Today we’d like to introduce you to Anjalie Wassink.
Hi Anjalie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
There wasn’t just one moment, it was a series of small realizations that kept getting louder until we couldn’t ignore them anymore.
My husband had spent years in the industry, learning, growing, and pouring everything he had into his craft. He had been a winemaker for over 13 years, mastering his process, refining his palate, and building something truly special. But there was always something more pulling at him a vision that went beyond wine. He wanted to distill. He wanted to create bourbon. He wanted to expand what he could build. He was ment to be a leader I saw that.
Alongside that, I was on my own path. My background was in cosmetology, and while I later dabbled in wine sales, I was always right beside him, and soon I found myself getting excited about the same thing he was.
What if we did this differently?
What if we built something of our own?
Over time, his love for the industry became mine. What started as support turned into passion, and those “what ifs” naturally turned into “why don’t we?”
It also became abundantly clear that we worked differently—but perfectly together.
Lance is the craftsman. From winemaking, to bourbon, to even building out the space by hand, he brings the process to life. I bring the vision, the branding, the marketing, the experience, the cocktails, and the feeling behind it all.
Two very different creatives. One shared vision. And somehow, it just works.
We didn’t just want to be good at making wine or spirits we wanted to be craftsmen in the truest sense of the word. Every detail mattered. The process. The patience. The integrity. The love behind it.
From wine… to cocktails… to bourbon, brandy, and gin everything under one roof, done with purpose.
A place where wine and spirits live side by side.
That vision really came into focus when we traveled to Kentucky. I dove deep into the world of bourbon there, learning the history, the process, and the culture.
But it also left me asking one simple question:
Why did I have to come all the way to Kentucky to experience this?
Michigan is known for its craft wine, beer, spirits. The talent is here. The passion is here. But something was missing: an experience that truly connects people to the barrel, the process, and the story behind what’s in their glass. So we decided to bring it here. Michigan’s first barrel thieving experience.
We are the first to bring barrel thieving into a tasting room setting as an immersive, educational experience, drawing bourbon straight from the barrel to the glass. It wasn’t something that existed here, and it required working closely with the state of Michigan to make it happen.
At one point, we were told they believed we had “changed the game of the craft beverage industry.”
That meant everything and as a woman stepping into this space, I’m proud to be among the first minority women leading both a winery and distillery, helping bring a new perspective to an industry that’s still evolving because this was never about following what’s been done.
It was about creating something people remember. That’s how Legacy Winery & Spirits was born.
A place where wine and spirits live side by side.
A place built on craftsmanship, passion, and purpose.
A place where you don’t just taste, you experience.
We’re building a Legacy.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been easy?
Not even close.
Leaving what you know, what’s safe, what’s familiar is one of the hardest things you can do. It’s a risk, and we felt that weight from the very beginning.
At the end of the day, it’s just Lance and me. Two pretty average people. Two people who came from the trades and chose not to follow the paths our college degrees might have suggested. We have a family—three beautiful kids—and with that comes a lot of responsibility. There were real fears. Fear that it could fail. Fear that we would struggle.
And the truth is we have struggled. And in many ways, we still do because when you’re building something from the ground up, there’s always something. Something unexpected. Something that stretches you. Something that forces you to grow. What we’ve found along the way is that each challenge prepares us for the next one.
Things that felt overwhelming six months ago don’t feel the same anymore. Problems that once would have consumed us now roll off our shoulders a little easier. You build resilience whether you’re ready to or not.
One thing I’ve learned through all of this if you think you have it figured out, you don’t.
Financing alone was a hurdle. Getting loans as first-time business owners especially as everyday people without deep pockets or big backing is incredibly difficult. Nothing is handed to you. You have to fight for every opportunity, prove yourself over and over again, and get creative just to keep moving forward.
That’s where Lance’s skill set became invaluable.
Instead of outsourcing everything, we leaned into what we had. Lance used his construction background to build the space himself from the production area to the interior of the tasting room ( he has already built a tasting room for the winery we were with). He transformed a old tool and die shop for our production, and built the whole interior of our tasting room! After working a full-time job in construction. I have three kids and worked at a salon. I started a whole damn winery and distillery, branding, websites and the whole vision.
Easy? NO! But it’s been a blessing and worth it
Because every board, every detail, every late night. it’s ours. We did this.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Lance’s path didn’t follow a straight line and looking back, that’s exactly what made it work.
He earned his degree from Grand Valley State University in social work, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in construction. Over the years, he became a highly respected carpenter working his way up from a framing foreman to a trim carpentry lead. At the same time, he was building his craft as a winemaker, eventually turning that into a full-time role, all while now physically building out our tasting room with his own hands.
My journey looked different, but in many ways, led to the same place.
I also attended Grand Valley State University, but I made the decision to leave during my senior year when I realized an advertising degree—and the idea of being behind a desk—wasn’t the life I wanted. Instead, I was given the opportunity to become an apprentice, which led me to earning my cosmetology license. For the past 13 years, that path has allowed me to not only build a career, but also prioritize what mattered most—being present and home with our kids.
It’s funny how, looking back, none of it feels random.
Every step every shift, every risk, every unexpected turn played a pivotal role in preparing us for this.
The craftsmanship. The creativity. The people skills. The work ethic.
All of it led here.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Hudsonville, Michigan has an incredible story. Once known as “Michigan’s Salad Bowl,” it was a town people drove right through.
But that’s changed.
As families moved in and the community grew, the city made a clear decision to become a destination. What I respect most is that when they shared that vision with us a couple of years ago and asked us to be part of it, they followed through on everything they said.
They didn’t just talk about change they made it happen.
What’s really interesting is the contrast: Hudsonville was one of the last cities in Michigan to issue a liquor license, yet it’s now the first to welcome barrel thieving as a tasting room experience.
That’s pretty special.
This town has transformed for the better, and it’s incredible to be part of it. We feel truly blessed to grow alongside it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://legacywineryspirits.com/
