We were privileged to be served by the vineyards manager, Cassia today. Cannot say enough about her catering to us. Not only did she take the time to make us feel special, she was preparing for a group from UMD. This is a small vineyard with a Big Heart. Ron and Craig are amazing. Ron is a great conversationalist and Craig makes the best cookies ever. Visit Royal Rabbit. You won't be disappointed!! read more

This is a cute little vineyard that is not really a far drive from Baltimore. A friend of mine had been asking me to stop in and check it out for a while and since I had a Sunday off with no other plan I figured it would be a good chance to take the drive out there. They aren't open every day except for Tuesday and Wednesday. If you are thinking about going on a Thursday Friday or Monday be aware those dates are by appointment only. They are also available to host private events. Looks can be deceiving, when I arrived it looked like it was someone's home. Come to find out it actually is the owners of the Vineyard's home and they have a tasting room attached. The parking lot is very small and only able to accommodate a few cars. I recommend car pooling if you can. They have a very nice patioSet up with fire pits and heat lamps that I would be willing to bet would be nice to sip wine and have a conversation. It was a little bit too cold for my taste when I went on a Sunday in November so I chose to go inside. The tasting room is small and due to Covid restrictions they have limited seating. Mask use is mandatory here. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines that I have. I don't know too much about wines Oh I opted to have a tasting. For seven dollars I got six samples of wine to choose from. After sampling them all I made a decision to purchase a bottle before I left. Definitely a great experience and I recommend anyone who enjoys wine to make a trip. read more

See all

Intimate winery experience with excellent wines. Owner sat down with us to thoroughly explain each glass of wine 10/10. Will be back! read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - a glass of wine on a patio table - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

I honestly can't believe I haven't rated Royal Rabbit. They are our favorite MD winery, to the point of being on a close-friends- first name-help at events relationship with Roy & Craig! I remember out first visit. Driving out to the scenic beautiful area, we discovered the quaint, tucked away winery-based out of their home. The tasting room is inside, but they are willing to pour outside on nice days. They decorate so wonderfully for outdoor events; including table areas under a tent, set up with cornhole, bocce, and space to tour the vineyards. As for the wine....their specialties are wonderful varietals of dry whites and reds, but you can try great blushes, sweeter wines, and dessert ports to take home as well. So many choices! Roy is a very experienced vintner. What I love is Roy goes outside the box with blends. Each wine's new year has a different pleasant identity. For example, I just had a 2012 specialty Chambourcin-with an oaky, pepper, aftertaste unique for my dry red loving pallet. As for tasting these wonderful wines...Roy, Tess, and Conner know their wines! They will take their time to run you through the tasting, learning your preferences, finding the wines that fit you, and making recommendations. They do not rush you through the tasting, instead they provide a wealth of wine knowledge not only for MD wines, but wines around the world. This is how we ended up in their Cellar Club, because each visit is an experience. In addition, the winery has a lot of fun activities throughout the year including: Medieval Festivals, special tastings and cheese pairings, trivia nights, and Cellar Club special tastings and pairings. They are worth the drive up, because you can spend hours learning about your wine tastes, and go home with a reasonable priced bottle (or drink there!). Added bonus their wine ages well, which hasn't been the case for some other MD wineries read more

Stopped here on our way to Baltimore. The staff was friendly and helpful. The wine was great and moderately priced. But the best part had to be the awesome cookies baked by the host. read more

