I've been going to wine in the woods for over a decade. I usually get the premiere tickets and the earlier you go the better. They have their own wineries available with some spirit and moonshine available for tasting and purchase. We have a separate entrance and section. I usually bring my chair. So that I can setup at where the bands are located. You can stroll around and check out the food trucks as well as the different vendors available. The premier tickets cost more but you get a larger glass and a gift. I still prefer it over the regular admission. I love my freebies from the vendors stands. As well as you can get some good purchases. Oh and can't forget about the bacon truck. Definitely a must stop by in my book. read more

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Seems to have gone downhill over the years. Yes, long lines, but the worst part to me is that almost no wine was to be found; rather tons of very low quality, super sugary wine mixers with fruit flavors added and sold as "wine". That's not wine. That's a wine mixer or a wine cocktail, but not wine. The few wines I could find did not impress, and prices were quite high. The majority of the stuff I sampled was just gross. This is no longer an event for people who like wine. It's an event for people who like sugar and don't know what wine is. read more

I used to love this event but over the years it just hasn't been the same. Maybe the pandemic changed it. I attended yesterday for the first time in years. I was disappointed with the wineries. Seemed like way less than in the past and the ones that were there mostly had mostly sweet wines, which I'm not a fan of. The dry wines that were available weren't that great. I did like St. Michaels - mostly sweet but I liked their full throttle - it's 18.5% so there's a lil something extra in there. The folks there were friendly! Good thing some of us got there early so the lines weren't bad. Later in the day, lines were super long. I'm not a fan of the VIP vs GA option. Why can't we all just have a good experience together?! Oh well. I had a good time with my group. The music was good, but not sure I'll be inclined to return next year. read more

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Excited to Attend this Legendary Wine Festival It had been many years since I attended this festival, not since my boys were little. So I was very happy to visit this wine festival again. My expectations and anticipation were high, to attend this event. The staff, who were either volunteers or staff from the wineries, they were professional and amiable. It was perfectly laid out, the sections for vendors, the wine seminar tent, bathrooms, and the most important part-- the tents housing the various wineries. It was a very diverse crowd, with lots of space to sit at picnic tables or set up chairs and blankets on the grass. I loved tasting all the Maryland local wines. There were some of my favorites wineries. My one disappointment had less to do with the event, and more to do with my son and his girlfriend tiring easily. Unfortunately, I rode with them and had to leave sooner than I wanted. Check this festival out next year, if you love wines and want to become more familiar with Maryland wines. read more

Fresh wine from all over Maryland , and Venues Galore. Wine in the Woods is an annual Howard County tradition that you don't want to miss. This year I'm finally glad that I made it despite the forecast. Funnel cakes , Jamaican Food, Asian Food, Hawaiian Poke Bowls, Wine tasting , Wine Seminars, Sip and Paints , and more, This festival was loaded with fun for everyone. Bring your picnic bag, and load your beach wagon because this Family Friendly event is one of the best festivals in Maryland. My friend and I had a great time. If you do t want to bring your own food, there are plenty of food options to choose from while there , treats as well. Purchase bottles of wine for yourself or others, good quality wine for a reasonable price. Food ranged from $9- $20 depending on what you like and it's a wonderful way to support local small businesses. Cons : The ground was a little bit muddy because of previous rain and they could definitely use more directional signage to get the check in locations and bathrooms. The festival volunteers were pretty helpful though. But For just $35 per ticket you can enjoy a full day of festival fun. The only down side was that it closed down at 5pm I wish that the festival lasted into the evening . Get your tickets early next year because this festival always sells out . read more

Wine in the Woods - This guy was the star of the show, real life statue, dispensing wine lol - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Much better the second time around. The organizers really got this event together- it's much more prepared and put together. The weather thankfully was tolerable and nice. I assume it was more chaotic the year prior since it was the first festival post pandemic. Found our favorite wineries and bought some bottles while enjoying food and scenery with friends. Had a great time and I suggest doing this event in groups read more

