Chateau Chantal
| Chateau Chantal | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Old Mission Peninsula, Michigan, USA |
| Appellation | Old Mission Peninsula AVA |
| Formerly | Begin Orchards |
| Founded | 1983 |
| First vintage | 1990 |
| Key people | Mark Johnson, Winemaker Brian Hosmer, Winemaker Elizabeth Berger, Operations Manager Marie-Chantal Begin-Dalese, Director of Marketing |
| Cases/yr | 15,000 - 20,000 |
| Known for | Late Harvest Riesling |
| Varietals | Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Cabernet Franc, Gewürztraminer, Blaufränkisch, Pinot blanc, Pinot grigio |
| Other products | Ice Wine, Cerise (grape), Entice, http://www.chateauchantal.com/b-b 11 room B&B, http://www.chateauchantal.com/tours-events Tapas Tours, http://www.chateauchantal.com/tours-events Jazz at Sunset, http://www.chateauchantal.com/tours-events Cooking Classes |
| Distribution | National |
| Tasting | Open to the Public |
| Website | http://www.chateauchantal.com/ |
Chateau Chantal is a winery located on the Old Mission Peninsula, only a few miles north of Traverse City, in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The chateau sits atop one of the highest points on the Old Mission Peninsula and has views of both East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay. The winery is a European style chateau on a 64-acre (26 ha) estate. Chantal is in an official American Viticultural Area, one of only four in Michigan, a state that specializes in vinifera, hybrid and native grape varieties. The Chateau has a tasting room, an eleven-room bed and breakfast, and a hospitality room where cooking classes and Jazz at Sunset are hosted.
While Chateau Chantal was not incorporated until 1991, its history began in December 1983, when Robert and Nadine Begin formed Begin Orchards and purchased 60 acres of cherry orchards on the company's current site. Between 1984 and 1991, the Begins cleared much of this land, planted various grapes varieties and purchased additional land.
In July 1990, Mr. Begin received a Special Use Permit from the Peninsula Township to operate the Chateau. In June 1991, the company was incorporated and in 1993 construction of the Chateau was completed. July 2003 saw the completion of an expansion which added eight B&B units to the original three, and a 2,000 square feet (190 m2) Hospitality Room equipped for executive retreats and events. In late 2010, Chantal finished its second major expansion adding onto its cellar and tasting room. The addition adds 9,835 square feet (913.7 m2) to the cellar, a 1,784 square feet (165.7 m2) tasting room addition, and 2,730 square feet (254 m2) patio space located on the roof of the cellar for seasonal use.
Chantal purchased a vineyard in Argentina in 2003 to be able to offer a bold red wine to their lineup. The vineyard is in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The proper name of the South American Vineyard is Chateau Chantal SA and it grows Malbec and Bonarda. Bonarda is a widely planted grape variety in Argentina used to make red wines. Malbec grapes are known for their robust tannins, and are thought of as being the grape of Argentina.
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Wikipedia