Big Cork Vineyards — Attraction in Boonsboro

TL;DR The views are gorgeous. The facilities are state-of-the-art. The wine is good. The service needs some work.

We visited this winery on 2 occasions and both times we had a very inconsistent customer service experience. On our first visit we showed up late, around 4PM. Our friend was already there and couldn't wait for us to join at his favorite winery. He bought the membership on the same day, and so the mood was festive. The views are gorgeous. There's plenty of space. Their shop is quite robust with a huge selection of crackers, cheese, salami, accessories and even entertainment for kids. The wine that we ordered was okay. Around the last call we ordered another bottle of wine. The sales assistant told us that 5PM is the time of the last call, but we can stay as long as we want. Well, at 6:30 someone came to us and rudely told us that the winery is now closed, and has been closed since 5PM. We quickly left after that. The last interaction left a bitter aftertaste. I think the sales assistant who sold us the bottle could have been more straight-forward and said something like, "The last call is at 5PM and the premises close at 6PM". That way we know when we are not welcome anymore.

The second time we visited, we introduced another family to this winery. We made a decent amount of effort to get there during the hours when they are open. We brought along 2 toddlers and a baby. We walked into the building to get a bottle of wine, and were told by some lady that for the wine tasting we should have made a reservation at least 3 hours ahead of time. I was shocked. She walked away. We assumed that she went to ask someone if it's okay for us to stay, but she never came back. The thing is we were not even interested in the wine tasting. We'd be happy with a couple of bottles of wine, sitting outside while kids run around. We were confused for a bit and didn't know what to do. Then we asked a gentlemen at the bar for service, and he was more than happy to serve us. I guess we couldn't get the wine tasting, but could have gotten a bottle or even wine by the glass. I think the sales assistant could have communicated this in a more positive way instead of turning us away and causing some confusion. We got a bottle of "Russian Kiss" and it was pretty good. It was a hot day and the sprinkler was running, so kids got to run around and play with the water. At one point the winery staff was ready to turn the sprinkler off, but they extended it just for us. That was very sweet!

So I don't know if it's just one person who is the culprit, but the service is pretty inconsistent and at times...

Here are my key impressions that prompted us to return after a couple of years (we intentionally went on a Sat. that did not have big name bands playing)

Great views (go early, before noon to get a table in the covered area).

The place is amazing clean inside and outside

Friendly staff (Dawn and Ellen were incredible!). The family owned vibe makes for a really good ambience.

The wines we had were great! ( A bottle of Petit Verdot which had a nice zing (my words since I am not a wine expert!) and a bottle of the Cabernet Franc which I originally came to try but ended up selecting the Petit Verdot first ......and yes we did not drink both bottles but took them home - which you can do).

The place was full but not crowded.....nice mix of families and singles groups- all having a nice time but no raucous behavior which I appreciated.

A suggestion: Take some nice bread (we just brought along a baguette, some goat cheese and some smoked gouda, really good vine ripened tomatoes, some parsley and roasted red peppers .....all so nicely complemented the reds we bought). I would not settle for pizza which a number of people bought, but that's just my opinion. I did walk over to the food truck to pick up a serving of smoked sirloin tips).

We had just come back from Bordeaux and the wine regions there but none of them (yes even St. Emillon! or some of the Chateaus in the Medoc) compare to our experience at Big Cork!!! No crowds of hot sweaty tourists, no wineries pushing overpriced wines which are wasted on unsophisticated palates like ours.......

Do try Big Cork Vineyars if you want a very pleasant experience. (I also like this one better that a couple of...

Big Cork Winery is an absolute gem nestled in the scenic Maryland countryside. Family owned and operated, award winning wines, beautiful setting! From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the friendly staff, who made the entire experience feel personalized and welcoming. The service was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring we had everything we needed to enjoy our time there. The wine selection was impressive, and each pour we sampled was well crafted and full of vibrant flavors. The breathtaking views of the rolling vineyards, combined with the sophisticated yet cozy design of the tasting room, created an ideal setting for tasting. There is also an outdoor seating area with ample space to enjoy the fresh air and live music ( usually Sundays, check their web page) Big Cork offers great value for the experience. It’s a must-visit spot for wine lovers and anyone looking for a memorable outing.

We did their Thanksgiving Tasting and also tried both Ports, Sauv Blanc and Russian Hill.

Thanksgiving Tasting notes: 2023 CHENIN BL ANC BRUT 39: lovely tropical and zesty citrus fruit 2023 CHARDONNAY: 70% stainless aged, 30% french oak- light on the oak and focus on the beautifully ripe apple and 2023 SYRAH ROSE:  fruit-forward packed with raspberry and strawberry notes, light and refreshing. 2022 MALBEC: French style vs Argentianian, Spicy, dark, and juicy with bright cherry. 2021 CABERNET FRANC: bold pepper, plum, and spice notes 2022 VIDAL BLANC: off-dry with pear and apple notes

My rating rationale: +1 Service +1 Food~Taste/flavor/quality +1 Presentation +1...