Chateau Chantal
15900 Rue de Vin, Traverse City, MI, 49686
Chateau Chantal Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Traverse City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 5:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Wi-Fi : Free
By Appointment Only : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Erin Q.
My friend had received a gift certificate for Christmas that included a VIP tour and wine tasting and she asked us to go. An excuse to go to TC? OK! It truly is a magnificent view. I can only imagine what it looks like in the spring/summer, but it was still gorgeous with all the snow on the ground. We started our tour off with a tasting and were guided down to where the magic happens. Our guide, Richard, was great! He was entertaining and knowledgeable and happily answered our questions and made sure we really got the most out of the wine tasting. It definitely was worth it. The food pairings we did made the wine tasting even more informative as well. We finished back up in the tasting room where we hung out and tasted even more wine and ended up with a hefty purchase to take home. The sparkling cherry wine is phenomenal!
(5)Cameron T.
When on a wine tasting tour in Traverse you come to expect the token Cherry Wine at every location. What you get with Chateau Chantal is an experience you will not forget. Starting your drive up Old Mission Peninsula can only be compared to driving on US-1 down to Key West. Beach houses and clear water along side you. Upon arriving at Chateau you enter through the vineyard. Once inside you have a chance to browse the selection of wines or take a tour. I opted to go straight for the counter to sample some of the vine. If I have a recommendation, try the Sparkling Cherry Wine. I bought three bottles if that tells you anything. Chateau is not done impressing once you have tasted their brand. Buy yourself a glass of wine and head out to the deck. From there you are treated to a view of both bays. If you're lucky it is "Sunny and 75", slight breeze and a glass of poetry. If you are in Traverse and enjoy wine or just a good view.....head to C.C.
(4)Adrienne W.
Large tasting room, cute little shop area. Lovely patio with stunning views of both sides of the peninsula. They had a decent food offering. Wines were yummy and they had a nice selection to accommodate all tastes. They were not super busy at the time we went but I can definitely see how someone may wait a long time to find a spot at the tasting counter and in-between tastes on a really busy day.
(4)Sonny G.
Very disappointed. Made reservations for 11:30 AM sensory tour day before. Day of tour was pouring rain. I called every 15 minutes two hours prior to the tour to confirm it was scheduled. No one ever answered. Left voicemail and finally heard back 40 minutes later. Later tour was already booked. Thanks for poor customer service.
(1)katie d.
If you like overly commercial setting ( think t- shirts and wine related cheap Chinese made tchotchkes for sale) - then you won't be disappointed . However if you like wine and care about what you are drinking - stay away from this place . The only palatable wine there was this Malbec that was actually made from Argentinian grape . Everything else was cheaply made flabby and mediocre . And don't even get me started on their so- called brandy . We didn't mind paying separately for the pour because we were curious to try it . We couldn't even finish it - it wasn't even crafted properly , just awful, such a disaster . The only way this place I think can make any money is by luring people to their gorgeous terrace with amazing views ( hence my two star rating- for the terrace ). Enough said .
(2)Patrick T.
Lovely winery. Great view. Enjoy the riesling. Wine tasting is on a purchased token system, and you get your first few tastes for free (they give you back the first couple of tokens).
(4)Glenn V.
REVIEWING THE WINE TASTING ONLY:-the caps is to highlight the title, I'm not yelling..lol.. Prettiest of the properties, perched way above the surrounding countryside, quite a stunning sight during autumn.The wines were seemingly similar to me and overall the tasting options were limited in variance. The only wine that had a clear distinction was the reserve Malbec, which was apparently from Chateau Chantal's Argentina vineyard and it was a young and needy, but had future potential if cellar-ed for a few years. The Pinot Nior (dry earthy red's) aged 3 months, plum and blackberry undertones but as with most all young wines, a empty finish. Naughty Nice/Naughty Red (Underwood) were interesting, the cherry wine was not a good choice. I realize fruit wines are popular in MI, but for my unknowing taste, I will need to allow for more time to develop the necessary buds for the sweeter flavors. .50 cents a taste, first three are free, I recommend the Bob's flight ($3.00) mostly reserves. The Terrance Tapas looked excellent as I peered on my neighbors plate and looked every cent worth the $18.00. Their Bed and Breakfast has so much to offer, so do some internet research for retreats and other events as well.
(3)Annette J.
