A Visit to Burnt Hill Farm

I recently took a week off from work to do “life” stuff. I spent time figuring out where everything will live in my new place, had lunch with a friend, went to the pool, visited a few thrift stores and took a lotta lotta of naps. But the very best thing I did was drive out to Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg, Maryland, for a proper visit with my friend Drew.

I’ve known Drew and his family for a good ten years now – way back when Old Westminster Winery was just getting off the ground, Drew reached out to me to see if we might work together. He had heard I was a good person to help them meet the right people in Baltimore to grow their brand. We talked on the phone for a while and I had a good feeling about working with them. I signed on (not actually signed, I’m more of a handshake kind of person) and I helped Drew and his sisters Lisa and Ashli get acclimated to the Baltimore food + beverage scene, making introductions to helpful folks, advising on places and people to work with, just really being a sounding board as they navigated their new world as producers and small business owners. Once they got going, it was clear that these folks had what it takes to grow and be successful, while staying true to their mission of making excellent Maryland wines.

Old Westminster’s wines are now nuanced and unique, and are made organically using low-intervention processes, certainly not an easy task. Drew opened my eyes to the fact that winemakers are actually farmers. I had never thought of it that way, as my wine experience is limited, but wow, it’s so true. The soil and how you work with it is everything. Having the patience and fortitude to leave it alone and help the grapes thrive naturally is challenging but also as I’ve learned, extremely rewarding.

I arrived at Burnt Hill and was greeted in the driveway by Drew, along with his three kiddos: Nelly, Jeff (aka Spiderman) and James and their amazing nanny Veronica hanging out under a big old tree enjoying lunch. It was a gorgeous day. A few minutes later, I was in the gator with Drew and we were off! As Drew and I rode around Burnt Hill, we checked in on pinot noir grapes to be harvested very, very soon – for the very first time. How exciting for this new land that Drew and his wife Casey have chosen to live on with their young family to finally be bearing fruit. This was their dream. We saw the beehives and inoculated logs set to sprout with mushrooms this fall and ventured to the top of the hill where their Summer Solstice and other events have taken place — and where an Outstanding in the Field weekend will take place in just a few weeks. We stood there on that hill with Drew pointing to the direction of Frederick and Harpers Ferry, and of course we could see the Appalachian Mountains on down toward Virginia. Breathtaking.



As you may know, Drew is fighting for his life against leukemia. At the beginning of our visit, he asked me how much detail I wanted as I asked how it was going as of late. I said “all of it”. He’s been through so many treatments, a bone marrow transplant (thanks to sister, Ashli), more spinal taps than anyone should have to endure and most recently, a very new form of treatment from his incredibly committed doc at Hopkins. (He has a port in his head.) A few times, he said the phrase, “if I beat this” and it really hit home and his situation was made very real for me. Drew, I appreciate your willingness to share such a personal thing.

Drew made me a delicious lunch and we enjoyed it in the kitchen as the kiddos were getting ready for naptime. I got to see their little personalities come alive. Spiderman made a special appearance and Nelly showed me her artwork, while James checked me out quietly, a new person in their home. I felt so welcomed and at home very quickly. These are just good people.

If you haven’t yet, I strongly urge you to register as a potential donor with Be The Match. You could literally save someone’s life. No exaggeration. There’s a Be The Match fundraising dinner at Old Westminster Winery next week (Sept 7) with Bryan Voltaggio at the helm. Every single thing (dinner ingredients, chefs’ time, wine, chairs, tables…) is being donated so that 100% of ticket sales will go to Be The Match. The price is $300 – yes, it’s steep. But it’s important and I hope that if you can swing it, you go.

This visit to Burnt Hill was very, very special. Not only was it good to see my friend Drew in person for the first time since before COVID, it reignited my interest in the wine growing process. I have so much to learn still, but I think appreciating and understanding all parts of the process is important. And seeing people in person is THE BEST.

Sending love to Drew and Casey and the whole OWW family.