See all

Yesterday my sweetheart and I followed a Groupon deal for wine tasting for two plus a bottle to take home deal at Royal Rabbit Vineyards. We're glad we did! The vineyard is is a scenic, beautiful area area of Maryland, near the Pennsylvania border. 80% of the grapes used in their wines are grown there. It works beautifully. Although Groupon indicated we have make appointments for tastings, we learned from the people at the vineyard that they are quite flexible. If in doubt, contact them. Parking is easy but can seen tricky because the vineyard has a single driveway leading to a house. But as as long you don't block anyone in, it works out fine. The vineyard had a tasting room and there's outdoor seating if you want to enjoy the beautiful views. The people at the vineyard know their wines. Quite helpful. Best of all, they did not rush us or the other couple who were there. Pleasant experience. A lot of the wines were on dry side, drier than we prefer. Still good wines. A matter of taste, not quality. The wine menu had great descriptions and we tried wines not on the tasting list. They were winners for us! Bought bottles of Les Jongeleurs -- pardon my French :-) and Le Chavalier. Very good general dinner and fun wines. ( we're not wine snobs. We go for what we like.) We also learned that Royal Rabbit Vineyards is doing some interesting things: a medieval festival in July and a wine cruise to Bermuda next year. We checking into them. Gave four stars because we have been to other vineyards yet for wine tasting. So I'm reluctant to give give stars now. But our experience was four stars plus. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Part of the vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

Masks up and social distance with outdoor seating and heat lamps. Fantastic staff and nice selection of wines and cheese to snack on. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Outdoor seating - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

We ordered a "wine and cheese experience" that was advertised as $25 per person. We spoke to 2 different employees regarding our selection and were told that it was $25 per person. When we paid, we were charged $27 per person. My friend went back in and questioned it, and was told that the price in the system was $27 but since the menu was $25, they could refund the original charge and then re-run our card for the $25 price with an override from the owner. After the refund was processed, the employee asked the owner to come process the override twice, but he was busy on a call. My friend finally had to inform them of our reservations elsewhere to get the owner to come process our card. If that had been the end of it, it wouldn't have been a big deal. However when processing the override, the owner informed my friend that the price was actually $27 "but since you caught it we will give you the $25 price". Had it just been a misprint on the menu, we would have understood. But 2 different employees told us as we were ordering that the price was $25. The owner stating we "caught" the error leads me to believe we are not the first customers this has been done to. I'm not sure if they are false advertising or trying to scam people for more money, but either way I would not recommend this winery to anyone due to their sketchy business practices. Update- Several days later and it appears that they did not actually process the refund to my card, so I was charged $108 for something that we were told was $50. I called and spoke to someone and was told that this is an issue with Visa and it often takes several days to process, but I have never experienced this on any other purchase/refund and have been using Visa for years. I guess they weren't happy with an upset customer, so instead of calling they texted me the following. I've since blocked the number because I'm absolutely baffled at how someone can think any of this is an okay business practice. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

Excellent wines, drys are the specialty. We're very discerning. We tried to find something we didn't like and failed. Ended up buying a case ... Recommend read more

I've been to Royal Rabbit twice- once pre COVID and then earlier today when they opened up for outdoor tastings. Both experiences were phenomenal! Their wine is great (I love the Comtesse and Duke) and the tasting menu has a good blend of varietals so anyone can find something they like. To make the tasting as safe as possible, they're using clear disposable tasting cups- it's nice because you can still see the color of the wine but minimize contact. The owner is incredibly knowledgeable on the wines as well. When you come, bring snacks to munch on! The patio area is great for picnics read more

We just moved to the area and stopped in last minute. Roy was very accommodating and let me taste the three sweet wines for free. I found the wines to be a very high quality something I thought I would not find after experiencing many high quality wineries in Virginia. We returned today for a fun event at the vineyard and enjoyed tasting all six wines. Thanks for such a pleasant experience. read more

5.0 Stars I came in with the intent to bring home one, MAYBE two bottles, and left with 6... a testament to how much I liked their wine. My wife and I found Royal Rabbit through a Groupon for 2 tastings + 1 bottle of wine + 2 take home glasses for $24 which was a great deal! (We later learned this deal is also available on their website) The winery is about 45 minutes north of Baltimore, and is situated in the basement of a house. Roy walked us through their tasting and was super knowledgeable. Turns out Royal Rabbit is family run, and Roy is the main winemaker. Roy's passion and dedication is reflected in the excellent wines they produce. There was a wide variety of wines-mainly focusing on dry reds and whites. I thought their wines were among the top in Maryland. In addition to the selection of wines available for tasting, Roy gave us samples of other bottles that were opened and even opened a bottle of Viognier for us, since my wife really wanted to try it. My favorite was the Duke (Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot) which had nice earthy note. I was also happily surprised by the apple wine, Sir Isaac, which was quite nice considering I don't typically like fruit wines. Overall, Royal Rabbit is a small producer focused on producing top quality wines. They have a huge selection of varietals, especially considering they only produce a small number of cases. But this dedication to wine making makes some of Maryland's best dry wines. I'm definitely coming back again to sample other wines and buy more bottles! read more

