Thousands visit the inlet to try Delmarva’s best vineyards

OCEAN CITY, Md. – About 8,000 wine enthusiasts are expected to make their way to the Ocean City Inlet this weekend for the annual Wine Festival on the Beach.

The festival has grown into one of the main showcases for local wineries and craft breweries in the area.

What makes this event unique for local vineyards are the amount of out-of-state visitors coming in to get a taste of the best that Delmarva has to offer, like from the Far Eastern Shore Winery.

“The customer base here has been from out-of-state.  A lot of people in-state, but a lot of people from New Jersey, Pennsylvania come to vacation in town, and so this exposes our winery to people that we wouldn’t normally see in the state,” said Tien-Seng Chiu, the co-owner of the Far Eastern Shore Winery.

We talked to quite a few visitors who made the trek down to Ocean City just for the early-fall event.

“This is honestly the best wine fest that I have been to.  I’ve gone to wine fests in P.A. and Virginia, and these wines are spectacular,” said visitor Nicole Smith.

The event has more to offer than just adult beverages.  Food, music, and other businesses set up shop to showcase what they can offer customers, as well.

The wine festival will be back for its final day Saturday at the Ocean City Inlet from 11 AM to 7 PM.

Tickets to get in are $35, and a valid photo ID will be required.  Children 13-20 are $15, and those 12-and-under can get in for free.