PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. (August 10, 2011)—A Calvert County-based winery, Running Hare Vineyard, received prestigious recognition at the Riverside International Wine Competition in May by taking home a gold medal for a Malbec variety and bronze medals for the Shiraz and Sangiovese. The competition has been held in California for 30 years using blind tasting selection by professional wine evaluators. The event recognizes a wide variety of wine styles – including those from regions that don’t often receive recognition. A total of 48 judges evaluated more than 1,930 wines at the South Coast Resort in Temecula, California during the event.
Barb Scarborough, director of sales and marketing at Running Hare Vineyard, is honored by the accolades. “Since opening as a commercial winery in August 2008, Running Hare Vineyard has been awarded five international gold medals for its wines competing against wineries from all over the world. We’ve received a total of 48 awards both in regional and international competitions. Our winemaker, Jerson Garcia, works hard to perfect his craft and continues to rise to the challenge to make a quality product that is enjoyed not only on a consumer level but also is worthy to compete and win against wineries that are much larger with much more experience from all over the world.”
Michael and Barb Scarborough’s love of wine had been cultivated in France where Michael lived as a child and his desire to pursue winemaking as a hobby was realized in 2003 with a planting of 100 vines. Since then, the Scarboroughs have added several varieties of grapes and the vineyard has expanded from the initial 100 vines to approximately 5,000 vines on an eight-acre vineyard. The production has also expanded from the original 550-gallon tank capacity to 12,772-gallon tank capacity producing over 100,000 bottles of wine a year since the winery’s grand opening in August 2008.
Wine tastings are held at the vineyard Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. with live music every Sunday. Running Hare Vineyard wines can be purchased directly at the vineyard and at retail stores around the region. Barb says, “We are very excited at the growth and popularity of our wines being sold, not only locally in Maryland but in Washington, D.C. and Delaware. Just recently, our wines were also picked up by a wholesaler in Florida.”
For more information, visit online at www.runningharevineyard.com, call 410-414-8486 or email info@runningharevineyard.com.