Burnt Hill Farm in Clarksburg has earned another national honor, this time being named one of the “17 Best Wineries and Vineyards on the East Coast” by Observer. Burnt Hill is the only Maryland winery included on the 17-destination list. A video of the chef’s counter experience can be seen below.
Observer highlighted the 117-acre regenerative farm and vineyard, which is owned by siblings Drew Baker, Lisa Hinton and Ashli Johnson, who also operate Old Westminster Winery. The publication noted that Burnt Hill approaches winemaking as one part of a larger polyculture farming operation.
Observer also praised the culinary side of the property, led by Chef Tae Strain, and its use of ingredients grown and raised on the farm, including Mangalitsa pork, mushrooms, honey and vegetables. The publication specifically highlighted Burnt Hill’s reservation-only Taste of Burnt Hill experience, which gives guests three hours to enjoy estate wines alongside an à la carte menu.
The recognition is the latest in a growing list of national accolades for Burnt Hill. Earlier this year, Chef’s Counter at Burnt Hill was named one of The New York Times’ 50 favorite restaurants in America for 2026. It was the only Maryland restaurant selected for this year’s list.
Chef’s Counter is an intimate, 12-seat dining experience located on the farm and vineyard. Led by Chef-Partner Tae Strain, the tasting menu focuses on seasonal ingredients, many sourced directly from Burnt Hill, with influences from Strain’s perspective on Asian American cuisine.
New York Times wine critic Eric Asimov described the experience as one of the few restaurants that manages to feel both “exhilarating and calming,” highlighting the setting, locally sourced ingredients and Burnt Hill wines served throughout the meal.
Strain, a Maryland native and 16-year veteran of the culinary industry, previously worked at Michelin-starred restaurants including Momofuku in Washington, D.C., The Progress in San Francisco and PUBLIC in New York City. He later founded the ggoma Supper Club, a tasting-menu pop-up focused on Mid-Atlantic farmers and artisans.
Burnt Hill opened its tasting room in September 2025 and is operated by the team behind Old Westminster Winery. The property had already received national attention when Food & Wine named it among America’s most beautiful vineyards.
With its latest inclusion on Observer’s list, Burnt Hill is once again the only Maryland representative on a national list, following Chef’s Counter’s distinction as the state’s sole restaurant on The New York Times’ 2026 list.
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