Today we’d like to introduce you to Sherry Seston.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I left my position as a professor of biology at Alverno College in 2018 to pursue a career in wine. I first went to Santa Rosa, California where I assisted in producing wine for over 30 different clients. After 6 months in California, I returned to the midwest where I was Assistant Winemaker at Timber Hill Winery and also earned a Level 4 Diploma in Wine from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust in 2022. Since 2022 I have both made wine and teach about winemaking and wines of the world. I currently teach one or two classes a year in the Winemaking and Viticulture program at Lake Michigan College.
My husband Tim has been a professional Chef for 37 years. We met in Milwaukee, WI in 2019 at an entrepreneurship meeting and we married in 2020. We connected over wine & food, then we fell in love, finally we combined our passion and skills to create Veritas Estate Winery and our on-site Bed & Breakfast, Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate! Tim is our full time Chef, groundskeeper, innkeeper, etc.
We choose to come to Southwest Michigan because of the amazing tourism and wine industry in this area. Not only is the part of Michigan beautiful, but it also provides the right climate for growing high quality wine grapes. Our goal was to be able to fully support both of us with one business. We found the perfect place to do that at our property just outside of South Haven. We have enough space to grow grape vines, fruit trees, vegetables, and to raise chickens for eggs. Tim creates amazing food for breakfasts, monthly wine dinner events, and private events. I make wine, run the winery tasting room, and do all the marketing and accounting.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
South Haven is such an amazing community that draws an incredible number of tourists each summer that the lodging side of the business has taken off quickly (we have 5 room and a camper for rent). The winery side of the business is catching up and we are now at 50% revenue from wine and 50% from lodging.
This first obstacle was securing a business loan to purchase the property and cover start up expenses. We worked with the Small Business Association and a local business support group (South Haven Regional Business Hub) to find the right banking partner. It took a few months to close on the property and get started, but our persistence paid off! That may have been the most stressful process that we have ever been through.
There has definitely been some struggles in adapting to our new lifestyle as well. It is very different to be running everything and to live where you work compared to working for someone else. Our first two seasons we definitely tried to do too much. In our third season we have found a better work/life balance without sacrificing profit. We are both continually learning what makes sense for the business and how to wisely invest our time. It is important to know when and how to say NO to a request! We are also learning how to bring in business during the slower months of the year (Nov-April) and just generally getting used to the rhythms of the hospitality and wine business in Michigan. Plumbing is also always an issue – we have 7 bathrooms!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate Winery?
The Vintage Inn at Veritas Estate Winery is a 5 bedroom bed and breakfast with boutique accommodations and farm-to-table dining in a renovated 1904 farmhouse. The 5-acre estate surrounding the Inn is home to Veritas Estate Winery, extensive flower and vegetable gardens, a small orchard, and seating areas for guests to enjoy. Our goal is to share the bounty of Michigan food and wine with our guests by growing, producing, and foraging as much of the food and wine that we can. To that end we grow fruit and vegetables, raise chickens for eggs, and produce 600+ cases of wine per year. Overnight guests or visitors to the winery tasting room get to see where the food and wine come from and “meet the makers” as well.
What sets us apart is part of our name – Veritas – which is the Latin word for truth. Our name is a statement of our commitment to staying true to our values. True to our passion for local products. True to our belief that we should be environmental stewards and responsible community members. This is reflected in the fact that Chef Tim grows and makes from scratch the ingredients for breakfasts and other special events. Our wines also show our commitment to local products and to our true selves. Sherry creates wines that reflect the beauty of our unique growing environment along the shores of Lake Michigan. Our winemaking practices allow the flavors of the diverse grape varieties we use to shine through. From unusual varieties such as Gewurztraminer, Blaufrankisch, and Tannat to well known grapes such as Pinot Gris and Riesling, we make wines that highlight each one without the addition of extra sweetness. We purchase our grapes from small local growers that meet our sustainability and quality standards.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Come visit us! Either just for a few hours to taste wine and walk the property or for a few days to enjoy the food and the surrounding area.
Also, I would say that tasting the wine and food with an open mind. Many people think of Michigan as a beautiful place to visit a lake or two, but we create world class cuisine and wine as well.
We would also love to collaborate with other Chefs, Restaurants, and Wine Shops that would like to feature our specific type of food (farm to table, foraged food) or wine (local, small production, woman winemaker)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mivintageinn.com
- Instagram: @mivintageinn
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mivintageinn
- Other: https://veritasestatewinery.com