I SO want to love Chateau Chantal but after a few visits now I have to say I'm just in like with the place. First the good--the place is absolutely stunning. It's got a beautiful architecture about it, inside and out. The outside patio is amazing and has tables for sitting and sipping a glass of wine. The view is it's real strong point. It's breathtaking. Rolling hills of trees and grape vines and since it's in the middle of Old Mission you've got views of both shores of the peninsula making it easy for some lovely photos of the water and landscape. The tastings are nearly complimentary. You have 3 tastings free followed by .50 for each additional tasting (depending on the wine, however, it may get more pricey) and you can easily get a full pour for sipping on outside. I think that's a totally fair rice point. They also have some food choices if you want to get some snacks which is nice--hummus, cheese, ets. The store has wine gear (like stoppers, cork screws, decorative wine friendly items for your home, etc) and bottles of the wine itself. Now for the not so good--the wine varies from great (the ice wine) to good (the cherry varietals and the sparklings) to just ok and meh (nearly everything else). Overall I'm just not really that floored by what I've had. It's ok. And it's wine so I'm not mad at it. And I appreciate what they're trying to do. I just don't think they nail it. For me, at least. Additionally the staff can be pain. I have never had a pleasant experience with the staff at the tasting stations. It has varied from a downright confrontational experience last summer (yes, we had words), to just aloof and generally unpleasant. For example, this weekend where, after my friend and I had made it to the paid portion of the tasting, the gentleman just disappeared to help a large bachelorette party who had come in. I get that they're a larger party but at that point we were paying customers too and had at least 3 more tastings we wanted to do, including the pricier ice wine. In the end we just gave up and asked for a glass each once he came back so we could sit outside and enjoy the view a bit. So yeah, I get that they get busy a lot and that it's not really that easy but they don't do a very good job juggling a crowd. Let's just put it that way. I will say that the gentleman who rang us up when we were leaving was super nice, so it's not everyone, but I've had meh service 3 times out of 3 now. In the end I'll come back because, as I mentioned, the view is stunning and the price is right but I'll be taking a deep breath to ready my patience before I walk in.
(3)Pebbles And Bam Bam A.
Yikes. We visited numerous wineries in this region, and this one was terrible. So disappointing given that the building is gorgeous. Unfortunately, that's the best thing it has going for it (at least it's a free view from the road!). The wine was terrible. Note to self: don't try wine described as having "no bitter or harsh taste." The service was even worse. We only tried three of the six wines we planned to try, and after waiting 15-20 minutes for the next pour, finally slapped cash on the table and left. Scheduling only two people to work on a busy Sunday afternoon was clearly poor planning, but it didn't help that our server was content to spend 10 minutes talking to the couple next to us about the best sandwiches in town. Lame. Take a picture of the building, say you were there, then go somewhere else.
(1)Kevin G.
First time here today with another couple. The positives: Outstanding scenery and architecture. The wine is okay. The negatives: the tastes are extremely small even though you get 6 for 3 or 4 dollars. As in some other reviews we also had some rather rude service. ONLY 2 tasting stations open with 12 to 16 people trying to taste and 10 or people waiting. One of the servers was doing nicely with 8 people on his side while our server was only taking care of 4 people in front of her while ignoring the four of us for almost 10 minutes. Not a visit to remember. You do need to go just for the view and maybe you service will be better.
(3)Joseph M.
This place is gorgeous. Absolute best view on both sides. However I didn't end up tasting anything. We came in with a group of 24 people and the gentleman behind the bar was soooo rude to our party and especially rude to our bus driver that I decided not to give them any business.
(1)Susan P.
Wine Dinner Review Only: Was a great first introduction to the area. It wasn't easy to get in, so definitely book in advance. Tour was nice, but beware of harvest season and fruit flies! They were everywhere. Some dishes were better than others. I really enjoyed the beef Wellington. Pairings went well with each dish. I would recommend for a nice evening on the peninsula!
(4)Megan M.
My husband and I went here for wine tasting. Very beautiful, friendly staff, great atmosphere and wonderful selection of wines! My husband isn't a wine drinker but really liked the sparkling cherry. Will definitely be going back the next time we visit Traverse City.
(5)Travis L.
This is one of the coolest wineries I've been too and hands down the best view. We were rushed for time so we didn't get a chance to really enjoy it for all the aspects. I would have loved to stay and had an extra drink after the tasting on the patio. The tasting is a cool set up where they give you chips and you can cash them in for any of the drinks some cost two chips some costs one. The wine was really good and we found some fruitier ones we normally wouldn't like but they add the fruit in nicely. I highly recommend starting with the tasting and then staying for a glass or bottle. The place has a decent gift shop and offers shipping if you are from out of state like us. Expect the place to be busy but take you time and have some fun.
(4)Bobo D.
The place was beautiful but expensive. The wine server with handlebar mustache was rude so he lost a 2 case sale. I took my 8 friends and left and we won't be back.
(2)Kimberly W.
Another wonderful winery on our tour. Frank was the one who served us a wonderful wine tasting experience. He was knowledgeable and just fun to talk to. Highly recommend this place! Their sparking cherry wine is just like Frank said "party in a bottle". We had a great time here! Can beat the scenery!
(5)Emily K.
I would give a dozen stars for the unparalleled views! Simply the best - the drive up is amazing and they have a patio where we enjoyed a nice glass of Sparkling Cherry Wine (delicious) overlooking the lake and vineyards. Had to try some sweet cherry wine since we were in cherry country & I was not disappointed. The only negative was the service. It seemed like our server was not happy to be there... Overall - I would go just for the great patio view!
(4)M R.
This was the fifth winery we stopped at, and view from the parking lot outstanding. Too bad I can't say that about the wine. The place reminded me of a supermarket, a small market with too many people in it, and we were the only ones trying to get out. It felt more like tourist trap than a winery.
(1)Melissa G.
We stayed at the beautiful Chateau Chantal this past weekend and we couldn't be happier. We have already booked our trip in for next year. The staff is extremely friendly and accommodating. If you're a guest at the B&B you get free reign over the tasting room after hours. The views are absolutely astonishing! I would highly recommend the breakfast in bed and the dinner that comes with the wine pairings. If you don't have time for that, make time to have a glass of wine on the patio and soak up the view of that beautiful Mitten!!!
