Title: Owner
Company: Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery
Location: Leon, Virginia, United States
Kristin Easter, Owner at Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements, and leadership in the Wineries.
Ms. Easter, owner and managing member of Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery, has excelled in her leading role since 2005. Purchasing the establishment after being owned and operated by a French couple, Mr. and Mrs. LeDucq, for many years, she was approached by the vineyard manager about the prospect of acquiring it. Following the passing of Mr. LeDucq, Ms. LeDucq maintained operations for several years before deciding to sell the business.
In addition to managing the vineyard, which encompasses over 20 acres in Leon, Virginia, Ms. Easter oversees an extensive gift shop that sells various unique items and a large selection of bottled wine with in-store pickup and delivery services. The woman-owned, family-run business also hosts private events, wine tours and tastings, live music, and an array of events, including trivia night, sip and paint parties, line dancing, and arts and crafts shows. Prince Michel also accommodates overnight lodging, featuring spacious and elegant one-bedroom suites with baths, fireplaces, galley kitchens, and winery and mountain views from a secluded garden patio. Wine club members all receive 15% off their stay.
More recently, Price Michel Vineyard & Winery opened the doors to the Tap 29 Brewery & Pub. In addition to offering a variety of craft beer like the Pit Stop Pilsner, the Lug Nut Lager and the Are We There Yet? IPA, the pub sells rock cider, wine slushies, and a full menu with appetizers, sandwiches, pizza and dessert. Guests can visit Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery’s website to learn about all its products and services, including its calendar of events page.
Despite facing significant challenges due to the California competition, Ms. Easter has remained resilient. She recently began expanding the winery’s offering to include fruit wines, targeting the younger clientele and successfully launching an entire fruit wine series. Adding to these changes, Ms. Easter launched the brewery due to its growing trend. This concept has attracted male customers and has grown business tremendously. In 2024, Ms. Easter also hired a new winemaker and chief executive officer. While she oversees operations, her two new employees manage other routine functions of the business.
Before pivoting into this sector, Ms. Easter was a residential and interior yacht designer. She is a 1985 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Bachelor of Arts.
As a part of her continued commitments to the industry, Ms. Easter is active in the Virginia Wine Association and the Virginia Vineyard Association. She is also a founding member of Women Owned Wineries. Beyond these memberships, Ms. Easter travels to wineries during her travels. She has visited wineries in Italy, Bordeaux and Portugal, where she has closely observed how they conduct tastings and run the business.
Civically engaged, Ms. Easter generously donates to various charities on a monthly basis. The organizations she supports include Patients and Friends, Shriners Children’s, and multiple auctions.
In light of her success, Ms. Easter received a Double Gold Best in Class for Late Harvest Dessert Wines with Tres Bien. She also received a Gold Award for the Red Blend Category for Amanante de Virginia and a Culpeper’s Best Winery accolade several times.
For more information, please visit:
Prince Michel Vineyard & Winery
Contact Ms. Easter:
