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Woodhall produces a full range of table wines from Maryland grown grapes, including dry, sweet, and dessert styles. The wines are segmented into three groups, each delivering good value: inexpensive everyday wines; mid-priced premium wines; and rich, complex super varietals. Woodhall wines carry recommendations for use with food, generally through the use of a back label.
Three Woodhall wines, Seyval, Riesling, and Copernica Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon have been selected as Best-of-Show wines at the Maryland Governor's Cup Wine Judging. Woodhall Riesling was selected by the Goddard Space Center as one of three "40th Anniversary" wines. Maryland Public Television selected Woodhall's Cabernet Sauvignon as its "30th Anniversary" wine. Woodhall Seyval was the "Aquarium White" of the National Aquarium in Baltimore and most recently, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon was selected by the National Federation for the Blind as the dedication wine for it's new training center in Baltimore.
Woodhall wines are fermented in small lots, keeping the fruit from each vineyard separate, so that Woodhall's blending program can take maximum advantage of "terroir" (the effects of climate and soils on fruit, hence wine, quality). The wines are aged in barrel and bottle until ready for consumption - they are never released prematurely. All Woodhall wines but two are blends of grapes from different sources or of different varieties depending on which gives the best aroma, flavor, and taste characteristics. The two exceptions, so far, are a single vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Copernica Vineyard in Northern Maryland and a single vineyard and Reserve Vidal Blanc from Golden Run Vineyards in Sudlersville.
Each Woodhall wine must be impeccably good to reach market. Therefore, not every varietal is vintage-dated every year (e.g. there was no 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon). Sound varietal wines with non-varietal characteristics become blending components of generic wines. On the other hand, when certain years produce superior fruit, the wines from that fruit receive special recognition as "Reserve" wines (1991, 1995, 1997, 2002, 2005, and 2007 Copernica Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon); a 2004 Copernica Reserve Cabernet Franc; and a 2006 Golden Run Reserve Vidal Blanc, and "Estate Bottled" wines (the 1999 and 2001 Gunpowder Falls Chardonnay). In both the red and white wine programs, a certain hierarchy of decision making takes place. Barrels are tasted first for individual quality, then a decision is made as to the presence of a Reserve quality wine. Then the quantity and blending balance of the varietals is decided. Any wine still remaining finds its way into the non-varietal red blends. Tours and tasting include barrel samples of various wines upon request. Each year during February's Barrel Tasting, Woodhall selects wines for a special "Futures" offering, affording the public an opportunity to taste and purchase wine not yet bottled at less than market prices.
Gunpowder Falls White: Fine structure with no oak, vineous, smooth texture. Great food wine; especially nice with poultry, fish and lighter dishes.
Seyval: Un-oaked dry white. Ripe aromas of limes and grass.
Chardonnay: Fruity, subtle oak; European in character; Nicely complex with great depth. Nice finish. Also great with steamed crabs.
Golden Run Reserve Vidal Blanc 2008: Lemon color with lemon-lime, apricot, and honeydew melon aromas and flavors with a long finish.
Gunpowder Falls Red: Standard red table wine with aromas of figs and dried herbs. Soft tannins. 80% Barbera and 20% Merlot.
Chambourcin: Mid purple color, full of flavor with
medium body. Great party wine, and the wine for grilled salmon and
tuna.
Merlot: A medium bodied wine. Softer than a Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cabernet Sauvignon: A medium bodied cad with good tannin, smooth finish. This is a food friendly wine.
Cabernet Franc: Recently written up in the New York Post as beyond belief that it could be a Maryland wine.
Parkton Prestige: The classic combination of three of the grapes of Bordeaux provides depth and character to this rich, well balanced red wine.
Golden Run Reserve Barbera 2008: This Italian varietal has a deep blueberry red color with herbal and black cherry aromas. An earthy wine that is soft on the palate comparable to Pinopt Noir or Nebbiolo.
Copernica Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007: The fifth offering in our Reserve program, following the 1991, 1995 "Lot III", 1997, 2002. This complex Cabernet has a deep ocher red color with cassis/black fruit and pepper flavors.
Vidal Blanc: Semi-dry white with 3% residual sugar. Aromas of banana, mango and a hint of vanilla.
Party Garnet: Woodhall's standard semi-sweet table wine. If you are a blush wine fan, you will like it.