(5)Derric R.
Come for the view, buy a glass.and sit out side,the view is awesome. Skip the tasting.
(4)Steve B.
Beautiful place - taste was like a cattle run - wine is so special when served with good taste.....room for improvement
(3)Ben D.
View was beautiful. Very nice bar indoors, and the outdoor space would be awesome in the summer I'm sure (we were there in the winter). Staff didn't seem super knowledgeable, but they were friendly, and gave some free tastings. Their pinot, cab, merlot blend was probably the best thing they had at the time. Probably worth swinging by to check it out.
(3)Ellen H.
The views are 5-star. The wines were good, but not all were great. A couple were very good and none was bad. They charge for tasting, but refund the fee if you buy a bottle. Worth a visit, especially if you're most interested in the experience.
(4)Janet B.
My husband and I signed up for the Warm Up event being held on Mission Peninsula this past weekend. Our starting winery was Chateau Chantal. We arrived at 10 am as written on our ticket as the starting time. No one at the winery seemed to know what was going on. Nothing was set up, no one greeted us or offered any explanation. After 45 minutes of waiting, we finally went to the bar where we were told that the mulled wine was not ready yet but that we could pay for wine tasting. While we did receive our complimentary glasses, we did not get our wrist bands or agenda that the other wineries were handing out. After leaving Chateau Chantal, we visited 2 Lads, where we were greeted at the door, offered warm wine punch (with the recipe) and yummy chicken chili, we also got COMPLIMENTARY wine tastings. This kind of treatment continued at all of the other wineries participating in this event. While I would attend the Warm Up event in the future, I am steering clear of Chateau Chantal.
(1)Anne C.
A visit to Chateau Chantal is worth it just for the location and the view. It's up on a hill surrounded by vineyards and it's just really beautiful-- it looks like it belongs more in Napa than in Michigan. They have a huge patio where you can order glasses or wine or any of the small plates that they serve there while you enjoy the scenery. Tasting itself at Chateau Chantal is fun. They have a wide variety to sample and you pay on a token system. My husband and I each tried 4 or 5 wines and it was only a few dollars to cover the tasting. The wines are very good and there is a nice variety. I was a little disappointed in the store portion of the operation. Unlike most of the other vineyards up there that allow you to pick out your own bottles and have a wide variety of foods, accessories, etc. to purchase this store is much more stripped down. They also pull the bottles for you which puts the pressure on if you're not totally sure what you want yet.
(4)Ron P.
Chateau Chantal has one of the best views on the peninsula: it is at a high, narrow point which gives you fantastic views of both coasts. The structure itself is also quite impressive. The tasting lounge and outdoor patio are quite nice. The lounge was very busy though so we had little opportunity to discuss the wines with the servers. A large gift area had with a lot of emphasis on wine and wine accessories but less food related wares. Most wines were too sweet for our liking, even their reds tended to be over sweet. We did settle on a Pinot Grigio however. The wine prices (per bottle) were very reasonable though the sample in the two flights we tried (12 different wines if you try both the Bob and Marie flights) were almost too small to allow a good appreciation: I would prefer paying a little bit more for a larger sample.
(3)Brittany A.
Gorgeous building, gorgeous porch, wine is fine. This is my husband's favorite winery but every time we go I'm not as impressed as I want to be by their wines. That being said they do offer a cheese plate to purchase with a glass to sit on their porch and frankly after several tastings I desperately need a cheese plate. I want so badly to like this place more but I can't give it a 5. That being said, I know they're also a bed and breakfast and their rooms are lovely. They also have tapas tastings and wine dinners which look great, just a wee bit pricey.
(4)Anna S.
My husband and I, along with another couple have a yearly excursion to TC to do a winery tour. This was our fifth year and Chateau Chantal is by far one of our favorites. It's gorgeous; probably the most picturesque winery there. The tasting is good - not the best. We've had some pretty great experiences and some lame ones. This year the tasting was pretty good. Our server was friendly but seemed annoyed with us at one point. They're well-staffed and the tasting is well-paced, which we found was not common at all this year. All in all we enjoyed ourselves and always leave with a few bottles - the sparkling wines are great. They also recently remodeled the tasting room so it's larger and can accomodate more people. It's a must do if you're in the area.
(4)Regina T.
We didn't stay at this hotel, but the wine tasting/tour was wonderful. The grounds are beautiful, the size of the tour/tasting group perfect, and the food pairings with the wine were fantastic (I copied one of their recipes for wild mushroom phyllo tartlets, and to this day, it is one of the signature appetizers that I make.) The guide was good, and staff was welcoming.
(4)Caroline M.
The most sublime views on Old Mission are here at Chateau Chantal! They also do complimentary tastings here. There is an extensive tasting menu and you can try up to 6 different wines. Not a fan of the sweet wines, I ended up buying a bottle of dry bubbly, called "Tonight". Crisp and delicious. The tasting room here was the most crowded and gift shop-ish out of all the 4 wineries I toured on my most recent visit a few weeks ago. But the gift shop items are pretty neat. I'm a sucker for arts and craftsy type things (and supporting local artists!) so for a couple bucks, I bought some beautiful gift cards painted by a local, blind artist. Impressive and tugs at your heart strings! Aw. Chateau Chantal is a must while on Old Mission. The views here will turn you into a new-age sap and have you praising the sacred beauty of Mother Earth (for real!). There's such a variety of wines sold here. Sweet or dry, red or white, bubbly (haaay), there's something for everyone!
