Charis Winery & Distillery sits on Howard Street in Cumberland, Maryland, a town nestled in the Appalachian foothills where the Potomac River cuts through ancient mountains. This operation combines winemaking with craft distilling, offering visitors both grape-based wines and small-batch spirits under one roof. The facility serves Cumberland’s historic downtown district, which has seen renewed interest as craft beverage producers discover the area’s advantages for aging and production. The distillery side focuses on traditional American spirits, working with local and regional ingredients when possible. Cumberland’s location in the Allegheny Mountains provides the temperature fluctuations that help with barrel aging, and the area’s industrial heritage means buildings with the right bones for distilling operations. You’ll find both the fermentation tanks for wine production and copper stills for spirits sharing space in what feels like a working production facility rather than a showroom. Visitors can experience both sides of the operation during tastings that might include fruit wines alongside whiskey or gin. The combination makes this place different from single-focus distilleries—you’re seeing how different alcoholic beverages come together under one philosophy of craft production. Cumberland isn’t exactly a destination town, but that works in Charis’s favor since you get a more authentic look at small-town craft beverage making without the crowds.