MD WinePress Spring/Summer 2016

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along with descriptions. Guests can
order a flight, or an individual glass.
The winery is located in the Historic
Old Mill complex, also home to artists,
a floral designer, and other unique
shops.
The Urban Winery
949 BONIFANT ST. / SILVER SPRING, MD 20910
Have you ever found yourself in our
nation’s capital, wondering where the
closest winery is? Well look no further
than The Urban Winery in Silver
Spring. Silver Spring, having recently
experienced a significant renaissance,
is the fourth most populous place in
Maryland. And that reason, perhaps,
makes it the perfect place to open a
winery!
The Urban Winery just recently
opened its doors in June of 2015, in the
Fenton Village neighborhood. Years
ago, Damon and Georgia Callis would
have called wine-making their number
one hobby, having made wines out of
their Silver Spring home for over 15
years. It didn’t take long for that hobby
to become a passion, and for that
passion to become a business plan. In
2012, Damon and his wife, Georgia,
both found themselves disenchanted
with their careers, and came up with
a plan to open a winery, claiming all
they had was passion and a sense of
feasibility.
Upon visiting their tasting room,
you will not only be able to sample
their wines, but wines from all over
Maryland. And that’s not all – they also
feature local beer, cider and mead. One
of the goals of The Urban Winery is to
increase the awareness of Maryland
product overall and to play a part in
expanding the public's knowledge and
appreciation. So walk, drive, or metro
on down to the Urban Winery…you’ll
be glad you did.
Charis Winery
17 HOWARD ST. / CUMBERLAND, MD 21502
Nestled at the base of the Appalachian
Mountains is the historic town of
Cumberland. And it’s there that you will
find Charis Winery, which opened its
doors in 2013 as Allegany County’s first
winery. Owners Chuck and Robin Park
moved to Maryland about 10 years ago and
began making wine. Really good wine, as
it turns out! They are located in downtown
Cumberland’s Canal Place Shops.
Charis Winery (pronounced Kar-is),
offers red and white wines, dry to sweet,
including a Catawba blend made with
Maryland peaches and a recently added
Pinot Noir. The Charis Winery Tasting
Room is open several days a week, and
also offers private tastings by appointment.
Tastings are $7.00 for a flight of seven
wines of your choice. You receive a $5.00
discount with the purchase of two or
more bottles of wine. Charis Wines are
sold under the Charis and Charis Reserve
brands of wines at the winery and at wine
shops throughout Maryland.
Olney Winery
18127 TOWN CENTER DR. / OLNEY, MD 20832
Originally a Montgomery County
winery, Olney Winery boasts a wide array
of different wines to appeal to every
palate. Hands down, this winery has
the most diverse selection of wines from
which to choose. What makes Olney
Winery unique, unlike many of the other
Maryland wineries, is that they source
grapes from vineyards all over the world.
In doing so, they are able to ferment over
30 different varietals of wine, bringing “the
world of wine to Maryland,” as they say.
Now with tasting rooms in both Olney
and Hagerstown, you can sip their
signature wine, or even make your own
back in the winery! MWP
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