Some of the best Maryland wine we've had. Very impressed with the complexity of the wines. I'm not sure why the previous reviewers were so displeased. The owner is very knowledgeable and explains everything there is to know about his wines. The tasting room is located in the lower level of the house but it is well designed and the short walkway from parking to the tasting room is well marked. We will be back for sure! read more

I never been to a wine tasting, ever! The Royal Rabbit has made my first time experience spectacular! The host was soooooo informative and nice. Their Patio area is more than just a patio to me. It has a great view of their vineyard , small and quaint. Very intimate and personal. not to busy. The Scene and tasting area is simple, just enough for you to take your time and enjoy every single drop of wine! read more

Stopped in at Royal Rabbit on the way home from Wegmans. My wife and I really enjoyed their wines. We enjoy dry reds and they had a couple we liked so we bought some. That's the highest compliment that you can do. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

My new favorite Vineyard!! Roy and Linda are great! They have the most spectacular wine. I have not tried a wine that I didn't like. The hardest thing is deciding which wine to take home. Roy is a wonderful wine maker and you will not be disappointed. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

See all

I was super excited to finally be out in this area so that I could see the vineyard and get inside that tasting room! Every year at the Maryland Wine Festival in Columbia, I make it my number one priority to locate Royal Rabbit's tent inside so that I know where to go once the event opens (My Mom and I are always in line thirty minutes prior to opening, it's a must). At the Wine Festival I have only ever met Roy's Dad, a charming and overly enthusiastic wine pourer--we love him. He sparked my interest in visiting the winery last year so now that it was finally happening I was very thrilled! Mom and I had purchased another Groupon while we were driving from Woodhall for Royal Rabbit, which included two tastings and two stemmed wine glasses. The tasting is based on what wine they currently have opened. Roy has about nineteen wines available for purchase, however, I believe one or two have already sold out--I could be wrong though but definitely not surprised. The family owned and operated winery is located in Parkton, Maryland (1090 Jordan Sawmill Road) and is open weekly on both Saturday and Sundays between 12:00pm and 5:00pm. Owners, Roy and Linda Albin run the vineyard and tasting room. A fun fact is if you say Roy's full name fast enough it sounds like "royal" and that is how he came up with the name. Also, there is a lot of research placed into these wines and historical themes when it comes to naming his wine. I love cleverness and appreciate historical themes, especially when it comes to Europe. The tagline of the winery is "treat yourself royally." LOVE it. It's nice to sip on a wine and see yourself as a Marquise, Duchess, or even a Jongleur. Definitely one of the more creative and thought-out wineries in Maryland. The names of their wines speak to a passion of theirs and a time era that sipping on their wine can place you somewhere else--sort of like being Claire from the Outlander series (TV or novel) by Diana Gabaldon. When arriving onto the property you can see all the well-groomed and perfectly lined grape vines. The owner's home, tasting room and vineyard are located all in the same spot. The tasting room was very homey and clean. There were a few tables for groups of at least five to sit and enjoy the wine and art. I didn't explore into a conversation about the art, however, there was a lot to look at and it looks as if you were able to purchase the art right off the wall--I could be wrong. The same with jewelry--maybe all local artisans? The only aspect missing was music, however, for awhile it was just my Mom and I talking to Mr. Roy so the music wasn't entirely needed but it would still of been nice to have in the background. Everyone knows that music and wine goes great together! Once we finished our tastings and purchased our wine bottles to go Roy handed me a delightful gift of one of my favorite things ever, coupons! Being the sweetheart he is, he provided me two coupons to use for when I come back with my friends which consists of free tastings for each two bottle of wines and this is something that is SO easy to do. Also, if you are a yelper, there is a deal for you when you check-in. Also, know that you are welcome to bring snacks and food to pair with your tastings. There are also picnic tables for you to use (weather permitting). Paring can be slim so make sure you call in advance, especially when there are Living Social and Group deals. I plan on coming back out here very soon. Wines I loved: Chevalier, Chatelaine's Blush, La Chatelaine, The Baroness and The Marquise. read more

