Carroll County Vineyard Owner Supports Wine Legislation

Ray Brasfield, owner of Cygnus Wine Cellars in Manchester, said he supports all three bills that have been introduced in the General Assembly by Senator Ronald N. Young, D-Frederick and Washington counties.

Young introduced the bills in the Senate relating to the corkage, growing and promotion of wine.

One of Young’s bills is the Consuming Wine Not Bought on Premises-Restaurants, Clubs, and Hotels. The bill, commonly known as corkage, seeks the opportunity for customers to bring wine that was purchased outside to be consumed in restaurants, night clubs, and hotels that have a license, according to a news release.

The bill also enables restaurants, clubs, and hotels to charge the customer a small fee—including sales tax—for consuming wine they brought into the establishment.

Brasfield, who is also the immediate past president of the Maryland Wineries Association, said the organization supports any legislation that increases choices for Maryland consumers.

Another bill introduced by Young, entitled the Income Tax-Tax Credit for Wineries and Vineyards, requires the state Department of Agriculture to administer a tax credit against state income tax for qualified expenditures at certain wineries and vineyards. 

"We’ve made tremendous progress in the last couple years," Brasfield said.  "In 2010, we got the Maryland Wineries Modernization Act after working on it for three years and that has had a tremendous effect on what we do as a business, as an industry."

"Last year, we got the direct-to-consumer wine shipping bill passed," Brasfield said. "This year we really don’t have any big things going on, but we do support the bills that are being presented, anything that allows people to buy our wine, we’re all for it."

Carroll County is currently home to four vineyards/wineries:

Cygnus Wine Cellar 
www.cygnuswinecellars.com
3130 Long Lane, Manchester, MD 21102
Ph: 410-374-6395

Detour Winery 
detourwinery.com
7933 Forest and Stream Club Rd., Detour, MD 
Ph: 410-755-0220

Galloping Goose Vineyards 
www.gallopinggoosevineyards.com
4326 Maple Grove Road, Hampstead, MD 21074
Ph: 410-374-6596

Serpent Ridge Vineyard 
www.serpentridge.com
2962 Nicodemus Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Ph: 410-848-6511