has become one of the most inventive and buzzed-about wineries on the eastern seaboard. Lisa Hinton-Baker, a chemist by education, is one of the few women winemakers east of the pacific states, crafting fresh and living wines at Old Westminster since she 23. Her older brother, Drew Baker, is the family’s vigneron. Old Westmisnter’s vineyards are located in the heart of Maryland’s wine country on the Piedmont plateau, a region with comparable growing conditions to the Loire Valley region of France. Owing to their plot’s 800’ elevation, these vineyards benefit from a constant breeze that wards off the mildew-inducing humidity from the Chesapeake Bay. The rocky soils drain away excess precipitation, and the abundant sunshine nourishes their 10,000 vines, which include Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Albariño. In the vineyards, they implement a pragmatic farming program using environmentally sound materials; mostly organic (and even experimenting with biodynamics), but also synthetic when it's known to be more effective and less intrusive for Maryland’s demanding climate. Old Westminster is committed to terroir-driven sustainable wines farmed entirely by hand with meticulous vineyard care and minimal interference in the winery. They eschew all the fining and filtration and use minimal sulfites. For over a decade, the bakers have been among the earliest advocates of natural winemaking on the eastern seaboard. Old Westminster has earned a wave of acclaim in recent years for being among the first new world piquette producers, a zero-waste beverage historically enjoyed by vineyard workers and rarely seen elsewhere. (What is piquette? Piquette is a vinous ferment made by rehydrating grape pomace after the juice has been pressed off for still wine. Because freshly pressed grapes are chock-full of sugar and yeast, a second spontaneous fermentation takes off when water is added to the grapes. This yields a refreshing, wine-like beverage with a lower alcohol percentage than traditional wine - a super refreshing all year round sipper).
As with all our producers, we will be donating part of the proceeds from sales to a non-profit close to our heart. For Old Westminster, we have chosen to donate to the Alberta Cancer Society. Please check them out.
2020 Pet Nat Field Blend Piquette
Field Blend
6.9% ABV
Winemaking: Naturally sparkling beverage made with pressed red grapes and fresh nothern Maryland water. Fermented with native yeast in stainless steel, bottled near the end of fermentation. Disgorged with no dosage.
aroma: cola, red cherry, candied lavender, orange peel
palate: cherry starburst, chalk, cranberries
pairing: roasted root vegetable salad with pepitas
aging: drink now!
SKU: 837175 | 12 to a case | 750ml, glass, with cork & wax|
Dream On
60% Orange Piquette, 25% Gruner Veltliner, 10% Rosé and 5% Vidal
Winemaking: Fermented with native yeast in stainless steel. Bottled without fining or filtration
aroma: peach rings, gummybears, grapefruit, pilsner and red cherry
palate: white peach, honeydew, gooseberry, green olive
pairing: white pizza with soft goat cheese & fresh basil
aging: drink now!
871442 | 12 to a case | 750ml, glass with cork and wax
Take it Easy
60% chambourcin rosé | 35% piquette blanc | 5% piquette rouge. Brightened to taste with verjus.
10% ABV
Winemaking: A very unique Chambourcin rosé blended with piquette blanc AND piquette rouge. Making it a co-ferment, piquette, wine blend! Natural wine. Fermented with wild yeast & bottled without fining or filtering. Very, very easy drinking.
aroma: tart red cherry, pomegranate, sage and raspberry vinegar.
(*we noticed some bottles were a bit reductive this year - it should blow off, but if it doesn’t it’s still super yummy!)
palate: sea breeze, white cherry, sage, gooseberry
pairing: white pizza
aging: drink now
846398 | 12 to a case | 750ml, glass with cork
2021 After Hours
55% sauvignon blanc, 25% chardonnay, 20% albariño
11.8% ABV
Winemaking: A blend of 55% sauvignon blanc, 25% chardonnay, 20% albariño blended by the OWM team to share with friends. Fermented in stainless steel with native yeast. Bottled in March 2022.
color: pale lemon
aroma: peach rings, gauva, lemon grass, white pepper, lemon zest
palate: white peach, honeydew, lemon juice, green olive
pairing: white pizza with soft goat cheese & fresh basil
aging: drink now!
871440 | 12 to a case | 750ml, glass, with cork & wax
Skin Contact Piquette
White blend
6% ABV
Winemaking: spritzy and refreshing orange piquette - 100% Maryland grown. Natural wine. Fermented with wild yeast & canned without fining or filtering.
color: hazy peach
aroma: gummybears, grapefruit, pilsner, raindrops
palate: grapefruit juice and peel, pink starburst, white sage
pairing: another can
aging: drink now
Piquette has been hailed by the wine media as natural wine’s tailgate party, the perfect low-proof beverage on a hot afternoon. Best served at 5-7° in a wine glass but if circumstances demand, there’s no fuss to drinking this piquette straight from the can. This is the oenophile’s answer to the wine spritzer. A fun piece of trivia: Once upon a time, in the old world, this beverage would be traded to day labourers for their help with the harvest!
831787 | 24 to a case | 355ml, standard aluminium can
Carbonic
100% Cabernet Franc
12.8% ABV
Winemaking: Carbonic-style Cabernet Franc. 100% Maryland grown. Natural Wine. Fermented with wild yeast & canned without fining or filtering.
color: medium ruby
aroma: raspberry cheesecake, blackberry, blue plum, cedar
palate: red cherry, ripe raspberry, pomegranate pie
pairing: grilled sausage & peppers⠀
aging: drink now
831787 | 24 to a case | 355ml, standard aluminium can