Black Ankle Vineyards

What Black Ankle Vineyards does

Black Ankle Vineyards is a Maryland-based estate winery founded by former management consultants Ed Boyce and Sarah O'Herron, who purchased the founding farm on Black Ankle Road in Mt. Airy in May 2002 and planted their first 22 acres of vines in 2003–2004. The company operates four farms — Black Ankle, Tortuga, Rinehart, and Live Edge — totaling 577 acres of farmland with 108 acres planted and more than 200,000 hand-tended vines, producing 16 grape varietals (7 white, 9 red) and a portfolio of estate-grown red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines including proprietary blends such as Crumbling Rock, Slate, Feldspar, Black Ankle Estate, b'yarn, and Tela. Winemaking is fully in-house on the estate, with a tasting room constructed from farm-sourced materials (wood, stone, straw, clay) and on-site solar generation.

The business runs a multi-channel go-to-market anchored in direct-to-consumer sales. Distribution includes a destination tasting room in Mt. Airy (capacity ~150), an e-commerce storefront shipping to 16 states plus Washington D.C., a four-tier Wine Club (4/6/12 bottle quarterly allotments across Winemaker's Selection, Red Only, White Only, and Premium options), and an on-site restaurant called The Terrace Kitchen (opened 2025) with monthly Vineyard Table dinners and a Rooted Suppers guest-chef series. Secondary revenue streams include MD/DC wholesale to stores and restaurants, branded merchandise, curated tasting experiences (BAV 101, Sip With A Pro, Vertical Tasting) priced $130–$165, and private event rentals (weddings up to 75 guests). A 2026 partnership with Food & Wine Trails extends the brand into cruise-based wine experiences, and a second tasting site at Live Edge Vineyards in Clarksburg, MD is planned to open in 2027.

Operationally, the company is privately held by the two founders with no institutional equity, employs 11–50 staff including a long-tenured vineyard manager (since 2003) and a dedicated wine club, dining, events, and wholesale team. It received a $134,002 Maryland Department of Commerce award in April 2025 to support the on-site kitchen/facility build-out, reflecting a capital-light expansion strategy that has been self-funded to date.

Name

Black Ankle Vineyards

Legal name

Black Ankle Vineyards

Website

https://blackankle.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Black Ankle Vineyards is a Maryland estate winery producing estate-grown wines from four farms spanning 577 acres. It sells direct-to-consumer via a tasting room, e-commerce platform, and wine club, supplemented by limited wholesale distribution, on-site dining, and private events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Winery

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wineries (31213)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Grape Vineyard Operations (Varietal/AVA Practices, Yield & Quality Targets) (AFAGAJAJ), Vineyard Certification & Sustainability Programs (Organic, Biodynamic, Regenerative, GAP) (AFAGAJAL), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Estate wine production
• Wine club subscriptions
• Vineyard tasting experiences
• Sustainable viticulture
• Farm-to-bottle wines

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Airy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct Wine Sales: Direct-to-consumer wine sales through e-commerce website (shipping to 16 states) and Tasting Room. Includes red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines in various formats including 750ml, 500ml, and 1500ml (magnum).
2. Wine Club Subscriptions: Quarterly wine club allotments with 4, 6, or 12 bottle options. Club options include Winemaker's Selection, Red Wine Only, White Wine Only, and Premium Wines Only. Add-ons include November Magnum and Rosé Collective.
3. Wholesale Distribution: Wholesale accounts in Maryland and Washington D.C. including stores and restaurants.
4. Food Service: The Terrace Kitchen restaurant offering seasonal dining, Vineyard Table monthly dinners, and Rooted Suppers guest chef series.
5. Event Hosting and Private Rentals: Private event rentals including weddings (max 75 guests), Terrace Gatherings, and proposal packages. Tasting Room accommodates 150 people.
6. Merchandise: Branded merchandise including apparel, accessories, and wine-related items.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Black Ankle Vineyards grows, produces, and bottles estate-grown wines on four Maryland farms totaling 108 acres of vines across 577 acres of farmland. The company cultivates 16 grape varietals (7 white, 9 red) and produces red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert wines. Beyond wine production, it operates a Tasting Room, Wine Club subscription program, The Terrace Kitchen restaurant, private event venue, and curated wine experiences including cruise partnerships.

