Blending the Ingenuity of the Past with the Optimism of the Future and Rising to the Challenges of a Changing Climate
INTRODUCING
The Aellen family, longtime vintners in Frederick County, Maryland, has never been one to go with the status quo. So it’s no surprise that for third generation winegrower and director of operations, Melissa Aellen, resisting the usual is in her DNA, and she’s leading the family’s effort to push the boundaries yet again.
IT ALL STARTS AT
Frederick County was a pastoral farming community when in 1972, Melissa’s grandparents, Jack and Lucille Aellen, planted wine grapes, inspired by the family’s Italian and Swiss winemaking heritage. Much to the surprise of the region’s long-time farmers, who cultivated more traditional crops like corn and soybeans, the Aellen family’s vineyard bore fruit, enabling them to bottle their first vintage in 1976.
In 1983, recognizing the growing interest in regionally produced wines, Jack Aellen worked to establish the first federally designated grape growing area in Maryland, the Linganore American Viticultural Area (AVA), which encompasses 90 square miles of land around the winery in the heart of Maryland. More than five decades later, this now highly popular region about an hour’s drive from Washington, DC is renown for its delightful wines, music festivals, charming Airbnbs and draw as a weekend escape.
THE THIRD GENERATION
As the Aellens’ third generation steps into winery leadership, Melissa and her cousin, Parker, are rethinking the vineyards and recognizing the land’s – and the family’s – ability to produce wines from traditional European grape cultivars, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Merlot, that historically have not flourished in the region. The reason? Climate change.
"Everyone hears about climate change in the news, but I find it is most commonly seen by and impacts those who work with the land. We can grow grapes here now that my family could not grow 30 years ago because our climate has changed significantly with hotter summers and milder winters.”
Sustainability is at the forefront of Simple Theory, a precedent set at the 100 percent solar powered winery that was named a Sustainability Leadership Award Winner by the Maryland Green Registry.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Aellens recently acquired a 41-acre parcel in Mt. Airy, which will eventually be developed into vineyards, a winery and hospitality space dedicated to Simple Theory. In the meantime, guests may learn about Simple Theory and taste the newest releases in the Simple Theory Tasting Lounge, recently opened in the city of Frederick, MD.
Simple Theory wines are grown from twenty-five acres planted to Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. We recently acquired a new 41-acre site, a portion of which will be planted in 2025.
The in-house farming team follows a regimen of integrated pest management, including use of wide cover crop rows to create insect habitats that reduce reliance on herbicides. Spray schedules are calibrated based on need, rather than a pre-assigned schedule, allowing for surgical use of applications.
Minimal mowing also promotes healthier bug populations which, in turn, drive a healthier and more biodiverse ecosystem in the vineyards. The vineyards are dry farmed.
The Simple Theory wines are produced in a 100% solar-powered facility that has been honored with a Maryland Green Business of the Year Award.
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