A Crafty Certification
From the day our family decided to develop a winery, William, Joe, Laura and I agreed that certain things would always be important.
For instance, we agreed that William would be our very active vintner, overseeing everything from field to bottle. We agreed that our production would remain small so that we could bring the best wine possible to the market. And we were (and remain) committed to knowing where our grapes came from, whether from our vineyard or another carefully selected farm.
What we didn’t know was that a decade later our approach would be the near-perfect definition of “craft wine.”
In February, the Craft Wine Association based in Salem, Ore., announced that Layton’s Chance is the first “Certified Craft Winery” in the State of Maryland – and in Delmarva. The distinction recognizes our commitment to crafting wine with a dedication to the very elements we always found special.
Carol Lawson, founder and CEO of Craft Wine Association and a certified sommelier, said at our recent celebration, “We are so pleased to certify Layton’s Chance as Delmarva’s first Certified Craft Winery. The rise in popularity of craft wines reflects changing tastes, inspired by creativity and sourcing high-quality, local fruit. Consumers want to know the hands that made the wine and the stories behind the craft.”
For us, craft does go way back. If you have been in our Tasting Room, you may have noticed that for many years we have included what we called “Craft Wines on Tap.” These change quarterly and reflect elements and ingredients we have found interesting in winemaking. Our Salem Spiced Apple began as a craft wine on tap.
This year we also celebrate another landmark – our 10th Anniversary. We have been planning events, product launches and surprises that will dot our landscape, and the idea of Layton’s as a “craft winery” has really been driven home to us as we have reviewed our recipes, product lines and many, many event photos.
We look forward to sharing the coming year with you – and please save Saturday, May 23 to come celebrate at our 10th Anniversary Birthday Bash!