Wine in the Woods - Chicken Teriyaki - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Wine in the Woods was a letdown in 2022. My husband and I arrived at 11:10 and got into the festival around noon. The lines were pretty horrendous this year to even get in. Once inside, the lines continue to get a tasting and/or food. We waited approximately 20- 25 minutes at each tent. Unfortunately it was scorching hot this year which made waiting miserable, especially in the areas where the shade was nonexistent. Tip: splurge on an explorer pass and skip the entrance line. Or better yet visit your favorite winery and bypass the crowds. read more

Wine in the Woods - Line to enter the festival - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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The lines are way too long to actually sample wine. No value for the admission price. The lines stay long the whole time. You wait an hour between each sampling. It's not enjoyable. The restrooms are clean. The music is decent. It's nice to sit and drink wine with friends - BUT - why pay for an expensive ticket when you can go elsewhere to do that. read more

Very fun event with so many different wine vendors from around Maryland. Unlimited wine tastings included with your ticket price. I can never make it through all the vendors because I get so full of wine. It's a great experience to try different types of wine that you wouldn't have tried otherwise and learn what types you like most. The lines do get super long and people do try to cut in line, which is annoying. But overall, the event is great. It also has tons of options for buying food at a wide variety of food vendors. This is a great event for groups, but don't let that deter you if you have no one to go with--I just recommend having something to entertain yourself with while you wait on long lines then, like a light-weight book or some games on your phone. read more

It's wayyyy too many people at wine in the woods in the last couple of years. This used to be something I looked forward too and knew I would have a good time.....now not so much. I got so frustrated waiting in line. I went to a winery I already knew I liked, bought three bottles of wine, and spent the rest of my day drinking those bottles on the blanket we bought. I could have dont that at home. Shouldnt take me and hour to get to the front of the wine for a tasting. Its too hot for all that and a hassle. Wine in the woods either neither needs to stagger participants or not sell so many tickets because I didnt feel like i got my money's worth this year and there are way too many other wine festivals in the area now that I dont have to rely on wine in the woods. read more

We enjoyed our wine in the woods experience e and the perks of the Explorer Village. Can't wait to return next year read more

Wine in the Woods - Philosophy Winery - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I got the pleasure of seeing this festival from two sides.. Saturday I went as a volunteer and Sunday I attended as a guest.. My volunteer experience wasn't nearly as great as my visitor experience was. The cons of volunteering - the people "managing" the volunteers (well one of them) was probably the worst person I've ever met in my life. She was rude, nasty and mean to those giving of their time. The Pros of volunteering- meeting new people and free tickets to the event. It also was only a four hour shift so it didn't feel very long at all. The Cons of attending- some of the people at the tasting tents knew nothing about what they pouring and it showed! When asked which one we were trying one woman said "shut up and drink" I'm sorry but I go to a wine festival to find new wines. The pros of attending- I met some really great people doing the tastings as well.. One guy took 30 mins to tell us how to properly taste and what things can be paired with. I enjoyed the education from his tent so much I plan to visit the winery. There were so many types of wine and things I never knew I liked. The lines were pretty short and the food that I tried was great. If I could do one thing over I'd attend on Saturday the music at the stages was better on Saturday then it was on Sunday! read more

