Since we moved to the area, Nicole and I have been on a mission to discover all the best wineries around Frederick. Of all the area wineries we’ve discovered, the small, boutique, appointment-only versions are the most rewarding to visit.
Six Wicket Vineyards, just north of Frederick, is precisely that kind of place. You should visit before its discovered.
A Stunning Setting Just North of Frederick
Six Wicket Vineyards is in Myersville, MD, just over 20 minutes north of Frederick, a few miles east of I-70. When you arrive, you’ll feel a world away from anything urban.
- Address: 10819 Church Hill Rd, Myersville, MD 21773
- Web: sixwicketvineyards.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/profile
- Phone: +1.410.584.2779
- Visit: by reservation only, email Kathy
The Visit Experience at Six Wicket Vineyards
The Six Wicket property is on a stunning hillside location and is run by Ed and Kathy O’Laughlin. This couple has moved on from their previous careers and turned to viticulture in Maryland for this next stage of life.
Visits are by appointment only, which you do by emailing Kathy. There’s no formal tasting room, everything is done from their modern estate home, so you visiting Six Wicket really feels like visiting someone’s farm.
During Nicole and I’s visit, Ed greeted us as we pulled into their driveway. After introductions, he gave us an overview of Six Wickets and loaded us into a golf cart, which began our wonderful tour around the property.
Ed drove us around the Six Wicket fields and vineyards, explaining the history of the vines, where they grow various varietals, and what they’ve learned about which grapes grow well in different sections of the property.
Incidentally, the name ‘Six Wicket’ comes from Ed’s long-time involvement with croquet. There’s a full outdoor croquet field built amongst the vineyard that still holds croquet competitions. Colleges, including the Naval Academy (Ed’s alma mater), occasionally compete at their facilities.
The Back Story of Ed and Kathy's Journey to Wine Making
It is fascinating to hear about Ed and Kathy’s journey to winemaking. Ed is a retired pediatric anesthesiologist with a background in farming (from Illinois). Winemaking somehow caught his interest along the way, so he immersed himself and initiated the search for a property in Maryland to grow grapes.
Kathy also has a varied background, but she worked with many entrepreneurs throughout her career, which clearly rubbed off on her. She takes on many of the business duties of running a winery.
They worked with a geologist for years to evaluate many properties in the area, testing the soil for its ability to grow grapes. The first planting at Six Wicket was in 2017 and included Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay vines.
They gradually added more property, vines, and varietals to the mix and are working hard to build up the Six Wicket Vineyards brand.
Delicious Six Wicket Vineyards Wines
During our tasting at Six Wicket, we got to try what seemed to be their signature wines. Albarino white (crisp and fruity), Rose of Cabernet Franc (on the dry side and light), and our favorite, the Cabernet Franc.
The Cab Franc has an interesting twist: they have a version aged in American Oak and a separate one aged in Slovenian Oak. Slovenian Oak is commonly used by wineries in Italy and is known for letting the tannins release more slowly, giving the wine more expression. (Nicole and I both preferred the Six Wicket Slovenian Oak Cabernet Franc over the American Oak version.)
Yet Another Frederick Area Winery To Visit Before It's Discovered
Ed and Kathy have big plans for Big Wicket: more marketing and branding, sales expansion, and possibly a formal tasting room.
But if you like getting up front and personal with how a small winery operates, we’d encourage you to visit them now. It’s one of the most charming and beautiful vineyards in Frederick!
