Our Story
It all began with a bottle of wine, or maybe a few …
For nearly 30 years, we have lived among the rolling hills and peaceful farmlands of Upper Montgomery County, Maryland. Our appreciation for wine deepened as we toured local and international wineries. We wondered why there were so many wonderful wineries out there, but only a few in Montgomery County. After some thought (and a glass or two), we made the decision to educate ourselves on the art of winemaking. We attended Wine Camp (yes there is such a thing), then joined Maryland Grape Growers and Maryland Wineries Associations. In 2013-2014, we planted a 1-acre, test vineyard with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The project became a family affair, and during our harvest two years later, we had four generations working the land.
Then the most amazing thing happened, we made wine! The result exceeded our expectations and the following year we acquired our farm, which is now 61 Vineyard. We officially opened our doors to the community in October of 2021.
Why 61? Well, it was a good year! The name derives from the year we were both born, 1961. In the wine world, a good year is everything, and we can attest that 1961 was a really good year!
Celebrating our fifth business anniversary, our journey continues as we welcome friends and family to our cozy winery where they can enjoy a view of Sugarloaf Mountain and spectacular sunsets while sipping sensational wines. We can’t wait to host you!
Cheers,
Mark & Pam Giganti