OUR TEAM

Vladimir is the Production Winemaker at our Old Mission Peninsula winery and manages the daily operations of this white wine facility and brandy distillery. Vladimir is a native of Moldova, and it is there that he earned his degree in Oenology in 1999. After graduation, he quickly began working intimately with cool climate grape varietals. When he decided to expand his winemaking knowledge and take his skills abroad, he realized that Northern Michigan was the perfect fit due to its similar climate and thriving yet relatively new wine industry. In 2007, Vladimir found his home at Black Star Farms, and he is credited with leading his team in the production of many award-winning white wines.

Kerm and Sallie Campbell are the original and now sole proprietors of Black Star Farms. While raising a family in Western Europe, Kerm and Sallie were introduced to fine wines from some of the area’s most prestigious wineries. This began a lifelong, increasing passion for the industry. After retiring from corporate management, the Campbells relocated to Northern Michigan, where Kerm started several new ventures in the Traverse City area and beyond, including planting vineyards beginning in the early ’90s. Today, the Campbells have extensive farming operations on both the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas, with over 120 producing acres of vineyards. More than half of the grapes used to make Black Star Farm wines, and some of our most highly-awarded, come from his fruit. In addition to a passion for growing grapes and producing fine wines, Kerm and Sallie enjoy classical music, the arts, and their grand and great-grandchildren. Sallie passed away on October 1, 2017, following a 40 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Jill is the Manager for the Suttons Bay tasting room and is also our Wine Club administrator. She oversees the club’s many components and is the primary contact for our 3,000 (and counting!) members. Jill has proudly called northern Michigan home for over 20 years and joined the Black Star Farms team in 2005. She is a wine enthusiast who shares her passion and knowledge with the thousands of guests she connects with each year.

Sherri is the managing owner, overseeing all operations, emphasizing hospitality, the Inn, culinary services, events, and property management. Having joined the family business in 2016, she brought a wealth of business development, sales, marketing, and PR experience to the team from various industries. Her time in the local non-profit sector for nine years brought her close to the heart of the community, and she is passionate about developing Black Star Farms and the greater Traverse Wine Coast as increasingly strong economic drivers in the region. Sherri is active in the region’s hospitality and tourism efforts, is president of the Board of Directors for Traverse Wine Coast, board member of Traverse City Tourism, and board member of the Michigan chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Barbara is our Winery Administrator and is the direct contact for all wholesale and distribution inquiries. She joined Black Star Farms in the winter of 2015 after 25 years in the wholesale wine industry, where she represented hundreds of wineries from all over the world. Barbara called on restaurants and fine wine shops first in the Detroit market and then in northern Michigan for 17 years. She feels extremely fortunate to have been able to bring her knowledge of the business to her current role. Barbara lives in Leelanau County with her winemaking husband and has two children.

Chris is the Retail Manager for Black Star Farms and oversees Suttons Bay and Old Mission tasting rooms. He has been in the northern Michigan wine industry since 2000 and joined Black Star Farms in 2003. He is a well-recognized and important presence at Black Star Farms. In addition to his many duties involving the tasting rooms, Chris has been involved with the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. He has had a seat on the Board of Directors, including the position of president, for many years.

Lee was hired as winemaker in 1998 and was an integral part of the development and construction of the Winery at Black Star Farms. Currently, he oversees the winemaking operations for our two processing facilities on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. These facilities were developed separately and in 2007 expanded to specialize in separate red and white wine production. He is also the director of our distillation program that produces European-style fruit brandies and dessert wines. Lee is a proud, self-taught winemaker with over 25 years of experience making wine and time spent studying in various regions worldwide. He served as an assistant winemaker at Abbazia di Valle Chiara in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy before moving back to his native Northern Michigan in 1993. Lee is a proud supporter of all things Michigan and is most passionate about our Rieslings and Pinot Noirs.

With over ten years of experience in the event and hospitality industry, Ingrid uses her skills of problem solving, creativity, and flexibility to execute top-notch events, meetings, and moments. She is also an experienced Production Stage Manager with an extensive background in the entertainment industry. Ingrid thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments and loves leading a focused team that consistently delivers excellent customer service. She honed her commitment to client satisfaction during her years at the historic Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and at the University of Michigan, where she worked as an Events Manager, coordinating everything from intimate seminars to large celebrations. Ingrid is delighted to be back in northern Michigan and part of the team at Black Star Farms and looks forward to helping visitors from near and far plan their perfect event.

Kevin joined Black Star Farms in 2017 as Production Winemaker for the Suttons Bay Winery on Leelanau Penninsula. He was born and raised in the Seattle area and made wine throughout Washington State. So when Kevin’s wife, who grew up in East Lansing, wanted to move back to Michigan, he knew northern Michigan was the spot. Kevin loves the challenge of making great red wines with his team and dreams of crafting world-class sparkling wine.

A native to Southern Michigan, Chef Wojnarski obtained his culinary degree at Great Lakes Culinary Institute here in Northern Michigan. Born into a family of Polish and German descendants, he quickly learned that love and passion could be expressed through food. Upon graduation from the local G.L.C. I., Chef Wojnarski joined the culinary team as Sous Chef at Heritage in Richmond, Virginia. Chef has continued to hone his craft through the years, challenging himself in butchery, charcuterie, baking, and vegan/vegetarian forward fine dining. Before joining Black Star Farms in 2017, Chef had relocated to the Grand Traverse area as part of the Boathouse Restaurant team. A driving force for Chef is to be constantly expanding his knowledge while nurturing his love and passion for food.