Tom Shelton in a Bottle
From start to finish, owner and winemaker Tom Shelton is involved in creating and perfecting all that it takes to make award-winning wines. He is particular about everything, from pruning vines to the operation of the bottling line to the freshness of the wines being served in the tasting room. Tom's hands-on approach is one of the reasons that Bordeleau is now recognized
as one of the best wineries in Maryland. With an early interest in agriculture and using management skills developed in the poultry industry, Tom followed an interest spawned when he started making fruit wines while still in his teens. After purchasing a farm in Allen, Maryland in 1998, he planted his first grape vines in 1999. Early plantings were Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc and Chambourcin, and he continued planting additional grape vines each year through 2003. Other varieties planted were Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc. After the 2003 plantings, Tom had to make a decision regarding starting a commercial winery. Weather and soils are critical to the production of good wines, so he had to convince himself that grapes grown on his property could consistently lead to the production of good wines. After considerable deliberation he decided to seek his commercial license in the summer of 2006. With the renewed commitment, eight and one half acres of plantings were added from 2007 to 2011, including new varieties such as Malbec, Petite Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Viognier, and Muscat.