(4)Shari C.
First stop on our Divas Uncorked tour and they were totally clueless. All of the other wineries offered multiple tastings and great service. Not Chantal...one tasting in a back corner. Staff was unprepared. Will never go back.
(1)Colleen C.
This is probably the only time in my life that I'll roll up to Chateau Chantal (Old Mission Peninsula Winery) in a stretch hummer limo drinking a really awful wine cooler... Explanation: I was in a wedding, the groomsmen thought that all the girls would appreciate Parrot Bay wine coolers. Luckily for us, one of the photo stops was Chateau Chantal. We quickly remedied the situation by purchasing two very nice bottles of champagne. The day was beautiful, the views are outstanding, the bride was happy, the bridesmaids were giggly, and the groomsmen got to keep all of their Coors Light to themselves. The world was at peace. A very high class establishment. One of the stops on the Old Mission wine tour. Free tastings, the perfect setting for true TC snapshots. Cannot beat the view/setting, and a few bottles of wine to seal the deal? Made in the shade... A definite must see if you are in the area...
(5)R J.
One of the most spectacular settings, atop a hill overlooking Lake Michigan...beautiful. Also, beautiful building, tasting rooms, great wines, and although a bit more expensive than some, still very reasonable!
(4)Dee B.
I was not as impressed with Chateau Chantal (the winery) as other Yelpers have been. Yes, it's in a beautiful location. However, the tasting room was too crowded with various tchotchkes, and the wine was just not that great.
(3)E M.
Very commercialized tasting. Beautiful views and wines are made with good quality. Biggest disappointment is sample size. Each pour is a little less than a half ounce. Might just be the pourer (Kyle). Very busy. Come with patience and don't expect to learn much.
(3)Joe M.
My wife and I stayed here for the weekend and did the cooking class that they offered. We loved the cooking class. Great Chef's. We think everyone there was having a great time. I have to eat Gluten Free and the Chef made sure I could eat the food. We learned a lot about cooking. Both Chef's gave some good ideas. Now for the Inn, our room was very small and out dated. Yes our room needs an update. No TV in the bedroom, the TV in the sitting area is way to small. Also no place to put your computer. Im sure they would say you don't need your computer, but I did. The carpet is old. Also the Gym is unusable. PLS if the Winery reads this go buy new exercise equipment. I spoke to a lot of the others that were staying and they had better rooms. So I think it was just ours. We were on the old side. Other than that, WE LOVED THE PLACE. Really nice folks, great tour. This is a must stop in the Traverse City area. It's so beautiful.
(4)Erin D.
Salesmanship matters! We were a party of 6 and had a different experience than two people in our group. Unfortunately, we were unimpressed because our pourer, Keven, had more interest in counting our chips for each tasting rather than explaining each wine. Out of 6 wineries, this was the only winery where we did not purchase wine. If you want a more intimate experience with lots of education check out 2 Lads or Brys.
(2)Ken K.
Beautiful views and tasty wines...
(5)Jessica N.
My friend works at this winery, so we went for a tasting and few glasses while we were in Traverse City visiting him this weekend. The tasting was very affordable, and the wines were very good. My favorite was the unoaked Chardonnay, of which I bought a bottle. I also recommend the Pinot Blanc. Service was great, but the tasting room was a bit crowded, although it is very big. This is a popular winery. We had a few glasses out on the deck, and it had gorgeous views! I would definitely recommend building in some time for this.
(4)Lauren T.
Based on my previous Traverse City winery research, I was certain this place would be super pretentious. Well, I was wrong. This place is certainly beautiful, and looks very fancy, but the people here were all awesome and made us feel right at home. Your first 3 tastings are free and then you pay 50 cents extra for each additional wine you try. Sweet deal right? There is a $5 charge to try their ice wine, and it is totally worth it. As much as I love ice wine, I will never spend the 70 bucks on a bottle so 5 here and there is nothing. They even make theirs the authentic way by letting the grapes freeze on the vine, how cool! My favorite wine there was the Gewurztraminer. It was sweet and light, and well priced for the bottle, which I of course bought. They had some sweet reds as well, which I appreciated. Don't be intimidated by the fancy name, or location. Make sure to stop here!
(4)Torrey R.
This winery is all about the views and less about the wine. It is just beautiful so be sure and go with enough time to relax on the terrace and take pictures. The wine tasting was well paced and the staff seemed knowledgeable. They use a token system to keep track of the tastings so you pay for all of the tastes but aren't limited on how many you can try. Well worth the trip!
(4)Rebecca B.
