Damon Callis, Owner - The Urban Winery
June 14, 2023
On this week's episode of Where To Next, we stop by The Urban Winery to chat with CEO Damon Callis about everything wine! Damon gives us an inside look at everything going on at the winery, how it came to be, their private wine-making classes, the barrel club, their personal family connection to wine, and more!
Damon Callis is most proud of his three amazing and growing kids. Sophia is a Scout and an entrepreneur. His son, Stephen is a strong leader in sport and Scouts. Stella is a firecracker in 2nd grade. He has been married to his amazing wife Georgia for 15 years and together since 1999. They together started making wine as a hobby in 1999. In 2015 they changed the MD state code to operate the state’s 1st Urban Winery operation in 2015. That was a hill they conquered. Since then, they have persevered over the preceding period to remain operational with 3 kids. Georgia is where the credit lies. She is an amazing person. Damon has his share of things he brings to the table. But everything he does, he does for Georgia. He strives to elevate her at every turn. His success is their success. Georgia is a Registered Nurse. She is focused on the Science of Wine. Damon works in the business and provides the procurement of the grapes. Damon loves every day of his life. It is the hardest thing he has ever done at the hardest time of his life. He likes to pay tribute to his time in the Marine Corps. As a young Marine, he served from 1998 to 2002 to have the strength to be where he is. He is thankful for God's Blessings.
The most important thing he seeks from this is awareness of their small business doing BIG things. They are the only craft beverage producer in the state of Maryland that brings and highlights other Maryland craft beverage producers. They have over 75 Beer, Wine, Spirits, and farmers in their tasting room. They are truly all things craft artisans in Maryland. They are the Alpha and the Omega of all things craft in Maryland. They pride themselves as pioneers in bringing Maryland onto the global map. Many businesses focus on their singularity; They are the plurality. Their core philosophy is LOVE, RESPECT, and HONOR. Their mission is Taste. Learn. Create.