Meet Kristin Chayer | Winery Owner, Wife, & Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristin Chayer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristin, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Our business has taught me personal responsibility. When I was younger, I thought I was a fairly responsible person. I didn’t get in trouble, I followed rules, etc. However, being a rule follower and truly understanding how to carry the weight of a business with employees, customers, community expectations and a growing family on your shoulders are two very different things. Our business is the first thing I think about in the morning and the last thing I think about before bed (and often dream about, too!) At the end of the day, if there’s no toilet paper in the bathroom, light bulbs out, or no one to work a shift, it falls on my husband and I as the owners to fix it. We’re the only ones left when everyone goes home or moves on to anther job…we’re still here. To know that in your mind before taking on a small business venture is one thing, but to live it day in and day out is a whole other beast on it’s own. But that is what we signed up for doing and so it’s our responsibility to handle whatever situations need tending to. No matter how tired we are at the end of a day, week, or month…we still show up and put in the work for our business, our family, and our community. I view that as my biggest lesson and my most important job, showing up.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are a family-owned winery located in Olde Two Arvada and Downtown Boulder. We source grapes from Palisade, Colorado as well as Washington state, and bring them into Arvada to do the rest of the wine-making process. We pride ourselves on having something for everyone and offer about 17-18 wines, depending on the season, that range from sweet to dry and everything in between. We also take great pride in creating a warm, relaxing, and inviting experience and home for everyone. We love to cultivate conversation and build community with every customer in the winery. Our biggest goal during your time with us is that we have elevated your experience and life in some way. All are welcome here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I really love the area that the winery started in and still operates today, Olde Town Arvada, and our new location in downtown Boulder. There is such a beautiful and vibrant community of businesses and residents in both towns. I would definitely bring them to the winery but then explore the towns right around us. Visit all the shops, restaurants, and art galleries in Olde Town and in Boulder. Maybe take a bike tour through Boulder and go on a hike at Chautauqua Park in Boulder and finish with a lovely evening on a patio in Olde Town.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to recognize and thank my Mom & Stepdad for always supporting me emotionally, mentally, and sometimes financially while I figured out what I wanted to do with my life and bounced around states after college. They have never hesitated to come to save me from a bad situation or talk me through a rough night. I definitely would not have had to courage or the ability to test different avenues in life if it wasn’t for them.

I’d also like to thank my college professors, Kris Hefley, and Matt Smith. These two were very influential in my self-confidence. They both believed in me and encouraged me to reach for the stars and would follow up with me outside of the classroom to make sure I had all the tools I needed to succeed. Professor Hefley even offered to help me move out of a bad roommate situation because it was interfering with my health and school work! I have always known I could count on them both and knew I had their support.

Finally, I owe a lot of my success to a former boss and mentor of mine, Janice Bailey. She was my first ‘real boss’ out of college and I think she believed in me more than anyone I’ve ever known, especially more than myself. And she did so in a very nonchalant, why is this even a question, sort of way. When I felt nervous about a presentation or about work I had done for our company, she would just know that it was great and wouldn’t even review it before submitting it even though her name would be on the work, too. Showing me that she really and truly believed I did great and consistent work because it was her job on the line, as well. Oftentimes, when I doubt myself, I hear her voice in my head and can see her waving me off with a simple. “Of course, you can do it”.

Website: www.silvervineswinery.com

Instagram: @officialsilvervineswinery

Facebook: Silver Vines Winery

Yelp: Silver Vines Winery

Image Credits
Kevin Synder Kristin Chayer