I must admit that my expectations were low for WITW. I thought it would be a bunch of people trying to get drunk, not really interested in tasting wine. I also expected to taste wine from vendors that had not fully fine tuned their fermentation processes. I was pleasantly surprised to find people truly enjoying and critiquing the wines. My likes: I loved the environment. I loved that everyone seemed to drink responsibly. With a mass of people drinking, I also expected foolishness (i.e. fighting and hook ups, etc.), but all I saw were families and friends nested in the seating areas, drinking, eating and having a good time. I liked that we were able to bring our lawn chairs, blankets and food baskets. I also appreciated the food vendors that sold a variety of items (I didn't particularly like the BBQ whatever I ate, but I was glad it was there and that I had other options available). I was impressed with how they kept the grounds and restrooms clean (thank goodness!!!!) Dislikes: I felt as though the organizers could have done a better job at lining up tasters at the booths. Because there was a large number of people at the event, there were crowds and crowds of people in no particular line. Thankfully, I had no issues with cutting and pushing. There could have been more water stations. Most fountains where I tried to rinse my glass out were dry and did not get replenished. Every vendor did not have a debit card swipe. At this stage of the game, everyone should have a Squareup or Paypal. They needed better navigation signs and better trained employees and police officers. I barely saw any signs (and Im sure its not because I wasn't wearing my glasses), got lost on my way back from the restroom and a police officer directed me for 5 minutes until I realized he was lost too (thanks Mr. Officer). Overall, it was a good event and I want to attend next year. Next time I know to be there early, to pack a picnic basket, to wear a hat and bring cash. read more

Wine in the Woods - End of the day, full glass. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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My husband and I always have a great time at Wine in the Woods in Columbia, Maryland. Lessons learned from past experiences: rain + grass + dirt + high traffic areas = wear your rain boots to keep your feet dry! There were a lot of great wineries that really kept the lines moving. Also, there were a lot of food options. I was told that there was a vendor serving grilled cheese and crab meat sandwiches, but I didn't find it. Also, another person told me about ice cream wine ... yet another vendor that alluded me. The crowd was friendly and funny l. Additionally, I was able to taste wines that I would not have typically tried, and I purchased quite a few bottles for me and family members. I can only imagine the ton of work that went into making this event possible. (Kudos to the planning and implementation team.). But, it would be nice to have one of these a month during the spring and summer months ... maybe at other parks or sites in Maryland. read more

This years event was larger in comparison to the last. There were some new wineries, a bit more lectures added and about double the amount of vendors selling crafts and food. It wasn't as crowded as last years event due to the multiple other evens going on the same weekend, however, it is still best that you get there early as possible to reserve your seating area. You can't go wrong with this event at all...unlimited pours of wine at over 30 wineries. I just wish they gave more in-depth structured lectures and tastings. The volunteers don't know what they are serving and sometimes it can get annoying! read more

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It was a nice event to get you out the house away from the norm. I arrived at around 1130 and there were still plenty of spots to choose from throughout the park. There is a baggage check but knowing what I know now I should have brought my own bottle of wine and I will get to why later on. The entire idea of Wine in the Woods is to sample various wines and if you m me you can purchase a bottle. The biggest issue is the crowd of people hovering around those pouring the wine samples like vultures. This made it very hard for others to sample the wine and caused confusion as to when and where the line starts. I hope that next year the wine sampling is more spreadout or a better way of sampling is conceived. Overall good times and very relaxing as I bought a bottle and struggled not to sample the foods from the many vendors that were present. read more

Wine in the Woods is the best wine festival I've ever been to. That being said, it's not perfect, but it's still a very good time. Starting with the pros: First off, the admission is pretty reasonable at $27/person for unlimited pours. Secondly, the check-in process was the smoothest check-in I've ever been through for a festival, period. Everything felt super organized and well executed. Usually there is a huge wait to get in at these things and the people scanning tickets and checking bags are rude, but that was not the case here. They are super relaxed and you can even bring in chairs, tables and picnic baskets if you want to. Also, TONS of parking for your DD! Hurray! Onto the negatives...all of the food vendors are cash only, which is pretty silly in a day and age when virtually every food truck takes credit cards. They have ATMs onsite with $4 fees, so bring cash with you. Some of the lines for certain wineries can get pretty long and the wait times were longer than what I've encountered at other festivals, but that didn't really bother me that much as that's more a reflection of the people representing that winery and not the festival itself. Also, if you want to purchase any of the wines, you have to carry the bottles around, which is pretty annoying. No one mentioned anything about a wine pickup station, even though it was on the map and every other festival I've been to has one. Another con is that none of the tents were rinsing glasses and water stations were few and far between. At one point my glass was so sticky that I had to purchase bottled water to clean it, which you shouldn't have to do at a wine festival IMO. It would be easy to set up more water stations in the future and to make sure each tent has water on hand to keep glasses clean AND make sure people are staying hydrated. Other pros include that this place has REAL RESTROOMS. Hallelujah. How often does that happen? Also, it's in the woods, which automatically makes the entire experience better because going to festivals in the summer usually means spending all day in the scorching hot sun and getting wasted as a result. Everything is nice and shaded here and the atmosphere is relaxing. All the tents are spread out so none of the areas get super crowded. The food was pretty decent. Lots of crab, but that's MD for ya! I definitely recommend this festival for wine lovers! read more

