Dirt flew off the shovels Thursday marking the start of construction for The Crossvines, a winery, custom crush facility, bistro and event center in Poolesville.
“Grapes turn out to be a really profitable crop particularly when they leave in a bottle,” said County Executive Marc Elrich, who expressed hope this would bring agricultural tourism and jobs to Montgomery County.
Attendees at the groundbreaking event, including Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson, Maryland Sen. Brian Feldman and University of Maryland Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Craig Beyrouty, sipped wine produced from grapes grown on the property.
The Crossvines is located on Montgomery County Revenue Authority property that also is home to the Poolesville Golf Course on West Willard Road. The revenue authority and Weller Development Company 0f Baltimore make up the Crossvines development team.
“Crossvines is an exciting project that will change the economic prosperity of the Agricultural Reserve. As one of the only grape crushing facilities in the region, this will open up opportunities for more landowners to grow profitable grapes and to explore winemaking as part of their future options,” Elrich said.
The project has been 10 years in the making and is expected to have a soft opening in about six months, he said.
Keith Miller, CEO of the revenue authority, predicted, “The opportunities The Crossvines will create for local growers, The Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve and the state’s tourism industry will be tremendous.”
The Crossvines features acreage developed for vinicultural research, education, training and promotion in partnership with education institutions.