I loved this place mostly for the exquisite views. The grounds are immaculately kept and the valleys go on and on. Some great photo ops here! The building has that old world charm and there are so many neat trinkets available for purchase in the gift shop..things you would never think about - love that! The tasting is not free, but I don't mind that. It probably keeps the riff raff down and they need to offset some cost. I like doing the tasting, because I'm not a huge wine drinker and have a hard time committing to an entire bottle..I did feel the lady attempting to help us was spread too thin.. A couple times had to wait far too long for my next sample.. Being in Traverse City, I had to try the cherry wines - not too shabby!! I especially loved the sparkling cherry.. In fact, I'm going to place an order on their website so I have more on hand. Yes, I love it that much!! If you like spritzy sweet, you will too! I loved the fact that at the end of our tasting, we could buy a glass of wine and relax out on the terrace and enjoy the scenery. There were plenty of high top tables with stools available - hey Chantal, a great idea - umbrellas.. the terrace gets super hot as it is in the direct sun. I would love to go back here in the fall..
(4)Karen Anne B.
Great views, but that's about it. We stopped in at the winery to sample a few. Paid for the tasting, but no glass included, not that I would have really been interested in advertising for them. Service was meh. Wines were unimpressive, completely forgettable and overpriced. We left empty handed after spending a few minutes out on the terrace.
(2)Linda M.
A recent trip to the wine tasting room at Chateau Chantal was an experience not to forget. Bill, who we later found out was the tasting room manager, provided the most bizzare experience I have ever had wine tasting. He was extremely intense from the beginning. My friend and I asked a couple of questions about the wine tasting list, and he became extremely aggitated. We have both done a lot of wine tasting in different parts of the country, and our questions were not out of line. We asked what wines they were known for at this winery and what the group of wines classified as reserves meant. He nearly came across the counter at us and stated, "I detect we have a problem here. What seems to be wrong with you?" We concluded that we would sample the remainder of the tastes that we had paid for and quickly leave. The couple next to us was totally ignored, and at one point, Bill actually left the tasting room. I can empathize with any problems Bill has, but he should not be hired to act in this position. A trip down the peninsula and a comment to another winery server confirmed that this isn't the first time that individual has heard this story. On top of that, the wines weren't that great.
(1)Amanda C.
I went here for an afternoon wine tasting. The drive here up the peninsula and the views from the patio are spectacular. It's a great place to admire the scenery and enjoy a glass of wine. As for the tasting itself, they have several options and you can choose from one of their menus or create your own tasting menu at 50 cents per taste. My favorites included the "Nice" red and the sweet cherry wines. We felt we had to ask a lot of questions and weren't really given much information during the tasting, which would have been nice. There was one employee who seemed very knowledgeable but was unfortunately training staff. We asked about the tours but still don't know how to take them- that would have been nice. I'd recommend going for the views.
(3)Vanessa S.
I'll chalk it up to tourist overload, but I could not not have been more underwhelmed by our tasting experience. My husband and I rounded out our Labor Day getaway by stopping at the Chateau to partake in a tasting. We were blown away by the view, and the grounds were sprawling and impressive, and possibly set my expectations way too high for what was to come. We entered the small tasting room, and found spots at the bar, it wasn't too crowded, but none of the servers wanted to make eye contact with us. They looked exhausted, surely beaten down by the throng of visitors who made their way through the winery all weekend long. I can empathize, I can remember the dread of St Patrick's Day bartending at an Irish joint, but slap on a smile and let's get to it. Finally a surly middle aged woman 'greets' us, throws down 6 chips rattles off her speech, which is summary was ' 6 free tastes then you go'. She pushes a tasting book over, and we start asking her about different wines, recommendations, some background info on the Chateau and the process, indulge me. She replies that she suggests trying wines in list order in the book - sweet, thanks. We move through the tasting quickly, and she offers no dialogue except that we were lucky to taste the Pinot Gris because it's not offered at tastings but she happens to have an open bottle - we're honored. After snatching back the chips, I ask our lovely hostess where we can purchase the bottles - to which she yells what, what? then grunts and points to the cashier. While a few of the wines were magnificent,and the rest were also solid, the service experience dampens everything. The things that is so awesome about Michigan Wineries is the passion in the winemaking, and personal feel of a real community business. The staff at Chateau's tasting room cared less about the wine and more about rolling their eyes and wondering when their breaks were. With so many wineries becoming established around Traverse City, that provide excellent service with respectable wines, there is no reason for us to return to Chateau.
(2)Atlantis A.
The views from here are AMAZING that alone is a reason to make the winding trip here. The tasting is on a token charge per sample. The server never explained what we were trying nor was he able to answer our questions. "I can't find the book" was his answer. Found other winers asking questions than we all started answering eachother, so it started a great chat around the bar. The wines are good the view is GREAT take your camera, not on top of my list as far as experience and overall but would I stop again? Sure
(3)Peter M.
Good wine, great views, phenomenal porch at the winery to eat/drink/relax. I would highly recommend visiting this winery when coming to Traverse City!
(4)Michelle E.
I went here and loved the view, it was breathtaking. Once it is finished, I'm sure it will be a tourist hot spot, but right now they need to organize some more, and be more customer service friendly. I was excited to explore Michigan wine country, but I prefer the smaller boutique tasting rooms who are more customer friendly.
(2)Kwoky L.
