Our Story

Our journey began in the summer of 2000, when our family moved to a small farm in the rolling hills of Westminster, Maryland. At the time, it was a retired juniper nursery — overgrown with thousands of tangled shrubs. It wasn’t much to look at, but to us kids, it felt like a world of endless adventure. The wide-open fields became our playground, and we embraced farm life with curiosity and joy.

Our mom was a true ’90s homesteader—homeschooling the three of us, tending a garden, and turning every challenge into a DIY project. Most of those turned out pretty well, thanks to our dad, a skilled carpenter. From our parents, we learned the value of hospitality, hard work, and creative thinking — lessons that shaped everything we would one day become.

In 2008, when the financial crisis hit, our family’s carpentry business came to a sudden halt. With no buyers for the farm and an uncertain future, a new idea took root: What if we transformed this land into a vineyard? At the time, we were away at college, studying business management, chemistry, and marketing. After a candid "I'm in if you're in" conversation, we committed to building something meaningful — something that reflected our values, creativity, and deep connection to this land.

In 2011, with a small loan from our grandfather, we planted 10,000 grapevines by hand and built a simple pole barn for processing grapes and making wine. Drew took the lead in vineyard management and long-term vision, Lisa dove into the art and science of winemaking, and Ashli focused on creating farm experiences and documenting our journey.

In 2013, we proudly bottled and sold our first wines. We started small, building relationships with local restaurants, showing up at farmers markets, and welcoming anyone curious enough to visit our makeshift cellar door for tastings and tours.

In 2015, we opened our tasting room — a place to gather, to connect, and to share what we love. From there, we kept growing. In 2016, we were honored to be named a Top 100 Winery in the U.S., and we expanded by purchasing a second farm: Burnt Hill. In 2020, we reimagined our space into a destination winery experience, launching Maryland’s first licensed outdoor kitchen and introducing wood-fired pizza to the mix. In 2021, we harvested our first grapes from Burnt Hill and introduced private dining greenhouses — intimate spaces where guests could experience farm-to-table dining in every season.

Then, in 2022, our world was turned upside down. Drew was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and rushed to Johns Hopkins Hospital to begin emergency treatments. Over two years, he endured intensive chemotherapy, full-body radiation, and two bone marrow transplants — one from Ashli, the other from Lisa. They are not only his sisters, best friends, and business partners — they are the reason he’s alive today. Their perfectly matched, life-saving bone marrow donations carried our family through the darkest season we have ever known.

In 2024, Drew celebrated one year of remission. That same year, Cosmopolitan named us a Top 10 Winery in the U.S., and Wine Enthusiast recognized us as new leaders in American winemaking. These honors feel especially meaningful — not just as validation of our work, but as a reflection of our resilience, our bond, and the deeper purpose behind everything we do.

On December 23, 2024, Drew, Lisa, and Ashli formed a new partnership and officially purchased Old Westminster Winery and Burnt Hill Farm from their parents — marking their parents’ well-earned retirement and the beginning of a new chapter. With the next generation at the helm, we are doubling down on our commitments to regenerative agriculture, extraordinary wine, sustainable gastronomy, and warm hospitality.

On May 1, 2025, we embark on another exciting new chapter. Tae Strain, a Maryland native and 16-year veteran of the culinary world, joins Old Westminster as Culinary Director and chef-partner of the forthcoming Burnt Hill project. Tae has led Michelin-starred kitchens — including The Progress in San Francisco, Momofuku in Washington, D.C., and PUBLIC in New York City. As a Korean-American adoptee, Tae continually explores identity, time, and place through food. Together, we are launching a new spring menu that doubles down on our commitment to local ingredients and producers, featuring wood-fired pizzas, seasonal small plates, and garden snacks..

Through every high and low, our family, partnerships, and team have only grown stronger. We’re still dreaming. We’re still working side by side. And we’re still learning every day. We’re filled with gratitude for this journey and for everyone who has walked it with us.

Our mission is simple: to bring you joy through wine and food, and to celebrate life together.

Cheers,

Drew, Lisa & Ashli