One of the Best Malbecs for 2025 Comes from Maryland
What is one of the best Malbecs to buy in 2025?
According to VinePair, Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 belongs on that list.
VinePair named Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 one of The 16 Best Malbecs for 2025, placing a Maryland grown Malbec alongside standout bottles from Argentina, Oregon, Washington, California, and beyond.
For Old Westminster, this recognition is about more than one wine. It’s another sign that Maryland wine is earning its place in the national conversation.
Old Westminster Malbec Named the Best Malbec from Outside Argentina
Malbec is most famously associated with Argentina, especially Mendoza. Its roots trace back to Cahors in southwest France, and today the grape is grown in serious wine regions around the world.
That’s why this recognition matters.
VinePair named Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 the “Best Malbec from Outside of Argentina,” giving the wine a 93 point rating and listing the average price at $48. In the review, VinePair wrote that “Maryland is emerging as a nationally recognized wine growing state” and that Old Westminster is “leading the way.” Read the full VinePair feature here.
That’s exactly the kind of language that helps people understand what’s happening here.
Maryland wine is moving from local discovery to national relevance.
What Does Old Westminster Malbec Taste Like?
Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 is bright, beautiful, balanced, and expressive.
VinePair described the wine as savory, with dried herbs, dark wild berry fruit, subtle earth, exceptional acidity, and a beautiful balance between fruit and earth.
That balance is what makes the wine so compelling. It has the depth people love in Malbec, while staying lifted, energetic, and food friendly. It’s rich without being heavy. Structured without being harsh. Familiar enough for Malbec lovers and surprising enough to change the way people think about Maryland wine.
A Maryland Malbec With a Sense of Place
When people think of Malbec, they often think of Argentina first. Big fruit. Dark color. Plush texture. Grilled steak.
Those wines can be delicious, and they’ve helped make Malbec one of the most popular red grapes in the world.
Old Westminster’s Malbec tells a different story.
It nods to the grape’s French roots with earth, herbs, acidity, and structure. It carries enough dark berry fruit to feel generous. And it speaks from Maryland through freshness, tension, and balance.
This is the kind of wine that shows why emerging regions matter. They don’t need to copy the classics. They can reveal something new.
Why Maryland Wine Is Gaining National Attention
For years, many wine drinkers overlooked Maryland. They assumed serious American wine had to come from California, Oregon, Washington, New York, or Virginia.
That assumption is changing.
Old Westminster has been helping push Maryland wine into the national conversation through thoughtful farming, creative winemaking, and a growing body of critical recognition. Our Malbec being named one of VinePair’s best Malbecs for 2025 is another proof point.
It joins a larger story: Old Westminster Rosé 2025 was named VinePair’s number one rosé for 2026. Terracotta 2023 earned 95 points and was named one of VinePair’s best white wines for 2026 and one of the best orange wines for 2025. Anthem 2021 was named one of VinePair’s best red blends for 2025. Old Westminster was also named a VinePair Winery of the Year finalist.
Taken together, these recognitions show range across categories: rosé, white wine, orange wine, red wine, red blends, Malbec, and winery of the year recognition.
This isn’t one lucky bottle.
It’s a body of work.
Winemaker Lisa Hinton and the Old Westminster Approach
VinePair’s review calls out winemaker Lisa Hinton directly, writing that she is “onto something.”
That line means a lot because it gets at the heart of the Old Westminster approach.
Lisa’s work is rooted in humility, curiosity, and respect for the land. The goal isn’t to force Maryland wine into someone else’s mold. It’s to listen to the vineyard, respond to the season, and make wines that feel alive in the glass.
Old Westminster Malbec 2020 is a clear expression of that philosophy. It’s balanced, savory, fresh, and grounded in place.
What Food Pairs With Old Westminster Malbec?
Old Westminster Malbec is built for the table.
Its dark fruit, herbal character, acidity, and silky structure make it a natural pairing for wood fired food, roast chicken, grilled lamb, pork, mushrooms, charcuterie, burgers, braised meats, roasted vegetables, and hard cheeses.
It’s also a great bottle for a dinner party. It has enough depth to satisfy red wine drinkers and enough freshness to stay lively through a meal.
Open it with food. Give it a little air. Let it evolve in the glass.
Where Can I Buy Old Westminster Malbec?
Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 is available directly from Old Westminster Winery while supplies last.
The best ways to find it are:
Visit Old Westminster Winery in Westminster, Maryland
Shop online through Old Westminster Winery
Join the wine club for priority access to limited releases
Look for select restaurant and independent wine shop placements
VinePair listed the average price at $48, placing it in the serious but approachable category for collectors, dinner tables, and Maryland wine lovers. You can read VinePair’s full Malbec list here.
One of the Best Malbecs for 2025 Is Maryland Grown
So, what are the best Malbecs to buy in 2025?
Old Westminster Winery Malbec 2020 belongs in that conversation.
It’s a 93 point Maryland grown Malbec named by VinePair as the Best Malbec from Outside Argentina. It’s bright, savory, balanced, and expressive, with dark berry fruit, dried herbs, earth, acidity, and a clear sense of place.
For us, the recognition is bigger than the score. It’s another signal that Maryland grown wine can be serious, delicious, food friendly, and nationally relevant.
One of the best Malbecs for 2025 comes from Maryland.
And we’re proud to share it.
Plan Your Visit
Old Westminster Winery is located in Westminster, Maryland, on our family farm in Carroll County. Join us for Maryland grown wine, wood fired food, private cabanas, vineyard views, and a wine experience rooted in farming, hospitality, and serious winemaking.
Come taste why Maryland wine belongs in the national conversation.