Chris Baldyga

I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan for much of my life. My mother, Terrie, has worked for an Old Mission Peninsula winery since 1985, so I’ve been exposed to the vineyard and winery lifestyle since boyhood. I spent time in the summers working in the vineyards at Chateau Grand Traverse when I was young and, when I was old enough, worked as a tasting room server and cellar rat there as well.

My time and experiences seeing people enjoy hand-crafted bottles of wine directly from the producer’s hands made a lasting impression on me. I have realized through the many assorted beverage, management and knuckle busting jobs I’ve had since my time at the winery that I wouldn’t miss the chance to do it again if I could do so. The satisfaction of farming, creating special wines and offering a unique and remarkable experience to our visitors is a source of great joy for me.