Do you like picnicking with lots of cool strangers while listening to music and drinking wine? Do you enjoy sitting on a blanket with good friends and eating fabulous foods and drinking some more? Go here with your friends. Pack some cheeses, fruits and veggies. Do a charcuterie spread with your loved ones and drink local wineries best blends. We've been going for several years with a group of several friends. It is perfect for a girls' trip or relaxing with your family. It's a fabulous time and with Lyft and Uber, you can drink responsibly. Book a hotel nearby or go shopping at the mall next door. Bring: money for snacks, comfy cloths and shoes because you do walk a lot from vendor to wine sampling vendor, picnic blankets, hammocks for trees, coolers full of non-glass items, bug spray, sunscreen, baby wipes. Don't bring: a bad attitude, kids (sorry, but they'll be mostly bored), your great aunt sally who disapproves of day drinking. read more

So, this was our first time attending WitW. I've always wanted to go but work commitments always prevented it. It was also an early anniversary "trip" for us. Sadly, it was a damp and rainy day. I will say if it was a pretty, spring day, I could totally see spending the whole day there. Really camping out and making a thing of it. Fantastic wine selections. Bands. Vendors. Awesome food. Given the weather and the purpose of the event in general, taking little kids doesn't really make sense. Older kids who between food vendors and open space would be occupied would be different. If you like wine, this is the place to go. Also the food selection was great. We ate from the Grilled Cheese Co tent. OMG. Sampled about 10 different wineries before we called it quits. I don't know if I'd go back every year but weather depending, it would be fun. Decently organized. Some better signage about parking would be better. Note: the main parking is in the main merriweather lot and then you walk through merriweather to get to the woods. If you don't know where you are going, it's confusing. And better signage within the festival. Everyone was pretty nice and helpful. We enjoyed ourselves even with the rain. read more

Excellent opportunity to sit under the trees and sip something. This was my first experience at Wine in the Woods and I really had a good time. Groupon offered tickets as well as other venues at various prices with amenities. This is not a BYOB situation but let's just say some folks managed to smuggle their own libations in. Located at the Merriweather Pavilion, there are some overpriced food items here so pack your own picnic lunch. There are often concerts here and they had a musical lineup here that was great. You are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets and items for a picnic. There are blankets and t-shirts for sale along with the lanyards that allow you to hang your wine glass from your neck....don't be that guy/gal just hold your glass and be prepared to raise it to toast to good times. Ticket purchase included a glass for use to go to the many tasting stations. I know that some stations had up to five selections to sample but it was frustrating when some patrons would just homestead at the station causing others to just stand behind them as they continuously sipped samples. Get your sample and step aside to allow the person behind you to indulge. If making a purchase, they have areas where you don't have to hold up the line. I found a few new wines that I enjoy and will be adding them to my collection. If you buy multiple bottles some vendors offer discounts and there is a location where you can have your purchases held so you don't leave them unattended or have to lug them around. Of course there is a VIP area that had their own potties, food and seating area. Although there was a robust crowd, there was enough room to lay your blanket out, set up a small table and chill. Check the website if you are interested in volunteering. Volunteers who perform at least four hours can receive free admission. Educational sessions on wine were being held so you can learn about proper pairings of wine and food. An excellent opportunity that I hope to have again. read more

