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Through cold winters and blazing hot summers, colonial Maryland grape growers struggled to take the vines to the heights it knows today.

By experimenting with different varieties and growing conditions, the Maryland wine industry slowly grew throughout the 19th century.

However, it only achieved real success when Philip Wagner, a local newspaper editor, planted as many different hybrids as he could at his Baltimore County home. Through trial and error many prospered -- and soon Wagner was producing his own wine and sold the vines throughout the East coast. In 1945, he opened Maryland's first bonded winery, Boordy Vineyards, above, photo) which is still in operation under the ownership of the R.B. Deford family.

Today, the wineries of Maryland produce 450,000 bottles of wine annually and in 140 varieties ranging from award-winning Chardonnays to Cabernets, as well as French Hybrids and a variety of fruit wines.

As a result, Maryland wine tourism is also growing in popularity as wineries near Baltimore as well as wine trail excursions near Washington DC and Ocean City wineries vie for attention with top destinations throughout the state.

Discover why at top sites with more information on wineries and vineyards throughout Maryland....

More information about Maryland wineries around the Web:

Maryland Wineries Association - The major hub of Maryland winemaking with a history of the industry, a complete map and directory of Maryland's wineries and vineyards, and a good collection of related resources including a wine glossary, food pairings, wine quotes and toasts.

Maryland Vineyards and Wineries - From the official Maryland tourism site, check out dozens of suggestions for sampling a taste of the grape throughout Maryland including contact details, photos and maps.