The Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County approved a text amendment at its Oct. 21 meeting to allow commercial wineries to start operations in certain sections of the county.

Wineries can now begin in mixed-use areas of town centers and village centers and rural crossroads commercial centers.  Wineries will also be allowed in the county’s rural preservation district (RPD), but wineries located in RPDs will be limited to 27,500 gallons of wine per year with grape cultivation required on the site.

 “Local wineries are a key ingredient in a successful sustainable agriculture strategy,” explained Bob Schaller, Director, Department of Economic and Community Development. “With this decision, county farmers will be able to begin commercial wineries to process their grape harvest.”

 For more information about agricultural development initiatives in St. Mary’s County, call the Department of Economic and Community Development at (301) 475-420 ext. 1400.