See all

Royal Rabbit wines are not to be missed. In my opinion, they are the absolute best wines produced in Maryland. The tasting room at Royal Rabbit is the Lower Level of the owner's home.I love that the host pourer comes to your table rather than having to stand at a counter for tasting. Roy Albin, the owner, is a personable and experienced vintner. It's worth the trip just to meet him. Terry, a pourer at the vineyard, is wonderfully pleasant and very knowledgeable. Either Roy or Terry is always present to answer any questions and share a wealth of information. They both love what they do and it is evident. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Two wines to consider: The Duke and The Abbess - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

Great little vineyard in northern Baltimore county along the wine trail. Small little tasting room. Friendly staff. We got the deal from Groupon $24 for 2. 6 tastings glassware each n a bottle of wine to take home. Great deal. Only complaint is the staff really didn't talk much about the vineyard n the grapes. We were in n out in 15mins. Would of loved to hear about the history of the vineyard. read more

As noted in other reviews, the tasting room is the basement of the main house. We went on a Friday afternoon so we were the only ones there and so the relatively cramped space was no problem for us. We had a great time talking with the 2-winemakers and tasting their selections. Their wine is on the dry side for mid-Atlantic wines, which is fine by me. My favorite selection surprised me...it was the Vidal Blanc. I normally don't like white wines, but it was crisp and delicious. I wasn't as taken with the reds. The Blush was very good and would be great on a summer day. I'll definitely go back for the Vidal Blanc. read more

Very dry wines. It seemed that the only person that had knowledge about the wine was the "Wine Master". None of the other staff would give any details about the wine I was tasting. read more

Came here with a group of friends on a LivingSocial deal and had a great time. We've been through more than a handful of vineyards and Royal Rabbit is one of our favorites so far. The wine is excellent and the host/owner, Roy, is a very down to earth person who spoke about his wines simply. No need for fanciful descriptions, the wine, house, and property speaks for themselves. It was a memorable experience and we would be happy to come back again. read more

We really enjoyed our time at Royal Rabbit Vineyard. The tasting room was lovely and you sit at individual tables while tasting. The host/owner was friendly and knowledgeable and made you feel welcome and at home. Even though the place was filled, the owners did a good job in keeping the tasting moving. We loved the wine and purchased a glass of the riesling traminett blend. We bought several bottles, will return again, and recommend this gem. read more

Where do I even begin? The winery is in a basement of a house, which isn't so bad but it's a little awkward. There was actually a lot of people there so we had to park on the grass, there's only spots for about 4 cars. You have to walk around the the side of the house to get into the winery. As soon as you walk in theres a little fluffy dog SO cute, I don't know what breed but adorable! It didn't bark it was such a good dog, he was the best part of the whole experience. There was a lady terrified of dogs there and they pretty much did nothing to put the dog away or anything for her! HOW RUDE! Even though the dog wouldn't hurt a fly I mean really.. thats unacceptable! They also had another dog in another room the whole time barking. It was loud enough in there already, I want to enjoy my wine tasting not hear a dog barking the whole time! It was a very small basement only about 4-5 dinning tables with chairs and a bar area for people to stand and taste the wines. The whole place was packed, it was very awkward to have to sit at a table with another random couple. Not sure how it was so packed to begin with... Hmmm...? There's the man that makes the wines and obviously very knowledgeable about them, I guess his wife that was helping and maybe their son or a younger family friend that was also helping with the wine tastings. None of them knew how to run it. Not sure if this is a new winery but they need to hire people to do the tastings for them. It was a DISASTER! All three of them where running around asking the same tables if they had be helped, which they had been. The wines went all out of order because different people we're coming over at different times. The younger guy didn't know anything about the wines and didn't really care to share. Most of the people in there had a coupon for the wine tasting which was a good deal but the people that walked in got the whole history and background of the winery and all the wines. None of the people with the coupon got that, myself included. It was just one hot MESS! My boyfriend and I wanted to down our wine and get out of that place ASAP! All of the wines are very dry. I only liked 1 white wine which was the free bottle I got included in my coupon. I believe a regular tasting is $5/glass tasting. Craziness! Especially since it's not worth it!! read more

