We began our search for the perfect location to plant our dream vineyard in the summer of 1997.  After more than four years of extensive research and travels throughout the mid-Atlantic region our search led us to the sandy loam soils and warm climate of Southern Maryland.  Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery was established with the planting of the first vineyard of 2,200 vinifera vines in April 2002.  Located on a finger of land between historic Saint Leonard Creek and the mouth of the Patuxent River in Calvert County, Perigeaux has grown over the last nine years from the original vineyard to four estate vineyards encompassing eight acres of nearly 5,000 vines.  When deciding what name to give our vineyard, Mark remarked how much the area reminded him of the French village of Perigeuex where he lived and studied wine making at a small vineyard and winery during his college years.  As we were having our conversation over dinner one evening, a white goose waddled up to our table and we began feeding it some bread.  Mark pointed out that the symbol of Perigeuex is a white goose.  We took this as a promising sign.  With one small spelling change we had our name and our mascot!  In the Fall, our white goose friend sometimes visits the vineyards to check on our progress.  It is a happy occasion when we see him.

It wasn’t easy in the very early days.  There were only two of us working in the vineyard and also making the wine with what could best be described as “beginner’s equipment.”  But we learned a lot about growing grapes and making wine, worked hard, and had a great time doing all of it!  From a first harvest of about 48 pounds of grapes, we have grown to a harvest of almost 14 tons of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Zinfandel and Montepulciano.  From the first bottling of 3 cases in 2005, we now bottle nearly 900 cases of wine annually and we continue to grow every season.  None of this would have been possible without the generous love and support of our families and their countless hours of pruning, planting, harvesting, bottling, festival pouring, and labeling.  Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery is theirs too.

We invite you to come visit us to share in our dream.  We hope you will enjoy the vineyards and the wine as much as we do every day.

VINEYARDS

Perigeaux has eight acres of vineyards on a small farm located at the southern end of beautiful Calvert County. We produce only vinifera grapes harvested from our own estate vineyards. Our wines reflect the Perigeaux focus on quality viticulture and sustainable practices in the vineyard.

WINERY

All Perigeaux wines are fermented, aged and bottled in our winery located at the vineyards. Signature wines are bottled under the Perigeaux Vineyards label, with the highest quality vintages offered as Reserve. Mackall Road wines are crafted organically with minimal filtering. Specialty wines, including our blushes, sweet, and portstyle wines can be found under our Patuxent River label.

WINES

Perigeaux produces fine vintages of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Montepulchiano, and Zinfandel unique to Southern Maryland.