Chateau Chantal

Dividing Lake Michigan's Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula is the kind of place to go when you want to get away from the grind of daily life. Although it's home to only seven wineries, it's an official American Viticultural Area. A long weekend here means you'll have enough time to get to know each winery well. We suggest you begin with Chateau Chantal, an Old World-style winery on a 65-acre estate. Along with an eleven-room bed-and-breakfast, the grounds are home to a cooking school, where demonstration and hands-on classes include the opportunity to learn the fine art of pairing food and wine. Touring local wineries is a pleasant way to pass the time, especially when it is followed by a glass of house wine on the château's patio, overlooking the vines, cherry orchards and bay.