Last Thursday, Crow Farm celebrated the release the winery’s 2011 reds and 2012 early whites. In 2012 the winery produced 1,500 cases from its own grapes and an additional 2,500 cases from grapes produced at nearby vineyards.
In the last five years, the Caw-Croft Dairy in Kennedyville has transformed into Crow Farm, a 365 acre working farm that now includes a modern winery and a Farmstay Bed & Breakfast. Crow Farm also supplies grass-fed beef from 80 head of black angus to local restaurants and farmers markets. Roy and Judy Crow are also teaming up with Margie and Ron Kauffman, owners of Kent Island Crabcakes, for some joint marketing of their products.
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One acre of grapes produces about 180 cases of wine. Roy Crow, who grew up on the farm, was a dairy farmer for 25 years. He also owns Crow Insurance Agency in Middletown, Delaware. He planted the first grapes at his farm three years ago and had a small harvest in 2011. He and his wife of five years, Judy, have transformed the farm in order to make it sustainable.
Judy’s son, Brandon Hoy, is the vineyard manager. John Levenberg, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in enology from UC Davis, one of the world’s most prestigious wine-making programs, is the wine-making consultant.
Roy and Judy Crow have crafted a successful 21st Century family farm with new products, a willingness to innovate, a commitment to sustainable agriculture, and that leftover from the old farm: hard work. Crow Farm is more than the sum of its parts; it is a destination for anyone who wants to savor the beauty of a thriving Easter Shore farm.