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The Crossvines Spotlights the Bounty of Montgomery Farms

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On a clear Maryland afternoon in early autumn, surrounded by farms growing sun-sweetened produce, a harvester reaps a drying corn field. Traffic on the nearby roads is light. But occasionally, cars winding through Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve turn onto a driveway next to that field. They pass by rows of fruiting chardonnay grapevines, driving until they reach a black-and-white farmhouse complete with red brick chimneys and a metal silo.

This is The Crossvines, a restaurant, winery, vineyard, golf course, and events venue that span about 380 acres roughly 30 miles north of D.C. But it’s not just a sunny getaway. The newly opened destination is also a $19 million investment that aims to boost agricultural tourism, bolster the local economy, and kickstart small wineries by offering wine-making equipment that vineyards can use on a contract basis. The facility as a whole is already drawing D.C. and suburban residents out to the small town of Poolesville.

“Crossvines is the rising tide that’s lifted all the boats,” says Jim Brown, the Poolesville Town Commissioners president.

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More than a decade ago, Keith Miller, CEO of the Montgomery County Revenue Authority, met with now-county executive Marc Elrich to discuss ways to grow the county economy. Elrich suggested supporting local wine and agriculture. Miller then spent over 10 years researching, raising county and state funds and overseeing the build-out of The Crossvines.



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