Meet The Team
Dave & Joan Kroupa
Founders
Dave and Joan Kroupa are the founders of Peninsula Cellars. As lifelong cherry farmers, Dave and Joan saw the need to diversify their fruit farming operation. They began planting vineyards in select sites on the farm in 1991, and quickly realized that opening a winery was the next step to securing the future of the farm. In 1994, the first vintage of Peninsula Cellars wine was released. Joan is currently involved in the day to day book keeping and financial planning for Peninsula Cellars. Sadly, Dave passed away in January of 2021, but his legacy of hard work and determination is forever ingrained in the culture of Peninsula Cellars.
John Kroupa
Owner & General Manager
John Kroupa is the managing partner for Peninsula Cellars. John has been involved in the business since it started in 1994. Originally working in the vineyards and orchards, John moved into the cellar after graduating with honors from Michigan State University in 1998, with a degree in Horticulture. After handling the lead winemaker responsibilities from 2006 to 2013, he now focuses on managing the many diverse facets of both the farm and winery business. John lives with his wife and three children on Old Mission Peninsula.
Mike Altesleben
Winemaker
Mike joined the team at Peninsula Cellars in January 2020. Originally from the Detroit area, he moved to Traverse City in 2010, in pursuit of his passion for wine. Mike paid his dues in the vineyard to understand the unique terroir of Old Mission Peninsula. Eventually, he worked his way into the cellar and up the ranks to take on head wine making responsibilities. Mike studied Viticulture at Michigan State University and Oenology at Washington State University. When he’s not in the cellar, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, BBQing, and enjoying the outdoors.
Caitlin Hammond
Director of Operations
Caitlin joined Peninsula Cellars in 2013, after several years in the healthcare and human services field. Caitlin relocated to Traverse City after graduating from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI. As the Director of Operations, Caitlin oversees several operational responsibilities both at the tasting room and the winery, keeping all the gears of both the winery and tasting room turning smoothly. When she’s not working, she enjoys traveling with her husband Keith, relaxing with friends, and spending time with her beautiful daughter Harper.
Todd Morgan
Cidermaker
Todd came to Peninsula Cellars in 2019, bringing a decade of cidermaking and production management experience with him. Originally hailing from the DC area, Todd escaped to the Third Coast and started a new career making hard cider. His talents and experience haven’t only gone into making our award winning ciders, but he has also applied his design skills to our cider logo and labels. Todd lives with his dog and three cats and has a passion for cooking and photography.