Great Shoals Cellars Tasting Room
by
Kathy Sullivan
Summary: Great Shoals Cellars has a tasting room in St. Michaels. There are a couple parking spaces next to the tasting room and along the streets. This is an urban-like winery tasting room that has plenty of foot traffic wine enthusiasts that are out for a stroll through Historic St Michaels. Visitors can taste a wide range of wines in the Great Shoals portfolio.
The newest tasting room for Great Shoals Cellars is located in the picturesque, historic town of St. Michaels. The doors to this tasting room opened in August 2017. Located close to the center of St. Michaels, the tasting room is a long elongated room, with a long, oak tasting counter for seating 14-15n wine enthusiasts. The other side of the room is filled with tables and chairs. At the front of the room a large window overlooks Route 50. Parking is available at the side of the small complex.
The tasting room attendant noted that Great Shoals has a vineyard in Queen Annes County on the Eastern Shore.
We were interested in tasting wines from the estate vineyards. We tasted several wines including Chardonnay, Malbec and a special blend of Chambourcin and Concord.
The Chardonnay with 13% alcohol was barrel fermented. The wine was a dark yellow color with a gold hue. The aroma was of apple and caramel. The taste included notes of apple, citrus, and caramel. The wine was full bodied. The finish was fruity with a long fruit and caramel aftertaste.
Pinot Gris with 12.5% alcohol was a deep gold color. The aroma offered hints of sweetness fruit and oak. The taste was dry with lemon and peach. The wine was full bodied. The finish was long.
Castaway with 12.5% alcohol was produced with Seyval Blanc grapes. The wine was a light gold color. The aroma was fresh reminding one of spring, new grass and lemon. The taste was sweet with lemon and some tropical fruit. The wine lingered on the finish.
Malbec had 13.5% alcohol and was an opaque dark ruby color with a purple hue. The aroma offered perfume and dark fruits. The taste was of cranberry and spices. This was a medium/full-bodied wine with mild tannins. The finish had fruit and spice notes.
Sailor’s Delight with 12% alcohol was a blend of Chambourcin and Concord. The wine was a translucent ruby color with a sienna hue. The aroma included notes of red cherries. The taste reminded one of red cherries and Welch’s grape juice. There was a slight fizz. This is an easy drinking wine for all seasons. The finish was fruity with drying on the finish.
Winemaker for Great Shoals, Matt Cimino partnered with Boyer Cellars to craft traditional wines, hard ciders and sparkling wines. Boyer Cellars is located in Biglerville, Pennsylvania. Boyer Cellars Crabapple Imperial, a hard cider, with 10.5% alcohol was a yellow color. The taste was very “appley.” The hard cider was medium bodied. The wine was produced with York Imperial apples and crabapples. The fruit was harvested at Boyer Orchards. Suggested pairings included poultry, seafood or savory noodle dishes.
While enjoying a visit to historic St. Michaels in Maryland, stop by Great Shoals Cellars tasting room.
Great Shoals Cellars
500 S Talbot St,
St Michaels, Maryland 21663
GPS: N38º 46.9400’ W76º 13.3854’
Article written February 2020.
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