fruit wine:
Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin
Traverse City, Michigan 49686
Phone: (231) 223-4110
Fax: (231) 223-4130
The unlikely story of Chateau Chantal’s beginning is pretty well known in Michigan. As a Catholic diocesan priest for 12 years, Robert Begin worked in his home area of Detroit until he made a decision in 1972 to begin again, as a businessman this time, heading a construction company. His wife, Nadine, had taken a similar path by entering the Felician Sisters in 1950. After earning her master’s degree in home economics and teaching for 22 years, she, too, made a decision to seek a different life.
In 1974, the two former clergy married, and followed Robert’s dream of building a European-style winery chateau.
The Begin family — Robert, Nadine and daughter Marie-Chantal — opened the doors of Chateau Chantal in 1993, upon the completion of a French-style three-room B&B, winery, and vineyard estates. The B&B now has eleven units, and the 65-acre estate on Old Mission Peninsula includes vines sprawling across rolling hills that produce grapes for the winery’s growing list of award-winning wine.
Chateau Chantal’s history began in 1983, with the formation of Begin Orchards and the purchase 60 acres of cherry orchards on the estate property. Chateau Chantal is well-known for its creative approach to fruit wines as well as the quality of its grape wines, both under the direction of Michigan native Mark Johnson, who received a degree in viticulture and enology at the Federal Research Station and Institute in Geisenheim, Germany. Johnson has been the winemaker at Chateau Chantal for nearly 20 years.
Unlisted fruit/exotic products from Chateau Chantal: Cherry Eau de Vie (alcohol content too high to legally direct ship)
How to order: Orders outside of Michigan or larger than three cases (36 bottles), call 1-800-969-4009 to place an order over the phone. Michigan residents can call the same number or utilize the online store by clicking BUY NOW on this page (which takes you to the winery's homepage) and then clicking on the “Shop” button to shop for wines and products.
Deals: 10% off case (12 bottles) orders, 15% off two-case orders. Cherry wine case special: "Cherry Capital Sampler" includes four bottles each of 1) Cherry Wine, 2) Sparkling Cherry Wine, and 3) Cerise for 15% off.
Shipping: Yes, next-day available via Fed Ex. But please call the winery at 1-800-969-4009 to place expedited orders.
Ships to: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, Wisconsin
Retail Availability: Limited retail presence in Michigan only.
Popular other products: 2010 Proprietor's Reserve Pinot Gris (rich and creamy, Alsatian style), 2008 Malbec Reserve (classic full-bodied red, soft tannins), 2010 Semi-dry Riesling (grapefruit & Granny Smith apple notes)
Tasting room sales: Yes.
All listed fruit/exotic products from Chateau Chantal:
Click on products below for purchasing information.
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Sparkling Cherry
Variety: Cherry
Made by: Chateau Chantal, MichiganGold-medal-winning sparkling cherry wine is an explosion of tiny cherry bubbles in your mouth! Touch of sweetness to bring out the full flavor of the fruit that dances with the effervescence. More…
$11.49
Semi-Sweet
Sparkling Wine -
Cherry Wine
Variety: Cherry
Made by: Chateau Chantal, MichiganA sophisticated, seriously good cherry wine that travelled from the heart of tart cherry country to New York City and won a silver medal at an international wine competition. Made not sweet (but not super dry, either) from 100% cherry pie cherries (Montmorency). Hint of almond flavor. More…
$7.99
Semi-Sweet
Wine -
Cerise Port
Variety: Cherry
Made by: Chateau Chantal, MichiganMultiple gold medal winner in international contests, this port-style cherry masterpiece is not only a top seller at Chateau Chantal, it’s also incredibly deserving of its accolades and popularity. Deep and rich cherry flavor, accented with the smoky complexities of fine ports. More…
$25.99
Sweet
Dessert Wine -
Cerise Noir Port
Variety: Cherry
Made by: Chateau Chantal, MichiganThey say, “the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,” and this dark version of Chateau Chantal’s extremely popular Cerise is definitely a drink ready to please the senses. This blend of estate-grown Pinot Noir with cherry brandy offers rich, layered blackberry, strawberry licorice, chocolate-covered dark cherry, and raspberry with high notes of brandy. More…
$34.99
Sweet
Dessert Wine