Traverse City is my favorite place in Michigan and I would always drive up and down the Old Mission Peninsula to get a tour of the wineries. Chateau Chantal stands in the midst of the vineyard, up on a hill. The view is spectacular from there! I am not an expert in wine by any means but they have some of the best white wines I have tasted. I love their riesling - they're crisp and sweet. I would always buy a bottle or two every time when I go visit. It worth the visit here.
(4)Lindsey W.
Wine was just pretty good... But it matched the prices. Staff could be more friendly and could also be more on top of things because we often got restless waiting and watching the staff text and drink on the job. I enjoyed the views but when I went inside to sit at the window sill there were dead flies everywhere! Really grossed me out.
(3)Jennifer R.
Our first wine tasting experience. This was the largest of the for old mission peninsula wineries we visited. Staff was very friendly and knowledgable. they offer three free tastes, and charge 50¢ and up for additional samples. I liked that they had a suggested sample flight (actually three) so I knew what to try, although if I did it again, i would create my own flight. they also have a counter selling cheese and other foods, and they have lots of souvenirs. It was the busiest winery, but there was also a tour bus there, so i'm not sure if they are always so crowded. A nice first winery, but not my favorite.
(3)Chelsea n.
Beautiful overlook and nice outdoor seating. The server didnt offer tastings just a glass of wine which we thought was weird. Instead of paying $7 more each for another glass we just bought a bottle and the girl asked us if we had a tasting ticket (apparently they take that price off your bill) we said no and she charged us full price, even though we paid more than if we were "tasting". I got the trio red wine and my husband got the Sauvignon blanc. Mine was way too peppery and needed another 5 years at least to sit around before I'd want to buy what I "sampled". We went to multiple wineries today and this was probably my least favorite as far as wine goes. Gorgeous location...meh on the red wine.
(3)Chad O.
Took my wife here for a great weekend getaway - the rooms are very nice and it is so fun to have the run of the place once they close the doors at night. We took cooking classes that were fun but a little intense due to the chef teaching them.
(4)Carla C.
Stayed here for a weekend in March. It was overpriced and pretty disappointing. The reviews were much better than our experience. The rooms were not worth the 229 I spent per night. Sure, it included breakfast and a bottle of wine, but unfortunely both those were also very average, to say the least. I would probably recommend stopping for the winery, but surely not to stay.
(2)Brian N.
Awesome views and an amazing building. But all in all the worst wines I have had on Old Mission Peninsula where I think most of the wines are very good and getting better all of the time. I have gone several times over the last several years and tried many of the wines red and white and consistently find that the wines here are just not good. I would suggest skipping the wines, but come check out the view. Do your tasting at the rest of the wineries on Old Mission - you will thank me.
(1)Cicele B.
Michigan is like the awkward kid in high school, who grows up to be a hottie! Who knew! I looked around for a little getaway for me and my man for Labor Day, and Traverse City kept coming up. We're B&B people and wine people so this combo was a match made in heaven. There are not enough words to describe how beautiful this place this really is, breath taking. the entire time I was there I kept saying "And we're in Michigan?!" The accommodations were super comfy, the breakfast each morning was filling, and the wines were exceptional. This little gem is has officially made my greatest hits list!
(4)Chuck M.
We did a tour of MP wineries with another couple and had considered this as one of our major stops. I'd say that it was a mixed experience. The good: awesome views and the ability to take wine and food outside and enjoy the view. The bad: a noisy, commercial tasting room We walked into the tasting room and I just lost all desire to taste wine. It was large and noisy, with significant volumes of pumped-in music. I'd had such a good experience at 2 Lads and Black Star that I was just turned off by the tasting room. We went right through the tasting room to the deck outside. The view from back of the winery over Grand Traverse bay was delightful. We sat outside (a bit breezy, but that was great on a warm day) and enjoyed the view while our friends tasted inside. A number of people brought out flights of 3-6 wines on carriers and tasted them while enjoying the view; I'd do it that way if I came back there another time. Can't speak to the wine, though. We had a pleasurable experience, but I'd suggest it just for the view or if they are having live entertainment. Iffy as a tasting event, though.
(2)Jill S.
the view is AMAZING! we were asked if we wanted to go on a tour, but unfortunately we did not have enough time. we sampled three wines (the first 3 are free, then 50c for additionals; certain wines are $5 a sample)..i did not care for the cherry wine, but the late harvest reisling was delicious! the only downfall was the guy quoted our glasses of wine at $4 but apparently they were $6 (he was in training and someone else pointed it out to him)
(4)Alison M.
Beautiful view, beautiful winery, but kind of snooty staff. One really nice thing is that they are open much later than most of the neighboring wineries (so you can fit in one more before calling it a night)
(4)Kathy R.
Every single time I visit the Grand Traverse area, I make sure to travel out to Old Mission Peninsula to visit Chateau Chantal. I have never been disappointed. Besides taking one of the Wine Immersion seminars (not to miss if interested in the taste, smell, and making of wines), I have purchased numerous cases of private labeled wines for gifts and weddings. Personal favorites are the Naughty Red, Late Harvest Riesling, and Cerise. I have never found the staff to be anything more than kind and willing to discuss the wines and make recommendations. Mark Johnson, Chateau's winemaker, is fantastic, and the opportunity to chat with Robert Begin, the owner, is a treasure. The views of the Chateau are spectacular as you look out towards the bays of Old Mission Peninsula and Grand Traverse, and particularly in the Fall, the sight is gorgeous. I highly recommend a visit to Chateau Chantal if you are in the area. Sip a wonderful glass of wine, relax on the patio or by the fireplace, be pampered by the staff, and just unwind in the beauty of the surroundings. Wonderful.
