Black Ankle Vineyards – A Tuscan Villa In the Heart of Maryland

Black Ankle Vineyards is a hidden gen in the Mt. Airy area of Maryland for wine lovers in search of a truly magical experience that will whisk you away to a charming Italian villa for an afternoon. From the moment you pull into the parking lot, you feel surrounded by the vines – it’s a breathtaking expanse of vines growing all around you. In the summer, the amount of green it truly stunning, and provides a landscape so peaceful that you immediately relax. Walking up to the tasting room, you’ll see that the building is all earthy tones, a rounded shape, and a living roof complete with solar panels – that’s right, there’s a garden on the roof! We learned that Black Ankle prioritizes sustainability throughout their wine business – not only are the grapes farmed without pesticides, but the winemaking process aims to be as sustainable as well, and the winery itself aims to reduce its environmental impact. The building is made from lumber that came from the property when it was being built, the insultation is extremely packed tight hay, and the out material is clay that came from the ground the winery sits on itself. All the stones you see also came from the property, and the sum of all these parts make for a unique, but lovely and cottage-feel to the tasting room.

Black Ankle has four different areas to sit during your visit – the lawn, the patio, the courtyard, and the terrace. You can’t really go wrong with where you sit! The lawn, patio, and terrace all overlook the vineyard views around you, with some umbrellas to provide shade and plenty of tables and a lively setting. The courtyard offers a quieter atmosphere with cobblestones and a fountain to provide a relaxing setting that takes you to a European courtyard for the afternoon.

Let’s talk about the wine! Black Ankle provides tasting flights of 3 wines that rotate based on availability, as well as certain wines by the glass. The Passeggiata red and Albarino Norte white wines were two of our favorites we had when we went. Passeggiata is named for the Italian word for a post-dinner stroll, and it’s definitely a wine that can be sipped with dinner or after as a dessert. It’s best served chilled, and it’s a nice medium body red that can please a wide range of wine drinkers. The Albarino Norte is a crisp, refreshing wine that is perfect for summer and relaxing either poolside or on the beach. It’s also perfect for pairing with chicken or fish dishes for a great dinner!

Black Ankle provides a light food menu with all local snacks for purchase. We ordered the fresh hot bread (WORTH IT) and some local cheese, as well as the chocolate truffles. Everything we had was amazing, and paired great with our wines that we tasted. Food trucks do arrive at Black Ankle on select nights, so check the website to see if they will be there when you’re visiting.

All in all, Black Ankle was a perfect afternoon in our books. The wine, atmosphere, and setting is all elevated from a laid-back winery and makes you feel a little like you are on vacation. It’s indulgent in the best way, but inviting to all. Check out Black Ankle Vineyards if you’re looking for a local getaway in Maryland!