On Sunday, the last day of August, we made our first visit to a winery since the pandemic began. We were in search of a white wine produced with red grapes that we needed for a wine tasting class later this month. In addition to red and white wines, Thanksgiving Farm Vineyards & Winery emphasizes safety for visitors. To achieve that goal reservations are required and other safety/sanitary protocols are in place. 

While we had been there a few years ago, we were excited to make a return visit. We met Maureen Heimbuch who co-owns Thanksgiving Farm with her husband, Doug. The boutique tasting room remains the same with only the addition of a plexiglass-type screen. Due to Covid no wine tastings are offered at this time. Visitors may purchase a wine kit or bottle of wine to enjoy at a table outside.

Directly outside of the tasting room doors are several tables set up for visitors. A new addition since we had previously visited was the seating on the veranda of the historic home, near the tasting room. The white veranda wraps around the historic house. The veranda is large enough to accommodate several spaced out small seating arrangements. It is a very relaxing and delightful way to enjoy on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

While we enjoyed the wines and relaxing views of the vineyards, we watched swallowtail butterflies flitting about the butterfly bushes planted nearby. 

Maureen offered us a wine kit with six bottles of wine, accompanied with small pretzel packages and bottles of water. Rather than the typical wine tastings offered to visitors, due to Covid, Thanksgiving Farm changed to small six packs of their wines available for sale. At this time the six pack of wines consisted of two whites and three reds and a dessert wine. Each bottle holds 5 ounces of wine.   Each six pack is enough for up to four people. The $45 price for the six pack includes tax.

Maureen guided us to a seating area on the veranda which overlooked a large lawn leading to a vineyard in the distance. At this time of the year the grapes are covered with white netting protecting them from birds. As we enjoyed the wines in the six pack, we watched a bird of prey glide over the vineyards, thus protecting the grapes from small birds or voles.

Good to Know About Thanksgiving Farm

Registrations are suggested.
The winery is open most Saturdays and Sundays.
Seatings are currently available from 12 to 2 and 3 to 5.
The one hour between seatings is used to sanitize the tables and chairs.
Currently only those over 21 are allowed on the property.
Thanksgiving Farm wines are available at the winery in Harwood and in Anne Arundel County, Maryland wine shops. The winery also ships wine to the District of Columbia and Florida.

Address 

Thanksgiving Farm Wines
195 Harwood Road
Harwood, Maryland 20776

Visit the Thanksgiving Farm website to learn more.

To learn about the history and more about Thanksgiving Farm, visit the Wine Trail Travel article.

Cheers!
Kathy and Terry