OLD MISSION PENINSULA, MI – After the last glasses from the wine tasting flights are whisked off the bar and any visitors lingering over their bottle purchases are helped and then sent on their way, the thick wooden doors at Chateau Chantal are locked for the night.
Then something kind of magical happens. The B&B guests come out to play.
This French Chateau-inspired winery sits perched on a hill about 12 miles up the Old Mission Peninsula, north of Traverse City. By day, it’s known as a hot stop on the area’s winery tours. Tickets to its seasonal wine dinners are sought after. And there’s frequently live music in the tasting room and on the outdoor patio.
But it’s the connected B&B that hits the sweet spot. Each of the 12 rooms offer gorgeous views of rolling vineyards that surround the family-run winery. Its location high up in the center of the peninsula means there are Grand Traverse Bay views on each side. And the chateau itself offers a sumptuous space to settle into and enjoy after-hours perks once all the daytime visitors have driven away.
What kind of luxury perks? This might take a little getting used to, but B&B guests are on the honor system when it comes to the winery. You can take any bottle you’d like from the shelves to enjoy or pack away for later, and then add it to your bill when you check out.
“You get a little more than your average hotel,” Director of Marketing Kyle Brownley chuckled when describing the guests’ freedom after hours.
Chateau Chantal, a winery on Old Mission Peninsula, has a 12-room B&B that invites guests to stroll the vineyard and select their favorite wines.Photo provided by Chateau Chantal
Roaming After Hours
On a recent night when the big front doors were locked and the B&B guests started to roam the nearly-empty chateau, everyone was picking their own way to relax.
Some couples used a vineyard trail on the property for a sunset walk as the skies over West Bay went from orange to pink to a dusky blue. Others roamed the winery’s vast collection, selecting first one bottle, then another. They settled in front of the fireplace, or stared a bonfire on the outdoor patio. As it grew dark, their laughter and smoke from the fire drifted up into the night air.
The rooms all follow a French art theme and range from cozy spots for couples to spacious suites with separate sitting rooms and wet bars. Some have private terraces or balconies. And each overnight stay comes with a chef-prepared breakfast.
Chateau Chantal, a winery on Old Mission Peninsula, has a 12-room B&B that invites guests to stroll the vineyard and select their favorite wines.Photo provided by Chateau Chantal
While Chateau Chantal staff say weekend stays are the most sought after – and some guests book their favorite rooms a year in advance – mid-week stays are more available.
Repeat visitors make up a big chunk of the clientele, but the nights we stayed we found the rooms were filled with first-time guests. Many had never been to Traverse City before. They spent their evening exchanging stories about the places they’d visited that day, and took suggestions from others for things to do the next day.
The Chateau has an overnight innkeeper on site, so there is always someone to answer a question, find a corkscrew or suggest just the right wine.
That last bit isn’t difficult here. Chateau Chantal features a large number of award-winning wines that are not only deliciously drinkable but have evolved with a creativity that inspires repeat visitors to ask about what’s new in the lineup.
The winery’s repertoire runs from the late-harvest Rieslings the peninsula is known for, to a deeply flavored Malbec with grapes grown in Argentina and finished in the tanks at Chateau Chantal. They also offer hard ciders and are moving into spirits, too.
Chateau Chantal, a winery on Old Mission Peninsula, has a 12-room B&B that invites guests to stroll the vineyard and select their favorite wines.Photo provided by Chateau Chantal
French Inspiration and a Beloved Backstory
Lots of people drive up the hill to Chateau Chantal because they’re drawn by the promise of the wine. There are some, through, who come because of the unusual Up North love story that started it all.
The Chateau and its original three-room B&B opened in 1993, founded by Bob and Nadine Begin. Nadine Begin had been a nun in the Felician Sisters order. Bob Begin had been a Catholic priest in the Detroit area. The two left their religious careers to marry. They later were among the first winery owners to plant vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula.
Nadine passed away in 2018, but testaments to their love story are visible in the B&B and in their daughter, Chateau Chantal’s CEO, Marie-Chantal Dalese.
So why a French Chateau-style B&B? Brownley said after the Begins’ travels through Europe, they fell in love with the idea of not only of making wine, but with the tradition of inviting people into their home to stay and enjoy it.
“In this instance, you literally walk into Bob’s home. You mingle with people. That’s just been a really big part of that experience.”
For more information on Chateau Chantal’s B&B, you can explore the website here.