(5)Mitchell P.
What an AMAZING VIEW! WOW! We came here as part of our Mission Peninsula Wine Tour. I grabbed a bottle the naughty red from the store and tasted a number of different wines. The tasting room is free, just like some of the others in the area.
(5)Monica S.
My new husband and I stayed there for 2 nights on our tour of Michigan honeymoon. It's an extremely classy place and the owners are very sweet people. They made you very comfortable and you felt like you really belonged. We would go back there in a heartbeat.
(5)Rodney H.
Great location, East bay views for Sunrise breakfast & West Bay sensational Sunset wine sipping on the Patio. My wife & i stayed here during the summer , the weather was great, We can highly recommend the wineries of the mission peninsula & also the nearby Leelaneau peninsula, apart from CC we can suggest Peninsula cellars & Shady Lane. We enjoyed the great breakfasts prepared by "Remy" & the excellent Tapas tour. We stayed in the Van Gogh room which has great sunset views & is very nicely decorated, Wine wise we can recommend the Dry Riesling, the 2007 Cabernet Franc & The Celebrate Sparkling wine. Some things do need to be improved, CC is not cheap B&B, you are likely to pay over $250 per night & check in & out should be more professional, that said my criticism is only in regards to the price point, otherwise this is a romantic, delightful weekend retreat. One must is dinner at the boatyard nearby in Bowers Harbor & do ask for Claudine at CC wine tasting , she is very pleasant & knows a lot
(4)Andrea C.
This review is for their B&B. The property is absolutely beautiful and fairly secluded in the evenings. My husband and I moved to the midwest about a year ago and are huge Napa fans. It is also our 8 year anniversary and a coworker recommended going to Michigan for wine tasting. They specifically suggested Chateau Chantal for their rieslings. When I found their website, I saw that they also had a B&B. I called immediately and made a reservation. Please note their B&B only has a total of 11 rooms & suites, so you really need to make reservations months in advance during high season. We were lucky and got a spot because someone cancelled. Why this place is awesome: 1) the B&B is in the main building 2) The area is beautiful especially in the fall 3)the tasting room is attached to the B&B 4) Guests of the B&B have afterhours access to the tasting room and can go taste as you please 5) the staff is amazing 6) the owners are wholesome, down to earth, and enjoy mingling with their guests, cooking for them, and giving them personal tours 6) you get breakfast in the mornings 7) did I say you get access to the wine 24 hours a day 8) the wines are affordable 9) the rooms are spacious and reasonably priced 10) It is a truly romantic place. Needless to say, we plan on returning again. This place is now our refuge from our busy stressful city life.
(5)Nancy R.
Beautiful vineyards. Delicious wines. Wonderful service. The staff, the rooms, the food was marvelous. The views are amongst the most beautiful I have ever seen. It was hard for me to leave, and look forward to a quick return.
(5)Aaron M.
Bacon! Need I say more? When you stay there, you'll know what I mean. The breakfast was amazing, cooked by the owner herself. Truly awesome property! A great value for your dollar. Take the free winery tour. Enjoy the after-hour's tasting room for guests only. Our room rocked - what a view! It included a hug whirlpool tub too. It's a perfect get away for a romantic time.
(5)Mike M.
if the vino doesn't impress you i'm sure the view will. this place has one of the prettiest vistas on the whole peninsula. i'm not much of a wine connoisseur so i won't comment on that, but i know a great view when i see one. actually, try the Riesling. this area produces some of the finest Rieslings outside of Germany.
(4)Tim N.
I've been to this vineyard and tasting room several times. The outdoor events in the summer are fun. They have some good wines and the tasting room is nice.
(4)Jessica C.
They have really great wines. The tasting is $3 for 6 samples which is a great deal. But the staff isn't as friendly or attentive as I'd have liked. The man that did our tasting was knowledgeable and nice, but he seemed a bit blase about the whole thing. It was also loud in there, which I don't really like in a winery environment. Overall ambiance I was not very impressed with, but I would definitely stop in to try the wine.
(4)Amelia L.
If you think this is good wine or a good wine tasting experience, you are sadly misinformed. Don't need to be herded around like cattle, given tokens, or look at a list of 40 wines (that's too many to make any of them well). The view is about all they have going for them.
(1)Randy C.
Drove quite a distance to this winery after hearing it was an area Facebook favorite. Walked in, saw a sign that said " wait here until waved to the tasting area". Waited, moved out of the way of waiters coming and going numerous times, was never acknowledged by anyone, even the employees we moved for. After around 15-20 minutes we left I can't remember ever having been so thoroughly ignored at a retail venue.
(1)Daniel H.
Come here for the view from atop the peninsula. You've got the lake, vineyards, and trees (great during fall) on both the east and west, nice scenery as you take in a glass or two of their wines. It was crowded both times we've been there, this time especially so. The wait looked to be 30 mins or more for the tasting, so we just opted to get a glass in the patio. Try the Late Harvest Riesling.
(4)Michele A.