We did not care for the wines at RR. Went there for the barbera and they were not tasting it that particular day. They only taste certain wines each day. I think there are better wineries int the area. read more

I went to this Vineyard with a couple of friends to celebrate getting a new job. I have to admit, I was apprehensive at first because the Vineyard looked more like a family home than a place of business. I was skeptical all the way up until I had my first sip of wine. Every wine that we tasted was it's own unique taste experience. Roy the purveyor was knowledgeable and welcoming, his expertise in wine making is something you can surely taste. He said that his main objective was to make quality wines, to which we all agreed he accomplished. read more

Visited on a Saturday with a group of 12 as part of a wine tour. The tasting room is in the basement of the house with a side entrance. Although small the space is clean and inviting. The staff was knowledgeable and kind. The red wines we're pretty decent. Our favorite was the Le Chamberlin and the Blush. The Blush is good. The staff was great, we had a great time. read more

They still have the largest number of wines to sample for the money. Today there were 11 wines to taste, for $5. There would've been more but they've sold out of 3 or 4 types! The person assigned to help us didn't know everything, but they were sure willing to go find out from the owner! We bought one bottle of everything, prices were AWESOME when compared to most micro-wineries. read more

Royal Rabbit Vineyard - Yum! Barbera grapes rule! - Wineries Near Me - Parkton, Maryland

This small winery, tucked back in the country, should NOT be overlooked! Roy Albin is a self taught viticulturist and winemaker. The thing is, you would think he was top of his class at UC Davis wine program! His skill in the vineyard and in the winery allows him to produce award winning varietals and blends worthy of the awards and accolades they continually receive. What is even better about his wines is that unlike many wineries that are fairly highly priced, the price quality ratio of Roy's wines are terrific! These are the definition of value. You are getting a much better product for your dollar. Along with Roy, his wife Linda is a wonderful addition to the tasting room, as well as a crucial part to the success of the winery. Royal Rabbit Vineyards does not get nearly enough attention for what they have to offer. Great wines, fun events, beautiful property! Go check it out. It's well worth the trip. read more

Went for tour de tanks tasting. The wine was pretty good, and the location didn't bother me at all. The owner provided us the tastings and was very helpful. Explained the wines, and seemed happy to have people come in to sample. We definitely enjoyed it. read more

We came here with a Groupon deal for a tasting with a take home bottle. The property is pretty, but the tasting room is literally the basement of someone's house that was converted. We didn't really like a single wine, but that's true of most Maryland wines. The two folks there were really kind and allowed us to continue drinking our Groupon-included bottle in the backyard after they closed. It was a nice afternoon. read more

My wife and I have enjoyed perhaps five bottles or more over the last couple of years, for desert we like the Reingraf (white) with manchego and Trader Joe's Basque cheese. Le Chevalier is also a good desert wine (red). We love the Earl with prime rib and hope someday to have it with Maryland venison someday! read more

Royal Rabbit is fantastic. My friend bought a groupon and I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. The tasting room was quaint and homey and the staff could not have been more welcoming. Having grown up in Parkton I was surprised I had never visited before, but we loved every single wine and went home with four bottles and were so sad once we had finished them all. I am looking forward to returning and bringing more people! read more

We loved our visit to Royal Rabbit Vineyard! I'm a white wine drinker and couldn't decide whether I preferred the Jongleur, or Le Chatelaine, so I bought both, as well as the Le Chatelaine Blush, which was very special - a perfect summer wine. There's a discount when you buy a case. The vineyard radiated good health and the owner was both charming and knowledgeable. I'm sure that a wine aficionado would love this place, but during the wine tasting he also explained the details of the different wines for those of us who are less knowledgeable. These people clearly love what they're doing, and that made the experience even better for us. read more