Adam McBride
Owner and winemaker
Adam's passion for wine started in one of the world's great wine regions, Germany's Mosel Valley. Living for 2 years in a small winemaking village nestled between steep sloped Riesling vineyards, he developed a deep appreciation for not only wine, but its makers, its culture, and its impact on community. The seed was planted and it stayed with him. After a decade-long career as an Air Force officer and stints running logistics for some of Michigan's most prominent manufacturers, he finally made the dream of running a winery/vineyard a reality. With an MBA from Michigan State and formal wine education through Napa Valley Wine Academy and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (Level 3 Award with Distinction) under his belt, he purchased Hickory Creek Winery in September 2017. He is a 2020 honors graduate of the Wine and Viticulture Technology program at Lake Michigan College. His favorite wines are complex white varieties like our 2022 Neutral Oak Chardonnay, refreshing and full of character. His go-tos for food and drinks in the area would be The Historian and Susan's, both just a few miles west of the winery in Sawyer, Michigan and The Bentwood Tavern in New Buffalo. When he has spare time, Adam can usually be found outside, either on one of his motorcycles taking in the winding roads along the Lake Michigan shoreline or hiking somewhere on the Appalachian Trail. He is an aspiring mountaineer with three of the famed “seven summits” under his belt.
Accolades: Napa Valley Wine Academy/WSET Level 3 (with Distinction); Napa Valley Wine Academy/WSET Level 2 (with Distinction); Master of Business Administration (Michigan State University); Associate in Applied Science with Honors - Wine and Viticulture Technology (Lake Michigan College); Lean Six Sigma Green Belt; Supply Chain Management Certification (Michigan State University); Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals, Michigan Wine Competition.
To contact Adam, click here.
Jeffrey DeAngelis
Tasting room manager
Originally from Kentucky and now living in South Bend, Jeffrey DeAngelis has been a fixture at Hickory Creek Winery since 2009. When he isn't running around behind the scenes managing inventory or labeling bottles, he can be found in the tasting room supervising our customer-facing operations. He is Level 1 certified with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and holds a degree from Miami (OH) University. Jeffrey is an avid distance runner, golfer and a huge fan of premier league soccer, among other sports. His all-time favorite Hickory Creek offering is the 2019 Syrah. His favorite local spot is Silver Beach Pizza in St Joe.
To contact Jeffrey, click here.
Jim Springsteen
Operations manager
A lifelong resident of the Niles area, Jim brings a wide range of hands-on experience to the Hickory Creek team with a background spanning audio systems, automotive supply, and leadership roles across multiple industries. What started as a visit to the winery quickly turned into something more — from guest to wine club member to part-time employee, and eventually into a full-time leadership role. Jim holds a Level 1 Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and a degree from Purdue University. Outside the winery, he’s an avid Jeep adventurer, licensed drone pilot, and enjoys RV camping with his wife whenever he can. Ask him his favorite Hickory Creek wine and you’ll likely get two answers — the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2022 Cabernet Franc — though he would be happy to debate it over an Old Fashioned.
Chris Hunt
Marketing manager and tasting room consultant
A resident of Kalamazoo, Chris takes care of visitors in the tasting room during the winery's peak seasons. He has a profound love for wine, especially from Michigan, and a great interest in learning as much as he can about the subject. He and his wife have a goal of visiting every tasting room in the state. During the week he serves as the Marketing Director for an area hospital and brings some of that expertise to the Hickory Creek brand. Chris is obsessed with the 2022 Cabernet Franc.
To contact Chris, click here.