Product overview

Black Ankle Vineyards is a Maryland winery operating as a single-estate producer with four farms. The core product portfolio consists of estate-grown wines including seven white varietals (Albariño, Chardonnay, Chardonel, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat), nine red varietals (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Tempranillo), and numerous proprietary blends. Key wine products include flagship reds like Crumbling Rock (Bordeaux-style), Black Ankle Estate (premium blend), Slate and Feldspar (non-vintage blends), alongside specialty wines such as b'yarn, Tela, and Viento. The sparkling lineup features Malintzi and Luma, while dessert offerings include Terra Sol (Sauternes-style) and Terra Dulce (port-style). The company also offers a Wine Club subscription service (Wine Maker's Selection, Red Only, White Only, Premium options) with add-ons including magnums and rosé collections, on-site dining at The Terrace Kitchen, private event venue rental, curated wine tasting experiences, and branded merchandise. A new sales and tasting location called Live Edge Vineyards is planned for Clarksburg, MD in 2027. The winery also organizes wine cruise experiences through partnerships with travel operators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Live Edge Vineyards: A new farm operation being developed in Clarksburg, MD, featuring Route 270 location planned to welcome visitors in 2027
• The Terrace Kitchen
• The Vineyard Table
• Rooted Suppers

Products and services

• Albariño A bright, crisp and refreshing white wine made from Albariño grapes, noted as an all-around great food pairing wine.
• Bedlam A unique white blend that typically includes a little bit of every white varietal grown at the vineyard, smooth and flavorful with great mouthfeel, pairing well with rich and creamy foods.
• Chardonnay Chardonnay wines made in an acidic and citrusy European style, sourced from both Black Ankle and Live Edge vineyards, available in regular and Reserve expressions.
• Grüner Veltliner A versatile white wine known for its charm and ability to make foods shine, available in both regular and barrel-fermented expressions.
• Piedmont A barrel-fermented version of the Bedlam blend, offering amazing length and subtlety of flavors from time spent in barrel.
• Sauvignon Blanc A crisp and citrusy white wine, the newest white varietal added to the portfolio.
• VGV A one-of-a-kind blend combining the floral notes of Viognier with the pepper and honeysuckle of Grüner Veltliner.
• Viognier
• b'yarn A whimsical Bordeaux-style blend named after the leader of the vineyard's flock of sheep, medium weight and perfect for relaxing evenings with friends.
• Black Ankle Estate The best of the best—a Bordeaux-style blend made from the finest barrels only in superlative harvest years.
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Cosecha
• Crumbling Rock The flagship Bordeaux-style red, this elegant blend is layered with dark fruit and minerality reflecting the character of the vineyard's rocky soils.
• Feldspar
• M
• Passeggiata
• Pinot Noir
• Rolling Hills
• Slate
• Syrah
• Tela
• Viento
• Malintzi
• Luma
• Rosé
• Terra Sol
• Terra Dulce
• 2026 Rose Collection
• Wine Club Membership
• Wine Club Add-ons
• The Terrace Kitchen
• Private Event Venue Rental
• Wine Experiences
• BAV Merchandise
• Wine Cruise Experiences

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Food & Wine TrailscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2026Food & Wine Trails is a cruise planning company specializing in food and wine experiences. Black Ankle has partnered with them for wine cruise experiences, including a 2026 Mediterranean Cruise and a 2028 New Zealand Cruise aboard Azamara's Pursuit. The partnership includes private educational wine programs, tastings, seminars, winemaker's dinners, and exclusive excursions designed for food and wine enthusiasts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Food & Wine Trails: Cruise planning partner of Black Ankle for the 2026 Mediterranean and 2028 New Zealand Azamara cruises. Adjacent/partner rather than competitor, but relevant for understanding the curated wine-travel channel Black Ankle is building.
• Maryland Wineries Association: Industry association for Maryland wineries. Not a competitor, but a relevant ecosystem participant for Black Ankle's positioning within the Maryland wine category and access to state-level programs and marketing.

Direct peers

• Boordy Vineyards: Maryland's largest and oldest winery, located in Hydes, MD. Directly comparable as a Maryland estate winery combining grape growing, wine production, tasting room, and events with statewide wholesale distribution.
• Linganore Winecellars: Family-owned Maryland winery in Mt. Airy, MD with estate vineyards, tasting room, and events. Highly comparable in geography (same town), estate-grown model, and multi-revenue DTC approach.
• Old Westminster Winery: Maryland estate winery with a similar DTC, wine club, and tasting-room-led model. Comparable in scale, estate-grown philosophy, and premium positioning within the Maryland wine category.
• Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard: Maryland estate winery operating a tasting room, wine club, and events program from its Comus farm. Directly comparable as a small-to-mid Maryland craft winery targeting similar DTC customers.
• Catoctin Breeze Vineyard: Maryland estate winery in Frederick County with estate-grown wines, tasting room, and event hosting. Closely aligned in geography, farm-to-bottle ethos, and DTC scale.

Emerging players

• King Estate Winery: Oregon-based estate winery known for sustainability and estate-grown premium wines at similar price points. Comparable in estate-only philosophy, sustainability narrative, and premium DTC positioning.

Regional players

• Wölffer Estate Vineyard: Long Island, NY estate winery combining vineyard, tasting room, wine club, and event hosting (including summer events). Comparable as an East Coast premium estate winery with diversified DTC and experience revenue.
• Breaux Vineyards: Virginia estate winery in Loudoun County with vineyard, tasting room, events, and wine club. Comparable as a Mid-Atlantic estate winery with similar DTC, events, and wholesale structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackAnkleVineyards
• Instagraminstagram.com/blackanklevineyards
• Xx.com/BlackAnkleVines
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/black-ankle-vineyards-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Ankle Vineyards