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Burnt Hill Farm, located in Clarksburg, MD in upper Montgomery County, has been recognized by as one of America’s Most Beautiful Vineyards. Featured in the magazine’s “12 Stunning U.S. Vineyards to Visit This Harvest Season” list, Burnt Hill stands alongside celebrated estates across the country, earning praise for its scenic beauty, culinary offerings, and immersive experiences.

Set on 117 acres in the heart of Maryland’s Agricultural Reserve, Burnt Hill Farm is a labor of love by the sibling trio behind Old Westminster Winery– Drew Baker, Lisa Hinton, and Ashli Johnson. Their vision brings together regenerative polyculture farming, livestock, orchards, and viticulture in a spectacular rural setting just 30 miles northwest of Washington DC.

Finding the perfect site in 2016, the founders worked with geologist Ernest “Bubba” Beasley to identify land featuring high elevation, well-drained rocky soils, and a climate conducive to expressive viticulture. The name “Burnt Hill” pays homage to the 1800s practice of clearing the land through controlled burning to produce charcoal and fertilizer.

After two years of soil enrichment through cover crops, animals, and biodynamic methods, they planted a diverse mix of grape varieties, both old-world classics like Cabernet Franc and Syrah, as well as resilient native and hybrid grapes like Regent. These selections support organic farming and result in wines with vibrant personality. Co-owner Drew Baker reflects on the farm’s personal significance: “Burnt Hill is more than a vineyard– it’s a testament to resilience, hope, and the belief that beauty and joy are worth fighting for”

Food & Wine spotlight highlights Burnt Hill’s unique wine tasting experiences, paired with garden-fresh snacks and house-milled bread, served alongside expertly curated wine flights. The experience is elevated by chef Tae Strain (formerly of Momofuku), who leads a chef’s counter offering seasonal pairings crafted from the farm’s own produce, making each visit a culinary highlight. Reservations are required and can be made here.

The 177-acre property at 25001 Burnt Hill Road, in Clarksburg, Maryland, is located 30 miles north of Washington, D.C., and 45 miles west of Baltimore, and overlooks Sugarloaf Mountain and the Appalachians.

It’s founded and run by three siblings in their 30s — Lisa Hinton (winemaker), Ashli Johnson (operations), and Drew Baker (farmer) — who have overseen the growth of Old Westminster Winery over the past 10 years.

Both places require reservations.

As for the name, per the website, farmers in the 1800s found it difficult to grow crops on the steep, rocky ground. Instead, they burned timber to make charcoal, lye, and potash for cooking, soap making, and fertilizer.

Those settlers certainly wouldn’t recognize that ground today, where 50,000 grapevines have been planted — from Cabernet Franc and Gamay to Syrah and Tannat, alongside native American vines and multi-heritage hybrids such as Regent — on terrain that will emphasize regenerative farming.

Old Westminster Winery has received many accolades, starting with its appearance several times on “The Daily Meal’s” list of The Best 101 Wineries in America, which ran from 2011 to 2017.

Since then, Cosmopolitan named it a Top 10 Winery in the U.S., Wine Enthusiast in a 2024 story noted that the winery “has set a new standard for the possibilities of what can be produced in Maryland,” and vinepair.com in a review last December of the winery’s Pétillant Naturel Albariño 2023 said the family is “among the new pioneers of American wine helping the East Coast realize its potential.”

Here is a link to Old Westminster’s online wine shop.

Baker told Baltimore magazine in an April profile that while they had put in what was described as a seasonally inspired, pizza-slinging kitchen in 2020, “the missing piece in our team was a really talented culinary partner, someone who understands and aligns with what we’re trying to achieve, to not only provide technical skill and passion, but also have skin in the game.”

On May 1, Tae Strain added that final piece, joining Old Westminster as its culinary director and chef-partner of the forthcoming Burnt Hill project. He has led Michelin-starred kitchens — including The Progress in San Francisco, Momofuku in Washington, D.C., and PUBLIC in New York City. There, they launched a spring menu that “doubles down on our commitment to local ingredients and producers,” featuring wood-fired pizzas, seasonal small plates, and garden snacks.

Meanwhile, he’ll become an integral part of the farm-to-table experience inside the tasting room at Burnt Hill Farm, where guests can enjoy a curated experience centered on estate wines paired with seasonal garden snacks and house-milled bread service with accoutrements.

Next to open will be a casual lounge, followed by the debut early next year of an eight-seat Chef’s Counter amid the Burnt Hill kitchen that will feature the chef’s personal tasting menu of Burnt Hill and Chesapeake Bay ingredients produced through his “Asian-American lens,” per the winery bio.

Also in the planning stage are 10 low-intervention luxury cabins, to be open for guests sometime in 2026.

A pony that was reported missing after a collision with a vehicle on Burnt Hill Road in Clarksburg is safe and back home, according to a recent update.

The incident occurred on Friday when the pony, identified as Uzi, was startled and ran off following the collision. Thankfully, Uzi was not injured and has since been reunited with his owner. It is believed the pony may have been spooked by a group of pigs, or possibly boars, that have been spotted roaming the area. Local mountain biker Dave Horn recently reported seeing “a pack of about six wild boars” (photo above) while riding the Burnt Hill trail near the Little Bennett Park parking lot.

Other residents suggest the animals are not wild boars but domestic pigs that escaped from a nearby farm. Sightings in and around Little Bennett Park have been reported in the last 24 hours or so, though it’s unclear whether the animals have been captured. The following was recently posted on social media:

???? Welcome Home, Uzi! ????

Uzi, the beloved Shetland pony who was chased by wild boars and struck by a car, is finally safe at home in Clarksburg, MD. ❤️

From the very beginning, the community and our Tailed Treasures of MD, Inc. team members — Jill Keaton, Serenity Sherrod, and Sonya Dove Smith — worked tirelessly on the ground, searching farms, fields, and backroads. The owners never stopped doing everything they could to bring their pony home.

After searching all day without success, Tailed Treasures of MD, Inc. and Rachel Moxley reached out to Ryan with Arkcan Drone Services for help. By taking to the skies with advanced drone technology, Ryan and Arkcan Drone Services were able to locate Uzi where people on the ground could not. Because of Ryan’s quick action and his amazing skills, Uzi was found and brought home safe.

Tonight, Uzi is back in his barn and, after a veterinary check, we are happy to report he is doing fine. ????

✨ Thank you, Ryan, Arkcan Drone Services, our volunteers, and the incredible Clarksburg community. A special thank you as well to Rachel Moxley and Debbie Herman Diatz for their ongoing dedication through the Montgomery County Maryland Lost Pets page — and to the many others who tirelessly support the lost and found pet community. Rescue truly takes a village.

???? We are all donation-based — your support keeps us going.

???? Support Arkcan Drone Services (critical in Uzi’s recovery): ???? PayPal: paypal.me/Arkcanllc ???? Venmo: venmo.com/u/Arkcanllc

???? Support Tailed Treasures of MD, Inc. (501(c)(3) nonprofit – all donations are tax-deductible):

???? Website: tailedtreasuresofmd.com (https://tailedtreasuresofmd.com/) ???? Venmo: Click here to donate (https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3622224321840993195&created=1752441522.5904632&printed=1) ???? PayPal: Donate via PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QVZXWJU54PGNG)

???? So many cases. So much need. 24/7, 365. We can’t do it without you.

#WelcomeHomeUzi #ArkcanDroneServices #TailedTreasuresOfMD #RescueTakesAVillage