Kent County Economic Development

We are only in the very beginnings of establishing our regional wine trail, and Kent County is the newest of the vineyard operations in our region.  However we would like to present a collage of those small operations we currently have.  Please enjoy the photos of this work in process.  As more vineyards are planted, and as wineries are located here, we will continually update this site……thank you for visiting.

As part of our tri-county effort to provide viable agricultural alternatives to landowners, and to increase wine-quality grape production, Kent County became the Program Coordinator for an Upper Shore Regional Council Vineyard Management Company Feasibility Project.  The Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) is the umbrella organization which coordinates regional efforts between Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Cecil Counties.

The USRC contracted with Mr. Stephen D. Mudd, a nationally-recognized vineyard consultant from Long Island, New York, to analyze the potential for the establishment of a Vineyard Management Company (VMC), and accompanying increase in vineyards in the USRC area.  A VMC is a company which establishes, operates, and/or consults for owners of new or existing vineyards.  A VMC’s services could be as extensive as the complete establishment and operation of a vineyard for an individual who has the land, the financial resources, and the interests in grape growing, but not the inclination or interest to do the work themselves.  It could also involve offering only consulting services to an established vineyard.  It could also offer selected services to those owners who wish to do some of the work themselves. A VMC offers a cafeteria-style menu of services that the owner picks and chooses to fit their needs, and provides these services without the need for a land owner to have a substantial personal investment in machinery and equipment.

Mr. Mudd has completed his consulting assignment and has created a set of financial projections for anyone who is interested in establishing a new vineyard, or expanding an existing vineyard, by utilizing the services of a VMC. The projections are available in an Excel format by clicking on the site below, and will provide interested parties with a tool to analyze the costs they might expect in establishing a vineyard, using a VMC.

The Kent County Economic Development Office also has available financial projections for anyone with a viticulture background who may be interested in establishing a VMC. Please call Augustine Cook at 410.778.5188 to arrange for receipt of that data.

Recognizing the value of the VMC concept, and desiring to further assist in vineyard production, the Kent county Board of Commissioners established a unique Vineyard Loan Program.  The Program recognizes the long delay between establishing new vines and harvesting the first salable crop of grapes, and provides for a delay in payments of thirty-seven months.  For full details of this exciting program simply click on one of the links below.

Prospective Vineyard Owner's Welcome Information

Prospective Vineyard Owner's Workbook
(To download Excel Workbook, right click on the link above, then
choose "Save Target As" and place the workbook on your computer.)

Vineyard Loan Program Description 

Vineyard Loan Program Application 

Vineyard Loan Program Press Release