We arrived around 11am and from then we were able to go thru just about the entire event as there were not many people there yet. The weather was perfect and there is always a place to just sit and eat, drink. Things were a bit pricey but that's what you can expect at such an event. We bought about 7 bottles of wine to drink as we walked. Everything was just about perfect. We can't wait to go again next year. read more

Wine in the Woods - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Although we had a delightful time, there are some things that a wine lover must remember before going to this event. 1-Most of the pourers are volunteers and know little if anything about what they are pouring. Keep your questions simple, or better yet, save yourself the trouble and just don't ask any questions. 2-A large portion of the attendees are simply there to get drunk and don't care what they are drinking therefore, many of the wineries are somewhat used this and seem to cater to it. 3-Although it seems that the wine scene in Maryland has been stepping it up recently, many of the wineries are quite new and it is evident in the wine they are producing. If you get lucky, you will stumble across the few wineries that have gotten it right early on. With all that being said, if you keep these few things in mind when you go and don't expect to drink the best wines of your life here, you are bound to have a good time. Until next year....! read more

If I could give no stars I would. Manager at location was nasty and rude. Food-below par. Highly disappointed. Definitely not worth the wait. read more

Wine in the Woods - In line for creole fish, wait for reviews - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I would rather stay home with a really nice $35 bottle of wine, avoid the teeming, personal space invading crowds that are there just to get drunk, and the carnival food. read more

Me and my wife went to this event for the first time this weekend and had the best time ever. This event was sponsored by Howard County Government. This event was catered and had a wide selection of food and wines to sample and buy if you were in the VIP tent. Thank god we were in the VIP tent as YELP members because we would of gotten rained on and would not of had the opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere food and drinks. Thanks to YELP this was a very enjoyable enemy. Apparently this event is held every year in which wine makers market the fruit of their labor. In which I must admit to is very tasted. I well revisit this event next year. read more

Unlimited wine samplings from local vineyards, live music, good food and great music? All a short walk from my house? Yes, please! I made it to Wine in the Woods for the first time after hearing about how much fun everyone had last year. This year, I was determined not to miss it, despite the head cold I had been fighting all day long. I finally made it there at 1 PM, found my friends and then proceeded to do some tastings. The later you arrive at Wine in the Woods, the more patience you will need. I have heard that the earlier you get there, the better. You will beat the crowds, be able to try and buy much more and still be able to stake out a decent spot to camp for the day. By the time, I got around to some sampling, the tents were fairly surrounded by wine fanatics of all levels. It required a lot of patience to wait through the talk about palettes and aromas and bouquets coming from other attendees (who either knew what they were talking about or wanted to look smart so they could continue to stand there a little longer and try everything). Eventually, I just settled for a taste of a few and bought a couple of bottles to enjoy the rest of the day while sitting on a blanket and enjoying the great weather. Vendors will either sell it to you closed or they will open and chill it for you. And if your friends are like mine, there will be plenty of sharing. Wrist bands cannot be purchased online and can only be purchased at a Howard County recreation facility or on the day of at the gate for $5 more. There are designated drive wrist bands available as well, which includes 4 sodas and of course a cheaper price tag. It can get crowded and if you are not a fan of long lines and a lot of people than I don't recommend this particular event for you. Also, don't be stupid and even attempt to drink and drive. There are cops and there are a lot of them. It isn't worth it! P.S. Sadly the head cold won the battle but I still had fun despite it. read more

This was my second time attending the festival. I love seeing all the selction of wines that maryland has to offer. This time I followed a friends advice and voluteeered one of the two days for an afternoon shift. With this you recieve a complentary entery into the festival, BONUS!!! My favoirite winery was Great Frogs, from Annapolis, MD. The man at this booth was so knowlegable about the wine and what to pair with each food wise. The only down side for me personally, Maryland has a lot of sweet wine and I like drys better. Dry options are very limited to taste, try and enjoy. read more

