Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Melanson.
Erin, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Xella Winery & Vineyard started as what many great adventures do: a slightly crazy idea and a willingness to learn as we went.
My husband, Les, and I first came to St. Mary’s County through his Navy career. After returning here for a second duty station, we fell in love with the area and made the decision to stay and put down roots. Like many people planning for life after a military career, we began dreaming about what the future might look like. For us, that dream eventually became a vineyard.
What began as a hobby quickly grew into a passion. We planted our first vines, spent countless hours learning about viticulture and winemaking, and slowly transformed a former tobacco farm into what is now Xella Winery & Vineyard.
The name Xella is a combination of our family members’ names, bringing together pieces of our children, Les, and me into a single word. It reflects what the winery has always been at its core: a family endeavor. From the beginning, we wanted Xella to be more than just a place to drink wine. We wanted it to be a place where people could gather, relax, celebrate milestones, and connect with the agricultural heritage of Southern Maryland.
Today, Les serves as our winemaker, while I take care of nearly every aspect of the business outside the cellar, from vineyard management and operations to marketing, events, guest experience, and industry advocacy. Over the years, we’ve expanded from simply growing grapes and making wine to hosting festivals, educational experiences, live music, and agritourism events that bring visitors from throughout the region to St. Mary’s County.
One of the things I’m most proud of is how Xella has become part of a larger effort to support Maryland agriculture and craft beverages. In 2024, I founded St. Mary’s Liquid Assets, a coalition of local wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other craft beverage producers dedicated to promoting, protecting, and growing the industry in Southern Maryland. Through collaborative events, tourism partnerships, and advocacy efforts, we’ve worked to highlight the incredible producers we have in our region and encourage people to drink local and support their neighbors.
Looking back, there were certainly moments when we wondered what we had gotten ourselves into. Farming and winemaking both have a way of keeping you humble. But seeing guests make memories here, watching our vineyard mature, and helping strengthen the local craft beverage community has made every challenge worthwhile.
What started as a retirement dream has grown into a family business, a community gathering place, and an opportunity to contribute to the growth of Southern Maryland’s agricultural and craft beverage industries.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all. Like most small business owners, we’ve faced our share of challenges along the way. Access to capital is always a consideration when you’re building something from the ground up, and time management can be just as difficult. When you own a small family business, there are never enough hours in the day. There is always another project to tackle, another event to plan, another vine to tend, or another problem to solve.
Adding agriculture to the equation brings an entirely different set of challenges. Farming teaches you very quickly that there are many things beyond your control. You can do everything right and still find yourself at the mercy of weather, pests, disease pressure, or unexpected environmental conditions.
A recent example was the late April freeze that impacted vineyards across Maryland. After months of work preparing for the growing season, many growers saw significant damage to young shoots and developing crops in a matter of hours. Moments like that are a reminder of how resilient farmers have to be. You learn to adapt, make the best decisions you can with the information available, and keep moving forward.
That said, the challenges are also part of what makes this work so rewarding. Building a business, growing a crop, and creating something people can enjoy all require patience and perseverance. Every successful harvest, every bottle of wine, and every guest who chooses to spend time with us makes the hard work worthwhile.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Xella Winery and Vineyard?
Xella Winery & Vineyard is a family-owned farm winery in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, where we produce wines from both estate-grown and Maryland-grown fruit. While we’re certainly passionate about making great wine, we’ve always believed that the experience surrounding the wine is just as important.
What sets Xella apart is that we’ve intentionally created a place where people can gather, connect, and make memories. On any given weekend, you might find live music, a food truck, a wine tasting, a seasonal workshop, or one of our larger themed events. We strive to create experiences that bring people together while showcasing the beauty of Southern Maryland agriculture.
As a small, owner-operated winery, every aspect of the business reflects our family’s values and personality. Guests often see us working in the vineyard, pouring tastings, hosting events, or simply chatting with visitors. That personal connection is something that can be difficult to find in larger operations, and it’s one of the things our guests tell us they appreciate most.
We’re also proud to be part of Maryland’s growing craft beverage industry and to champion collaboration over competition. Through St. Mary’s Liquid Assets and our partnerships with local businesses, farms, tourism organizations, and fellow producers, we work to promote the entire region as a destination for visitors seeking authentic local experiences.
Brand-wise, what makes me most proud is that Xella has become a community gathering place. We’ve hosted everything from baby showers, bridal showers, and birthday celebrations to educational workshops, live music performances, and fantasy-themed festivals. Watching people celebrate milestones, make new friends, and create lasting memories here is incredibly rewarding.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s that when they visit Xella, they’re not just supporting a winery. They’re supporting a local farm, a family-owned small business, and a broader network of Maryland agriculture and craft beverage producers. Every bottle tells a story of the land, the people, and the community that made it possible.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
One of the things I love about the wine industry is that there is always something new to learn. Whether you’re focused on viticulture, winemaking, hospitality, marketing, or agriculture, there is never a point where you’ve learned it all.
One of our favorite resources is the podcast and educational programs offered by Elizabeth Schneider through the Wine for Normal People podcast. Elizabeth has a wonderful ability to make wine approachable without oversimplifying it, and we’ve learned a tremendous amount from both her podcast and her educational classes over the years.
I’m also passionate about sustainable and regenerative farming practices, so I regularly follow the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation to stay informed about new research and techniques that can help improve soil health, vineyard resilience, and long-term sustainability.
Closer to home, the Maryland Wineries Association is an invaluable resource. Through educational workshops, industry events, and collaboration with fellow winery owners, we’ve been able to learn from others, share ideas, and continue improving both our vineyard and our business.
One lesson I’ve learned as both a winery owner and a farmer is that the moment you think you know everything is the moment you stop growing. Staying curious and continuing to learn has been one of the most important ingredients in our journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://xellawine.com
- Instagram: @xellawine
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/xellawine
