History

Six decades of Maryland wine

1941 label

1930 - 1980 J. & P. Wagner

1980 - 2011 R. B. Deford Family

Boordy Vineyards has played a seminal role in the renaissance of regional wines in America. Founders Philip and Jocelyn Wagner established Maryland's first commercial winery in Baltimore City in 1945, and their success at producing classically-styled wines inspired many pioneers around the country to follow their example.

In 1980 Boordy was purchased by the R. B. Deford family - who had been grapegrowers for the winery since 1965 - and was relocated to their historic 240-acre farm in the Long Green Valley of northeastern Baltimore County. The winery is housed in a 19th century stone barn whose massive walls provide an ideal environment for the production and aging of wine. Rob Deford, who received training in enology at the University of California, Davis manages Boordy with his wife Julie Colhoun Deford.  Boordy currently produces 97,000 gallons of wine annually and cultivates forty acres of grapes in the Long Green Valley (Central Piedmont region) and in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Maryland.

For a more complete history of our winery, we invite you to read on.

1930 - 1965 The Early Years; J. & P. Wagner, props.

Philip and Jocelyn Wagner 1940s

Photo Gallery click here

  • Planting Boordy's nursery in 1935

  • Bill of Lading, shipment of Baco Noir from France

  • Grape cluster early 1940s

  • Jocelyn bottling the Boordy's first vintage

  • Jocelyn & Philip Wagner's Baco Noir label pre 1940

  • Jocelyn driving her Woody in 1940s

  • An abundant harvest at Boordy

  • Boordy White Wine Schoonmaker Selection label

  • Philip Wagner's wit...

Philip and Jocelyn Wagner 1940s

It was a quiet act of civil disobedience that led to the founding of Boordy Vineyards in 1945.  Fed up with Prohibition, and determined to help the decimated American wine industry get back on its feet, Philip and Jocelyn Wagner planted a small grapevine nursery on their property in Riderwood, Maryland in the early 1930s.  Click here to continue...

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1965-1980 Cooperating Growers, Deford Family

Boordy promotional piece from the 1960s (outside)

Photo Gallery

  • Boordy promotional piece from the 1960s (inside)

  • Jocelyn Wagner with a wine thief

  • Roy bottling in early 1970s

  • Philip Wagner with newly bottled wines in early 1970s

  • Boordy Red 1971

  • Mr. and Mrs. Deford with grandson Phineas, pruning in 70s

  • Harvest at Long Green Farm, Hydes MD

  • Mr. Deford weighing grapes at Long Green Farm

Boordy Red 1971

In the mid-1960s, Philip Wagner began seeking additional growers of Maryland grapes to supply his expanding business, thus bringing the Deford family into the Boordy story.  Click here to continue...

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1980 - 2000 R. B. Deford Family, Proprietors

Moving tanks from old Boordy in Baltimore to new Boordy in Hydes, MD

Photo Gallery

  • Renovating the barn at Long Green Farm, Hydes MD

  • Boordy's new winery in the renovated barn at Long Green Farm

  • Traditional oval barrels in the 1980s Boordy cellar

  • Rob Deford, vineyard manager, winemaker and president 1980

  • Defords' first vintage, Sally Deford Buck

  • Rob as winemaker, early 80s

  • The Deford name appears on the Boordy label

  • 1980 Vin Gris from Deford's first vintage

  • Boordy's first varietal Seyval Blanc

  • Cellarmaster Benny Allen, 1983

  • Clarence and Floyd in the vines

  • John on bottling line in late 80s

  • Bayly Buck (L) at Nouveau fundraiser for Chesapeake Bay 1986

  • Rob with Boordy Nouveau launch at Baltimore Zoo

  • No caption needed

  • Maryland's first Sparkling Wine 1986

  • Great Chefs & Champagne Celebration 1990s

  • A popular label through the 90s

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From the outset, the Defords took Boordy Vineyards in a new direction.  Guided by Rob’s training in enology, and inspired by the emerging California “boutique” wine movement, the Defords set out to make wines that would explore the full potential of Maryland’s climate & soil.  Click here to continue...

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2000 Boordy in the new millenium

Rob and Julie Deford

Photo Gallery

  • Growth means new tanks

  • snazzy stainless steel tanks

  • Adding a porch to repurpose an old building

  • The repurposed building in action

  • Boordy in 2010 still shows the beauty of old

  • Don't miss the beautiful front doorknob

  • Ron Wates, Vineyard Manager

  • South Mountain grape harvest in 2009

  • Label redesign by Ian Kidd of Adelaide Australia

  • Ian Kidd's design for Landmark wines

  • One of 7 Icons of Maryland created by Ian Kidd Design

  • One of five Just For Fun labels created by Ian Kidd Design

  • The final reward!

  • Autumn weekend at Boordy

  • A magical Saturday night at Boordy!

  • R. B. Deford Family in 2001

  • Advertisement for the Baltimore Sun

  • Custom labeled wine

Deford family, 2001 tint crop.jpg

As Boordy celebrated its 55th year and calendars rolled into the new millennium, Boordy's management undertook a complete review of the company with the goal of preparing for competition in an industry that was undergoing rapid change and globalization.  Click here to continue...

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2010 The Road Ahead

Three generations: Rob, Anne and Phineas Deford

Photo Gallery

  • Grasses and wildflowers at the vineyard's edge

  • Sorting Petit Verdot grapes

  • Tom and his tanks

  • Choosing produce at Good Life Thursdays

  • Maryland cuisine with Maryland wine!

  • A clear dawn at Boordy Vineyards on Long Green Farm, Hydes MD

Phineas Deford

In September 2008, Rob’s son, Phineas Deford, joined the winery ushering in the third generation of the Deford family to work in the company.  Click here to continue...

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