Last Day of August Construction Update

Cellar entryway

New cellar space – roller derby anyone?

Pre-finished entrance to sub cellar barrel room

There’s a hole in the ceiling! Our new grape delivery system

New tasting room

The Ripening of the Riesling

We have a stellar vintage on our hands for 2010!  Our red wine grapes are gaining deeper and deeper color each day, while our white wine grapes continue toward the optimal maturation.

Riesling, Estate 1986 Vineyard

 

One way to look at how the season is progressing is with growing degree days (GDD).  GDD are a measure of heat accumulation used to estimate ripeness and harvest time for not only grapes, but many other crops as well.  Michigan State University keeps track of temperatures on Old Mission Peninsula during the growing season.  GDD are calculated by taking the average of the daily maximum and minimum temperatures compared to a base temperature, in this case 45 degrees F.  Take a look at 2010 figures against the past 5 years, from May 1 – Aug 31 each year:

2010       2567                              2007    2473

2009      1949                                2006   2420

2008      2197                                2005   2494

 

 This gives us an indication that 2010 will be at least a similar quality to the great 2007 vintage where we really ripened our reds well, producing more depth than in cooler years.

Construction Projected to be Complete for Harvest

Our vineyard and cellar crew are working hard to make sure their new celler will be complete on time for harvest.  At the moment, we expect the harvest to start in late September, a couple week earlier than usual, thanks to the great heat we’ve experienced this year.  Here, we can see the progression of the new tasting room – more belly space at the bar for all!

Tasting Room Expansion to East

New Tasting Room Expansion

Pensee room with shades drawn

Pensee view to East Aug 20

Pensee view to North Aug 20

Merlot View to East Aug 20

Merlot Bedroom Blinds Drawn

Merlot Bedroom East View Aug 20

 

Tasting Room Walls Go Up!

Our cellar and tasting room expansion continues before our eyes!  Seen here are the walls and framing of our new tasting room.  The expansion will include an amazing oval tasting bar that will accomodate about twice the amont of tasters than our current bar – that means less waiting and improved service for you!  We have high hopes to have this expanded bar ready for the Fall season.  Make sure to join us in early November for the grand opening!  Stay tuned for more details.

Expanded tasting room, view to the South

New future patio area with brilliant East bay views

Tasting room expansion frame work

Southeast view from new tasting room window

One floor up from new tasting room

View North of parking lot

Your New Eastview Patio at Chateau Chantal

The cellar, tasting room, and outdoor tasting patio are coming along – you’ll be enjoying a beautiful east Grand Traverse Bay view from a great new patio by this Fall!  Make sure to visit with us this October to enjoy the spectacular views from the new expansion.  In the meantime, we are still open everyday for complimentary wine tasting and sales as well as B&B stays!  Cheers!

Through the East Tasting Room Window

Easy Does It! – In goes the roof of the cellar/floor of the tasting room and patio

Future East Patio View

Marie-Chantal checks out the new roof

Great Lakes Wine Fest – What a Blast!

Thanks to Michiganbythebottle.com for this great video – better make sure to get there next year if you missed it!

Blue Angel Pilots Visit Chateau Chantal

We had the pleasure of entertaining the Blue Angels and their entourage of 47 this week while the team is in Traverse City for the National Cherry Festival.  We offered them a tour and a mini-sampling of our Tapas Tour pairings – starting with a toast of Celebrate! Sparkling Wine, a 2009 Pinot Grigio with whitefish pate, a Select Harvest Riesling with blue cheese twists, and finished with a bite of dark chocolate and our cherry port styled wine, Cerise.

A grand time for us and for our guests as well!  Thanks everyone!

Jet Pilots Signing Wine Bottle

Blue Angels Sign our 2009 Pinot Grigio

Winemaker Mark Johnson Leads the Art of Food and Wine Pairing Discussion

New Cellar Walls Coming Up!

Michigan International Speedway Hosts the Great Lakes Wine Fest

Check out our own Liz Berger discussing food and wine pairing on Detroit Fox TV!  Looks so delicious!

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/mornings/great-lakes-wine-fest-20100621-mr

New construction photos

construction update 615n16