Inspiring Conversations with Michele Hollister of Chateau Winery & Vineyard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Hollister.

Hi Michele, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Bill and Michele Hollister spent decades teaching business and marketing—20 years for Bill and 30 for Michele—before deciding it was time to pour their combined experience into something new. With Michele’s Italian upbringing, where wine was a staple at every gathering and her grandfather lovingly tended his own grapevines, the connection to wine felt natural and deeply personal.

Their passion for wine truly began to grow after their daughters left for college in 2005 and 2007. A memorable tasting in Frankenmuth, Michigan sparked something lasting, and soon every camping trip and vacation became an opportunity to discover new wineries and new wines to enjoy. Their travels took them to renowned wine regions including Sonoma, Napa, the Finger Lakes, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Geneva-on-the-Lake, Northeast Pennsylvania, and eventually to iconic vineyards across France, Germany, and Italy. Each stop deepened their appreciation and inspired the next chapter of their journey.

As their love for wine evolved, so did their curiosity. In 2013, Bill and Michele began dabbling in making their own wine—experimenting, learning, and refining their craft one batch at a time. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion.

That passion took an unexpected turn in 2022. While dining at Chateau Winery and enjoying a bottle together, Bill casually asked the owner about supplies for a recent batch he was working on. When she learned he was making wine, she surprised them with a bold suggestion: “Why don’t you buy the winery?” They laughed at first, but the idea took root immediately—and never left.

Chateau Winery had everything they dreamed of: a well‑established vineyard, a serene outdoor space complete with a koi pond, a warm and inviting tasting room, and a beautiful home on the property. It felt like the perfect place to bring their passion, experience, and hospitality to life.

Today, Bill and Michele are excited to welcome the winery’s loyal customers, their community, and wine lovers from near and far. Their goal is simple: to create a friendly, relaxing, and memorable wine experience—one that reflects the joy, connection, and curiosity that first inspired their journey.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle was beginning a business while still teaching full-time. Bill did that for the first two years of being in business, while Michele retired from teaching after 3 years. The vineyard and wine making (in larger quantities) was something new to Bill, while the government regulations, taxes, and QuickBooks took a while for Michele to get comfortable with.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Chateau Winery & Vineyard is a winery, vineyard, restaurant, and offers event space. The winery sits on 36 acres of land, with 26 acres of woods, 4 acres of vineyard and a wonderful back yard, including a koi pond and waterfall. We grow four different types of grapes and make seven different wines with those grapes. We source other grapes from all over the country and make over 25 different wines (dry, sweet, fruit, and port). The restaurant portion of the business offers customers paninis, flatbreads, soups, salads, special entrees, and homemade cheesecake. Our event space holds 50 people comfortably inside and we can accommodate larger groups outdoors. Special occasions such as weddings, showers, anniversary, birthday, reunions, and retirements are common occurrences at the winery. We offer entertainment every Friday and Saturday and some Thursdays as well. We also have special events throughout the year, such as wine pairings, holiday parties, game nights, and craft events (to name just a few). We take special care in making our wine so that customers keep coming back for our high-quality wine. We also participate in a program called Harvest Host, where campers can stay at our winery for free if they are a member of Harvest Host. We have a very high rating from our campers and many return when they can.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Networking locally has been very beneficial to our business as it leads to events and to us taking our wine off-site for special events within the community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://419wine.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chateauwinery
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063620948758