“One winery can start a trend,” said Greg Birney, owner of Cherry Hill Liquors in Elkton, Maryland, commenting on Terrapin Station Winery of Cecil County, which seems to be doing just that. Their particular brand of boxed wine and affiliation with the Terrapin Institute showcase their innovative style.

The Terrapin Station Winery is dedicated to two causes. On their farm in Elkton, Morris and Janet Zwick work to produce delicious wine and preserve the Maryland state reptile, the diamondback terrapin.   Founded in 2003, the Terrapin Winery Station sits on 44 acres of land that Morris Zwick describes as “an oasis.” The couple spent six years considering different locations before settling on the farm where his wife, Janet, grew up. Her father’s desire to keep the farm agricultural and in the family encouraged their decision to put in a few acres of vines that eventually turned into the winery it is today.

The seven and one half acres of vines produce wine that the Zwicks package in a box. While boxed wine does incite its own stereotypes, (cheap, tastes bad, good for guzzling only), the Zwicks emphasize the many advantages of this kind of packaging versus the traditional bottle.

“We are not big fans of traditional bottles and corks,” explains Zwick. “Corks instigate high failure rates…if someone tries a wine that has been compromised by the cork, they will not try it or buy it again.”

In addition, bottles are heavy and space consuming so the Zwicks were inclined to find an alternative form of closure.

There are many benefits to boxed wine.  Boxes do not break and they are recyclable. Transporting the wine is more efficient thanks to its lighter weight. A small box contains 1 1/2 liters, the equivalent of two bottles of wine.

“You can tap a box of wine and it will stay good for four to six weeks,” says Zwick. “This eliminates the worry of having to throw away or guzzle a bottle of wine that will last for only a day or two.”

As a retailer, Greg Birney does not get many comments on the negative aspects of boxed wine. “It is environmentally friendly…it is a lot of wine in the same amount of space,” Birney said.

Birney has known the Zwicks for quite some time.  The winery is located about a mile down the road from his liquor store, which contains a section reserved for Maryland wine. “It seemed like a natural fit for the area,” Birney said.

The Zwicks are both University of Maryland graduates, which helps to explain the connection between the winery and the terrapin; it’s UMD’s mascot in addition to being the Maryland state reptile.

Recent construction in the Chesapeake Bay watershed has eliminated the terrapin’s domestic ground and left the reptiles struggling to survive. This led the Zwicks to seek out the Terrapin Institute.

The Terrapin Institute is a non-profit organization whose goal is to “preserve abundant populations of diamondback terrapins and protect the terrapin’s essential habitat,” according to their website.

The Zwicks contacted Marguerite Whilden, founder of the organization, because they were interested in making contributions to the cause. After two informal and successful fundraisers, they came to a mutual agreement. For every box of Terrapin wine sold, a portion is donated to the institute.

Whilden had initial concerns about boxed wine in general, but after sampling Terrapin Stations’ wine her apprehension disappeared.  “I really love it,” laughed Whilden.

Terrapin Station Winery is now open for visitors thanks to the changes to Maryland law contained in the 2010 Maryland Wineries Modernization Act. Morris Zwick says that the initial opening will be modest, but they plan to expand what visitors will be able to see and do over time.

“We pick varieties because they grow well at the site, not because they are household names,” Zwick says of his wine. “We are not trying to create a snooty product, but we want to combine great quality with the essence of a wine that is fun to drink and enjoy.”