If you are a red wine drinker this is the place for you. The staff is knowledge in their wines and know what to pour and when. They had one of the best cab francs in old mission. Their winery is stunning located on a hill with a great view. They have some whites that were dry and very good. They also had a tart cherry that was not sweet and would be good on a summer day. I enjoyed the wine here and the people.
(5)Hollina U.
Do you know what I enjoy? Wine tastings where I'm not encouraged to drink the fruit flies in my wine glass as protein. That unfortunately was not the case here. There were fruit flies all over the place. I don't particularly enjoy having them in my face, but I understand that they're a pain to get rid of. While trying to do the wine tasting though, three pours from the same bottle had 4 dead fruit flies floating around in it, then three, then one. So then there's obviously fruit flies in the wine bottle even if it has a stopper in it though, right? I first thought to myself, hey, grape skins in the wine, interesting I've never had that before. Looked in my glass and there were the little buggers ughhh. The lady helping us with the tasting told me it was protein though, and said she couldn't really do anything about it. I then opted not to continue with the tasting, and had a glass of wine on the terrace instead. The terrace is beautiful, with a view of the bay, and it was so nice and relaxing outside on a gorgeous day. WAAAY better than having to worry about swallowing some flies or having some fly up my nose. Also, the other three wineries we went to that day didn't have as much of a fruit fly problem as Chateau Chantal. Just saying.
(1)Ninja C.
Had some decent wines and a nice view. Cherry and sparking cherry wines were very nice. Service was mechanical with ambiance suggestive of assembly-line production. Lack of food options discourages lingering. Probably won't return though might pick up a bottle of theirs somewhere if I saw it.
(3)Anisha M.
Beautiful views of traverse bay area. The winery tour is ok but the terrace area to sit and do tastings is beautiful. This place came highly recommended. The wine was meh so the recommendation is mostly for the scenery.
(4)Kim S.
Have visited the winery here 3 times, enjoying the vistas and the vintage each time. Photos I took here actually hang in my home because of the splendid views. Our favorite wine is their Chantal Noir, which is infused with cherry brandy. Yum! One of these times we will do the bed and breakfast option.
(4)Dale H.
Beautiful venue, just okay wines. But wine tasting is always fun :o) $3 for tastings of six wines of your choice. And the $3 can be deducted from a purchase of any bottle. Did buy a bottle of their sparkling wine and their fresh red. Fun to look around the shop. But bottom-line - the wines were just okay.
(3)Barry B.
Beautiful, huge patio, but the whole place lacked that ma and pop warm friendly feel. A little commercialized and very busy, for some tons of kids running around. Overall, a beautiful place with great wines.
(4)Yin Q.
The wine tasting was a bit rushed. But the cherry wines were still fun to taste. The view was amazing. Overall I think it's a worth while stop if it's not too busy :)
(4)Tuttysan S.
Loved the setting, the room and the breakfast! Can't go wrong with after hours access to wine tasting room. We stayed at the B room near the entrance. Spacious, updated and lovely. Humongous soaking tub, room for toiletries and more, big sitting area in room and side doors that open to the vinyard. Cellar tour for guests and free wine tasting. Enjoyed their pinot and bought a bottle of cherry wine to try. Breakfast was heavenly: fruit, bacon, deviled eggs with a twist, assortment of toast bread and winery jellies, AND a souffle that was a perfect pairing to the coffee or fresh-squeezed orange juice. Wish we could have stayed longer, but the place was booked. We'll be back.
(5)Sarah C.
"Park creatively" was the sign for parking. There is not enough spots for all the visitors so you can park slightly off the cliff or on the side of the road. The place is really beautiful. Wish we came here before Labor day so we could have done the tour. We walked in and man was there a lot of people! I went to a couple wineries back in Cali and they were never this busy! The line to the left is for tasting and buying glasses of wine. The line to the right is for buying wine. Don't let the wine tasting line intimidate you, it goes really fast. $3 to taste 6 wines! What a steal! Also with your wine tasting recipe you get $3 off per bottle of wine purchased! The people who work here are pretty efficient and a lot of the wine were pretty tasty. I found a wine I loved but unfortunately it was a bit out of my price range but one day I will be back! =D
(4)Martha V.
We have stayed here twice and I really enjoyed both stays. The views from the inn are just amazing. The rooms are comfortable, the staff very friendly and helpful, and the wine is good. The best part about Chateau Chantal are the wine dinners that are offered twice a week. Dinner is a fixed priced, chef-designed menu (as opposed to one where you can order what you want) and both times we have been we have been very happy with our meal and the wine and the over all experience. If you are a small party (as we were - just two of us) you will be seated at at table with others, which I think is fun, but is also good information to have in case you don't like that idea. There is a "master of ceremonies" at the dinner, if you will, who guides you through the wine selections that accompany each course. I highly recommend the wine dinner (and also staying at the inn afterward).
(4)Kyle W.
One of the classier wineries on the peninsula. It's up on a hill with beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards and water. Nice tasting room with helpful, non-pretentious staff. We ended up buying a semi-dry Riesling, which is one of the popular choices and you should definitely try. I don't love Malbecs but it's cool they own a vineyard in Argentina to make it! Worth the trip pretty far out on the peninsula.
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