Every Year Always a blast - you meet up with all your friends from the previous year - great location but if you have problems walking definitely wear appropriate shoes and utilize transportation they have onsite to get you from the parking area to the gate because it's a hike - once your in omg toooooo many vendors to name - come prepared with folding chair - hat n shades for shade - drink plenty of water if it's a sunny day and bring a poncho if it's a rainy day - I even bring my own food however don't forget you're carrying things around or entrusting people to use the honor code - thus far it's worked year after year read more

I went to this event with a large group. Upon arriving, my best friend and I looked for a place to sit that was shady. I know that I should be afraid, but there were so many ant farms and random spiders crawling around and it freaked me out. So after moving like 4 times, I told my friend to pick a spot and I wont look and we will put our stuff down because if I looked too hard, lll find something and then we would need to move again. lol For the price paid, this was a nice all day event. Even though it called for storms, we enjoyed majority of the time filled with sun and fun. I liked visiting different tents and being able to purchase wine to take home or drink on the spot. A part of me feels this even was over booked. The lines were crazy long and there is no way that you could see everything in one day. That's ok because we were on the hunt for Linganore and the Sangria place in which I saw everyone and their momma walking around with this pastel pink looking wine. Eventually we found it and it was yummy! I ended up buying 4 wines and taking them home. Big question is... will I go back? hmmmm. Maybe not. Big crowds and not moving kind of bothers me. But I would encourage everyone to have this experience at least once. read more

This was my first wine festival. It was a great day, perfect weather, and there was no rain prior so the ground was dry which was a major plus. I can't imagine just going as a couple I'd rather go with a group, more fun that way IMO. I gave it 4 stars because of the price, $40 pp is a tad high IMO. But the location is perfect. Columbia has a great mixed crowd. I'll return this year if the weather permits and I'm not busy. read more

This was my first time at Wine in the Woods.. The atmosphere was nice and bathroom was clean, but it was to dam crowded.. Lines were to long at every tasting .. Really to enjoy yourself you have to buy a bottle or two.. I thought I would be introduced to quite a few wineries, but that was impossible. read more

Waste of time and money! Oversold, long lines to get a meager sample and extra charge for premium pour. Nothing like past events, too bad.

Totally oversold, ten people deep to get the most minuscule amount of wine possible. Want to try the premium, that's a dollar more. It already cost $32.00 to get in the door, now add the surcharge to that? After tiring of waiting in line, we finally selected a bottle and sat in our chairs for a while. Unlikely we will return. read more

I was really looking forward to going this year until I saw that they charge $20 for a 3 year old to attend. Their website says the event is not suitable for kids, "there are no children's activities and it would be difficult to maneuver a stroller through the busy Festival grounds". Yet a few years ago, there were children's activities and children under a certain age were free or otherwise $5. Why the change? I feel excluded in this community event. No one in their right mind is going to pay $20 for their child to attend and the government must know this. I have attended winery events where the children enjoyed a picnic and the music with their families and the adults enjoyed sampling the wine. No harm done...no drunken debauchery. It was a nice day out with the family. Perhaps if the government turned this back into a family-friendly event, there wouldn't be the drunks that other reviewers complained of. At least let families feel like they have the option of going and let them decide what is suitable for their children. read more

There needs to be a limited number of tickets sold to this event. I have been to the Wine in the Woods event numerous times over the last 15 years. It has gotten better in some ways, but has deteriorated in quality in others. The main issue I have with the event is that around 1pm you can hardly walk around the woods comfortably from the crush of people, and the lines to get tastings are enourmous, so you spend over half an hour just to get a taste of wine at any of the stands. Should you decide to buy a wine you have tasted, then you have to get in another line to do that. I understand the separation of duties, however the effiency for the patrons is dismal. I also had the issue with the water stations, or lack there of. And I know many people are there to just "get drunk", but I was there for a fun experience with friends and I did not enjoy it very much this year, and my friends who were newbies to the WiW experience were not impressed. It was disappointing. read more