Top Wine Country Stays in the U.S.

October 1, 2024 at 5:38 pm

Two Northern Michigan wineries have made their mark in the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice list for Best Wine Country Hotels, securing top spots! Chateau Chantal on Old Mission Peninsula claimed the #1 ranking. Black Star Farms on Leelanau Peninsula took an impressive third place.

Chateau Chantal

Earning rave reviews for its luxurious B&B accommodations, scenic vineyard views, and proximity to Grand Traverse Bay on the Old Mission Peninsula. All rooms and suites offer stunning vistas of the vineyard or bay. Amenities include cozy fireplaces, sitting areas, and private patios. USA Today also highlighted the inn’s fantastic breakfast, a key attraction for guests.

The winery offers a variety of experiences throughout the year. From live music and cellar tours to local artisan showcases and seasonal wine dinners. For group visitors, private tours, reserved spaces, and pre-poured glasses are available. Light snacks, including charcuterie boards and Mediterranean platters, can be enjoyed in the tasting room during certain times of the year. Reservations are encouraged, particularly during the busy summer season.

Black Star Farms

Ranked third, Black Star Farms offers guests not only a comfortable stay but also a full wine experience at their 160-acre Suttons Bay estate on the Leelanau Peninsula. Each stay includes daily breakfast, a nightly hospitality hour with wine and small bites, a complimentary bottle of house wine, and an exclusive barrel room tasting. The estate features a tasting room, outdoor terrace, onsite bistro, equestrian facility, and recreational trails. They also offer fun activities like goat yoga in the summer and fall wagon rides.

Black Star Farms hosts a variety of events year-round, including wine tastings, culinary events, and happy hours. The Suttons Bay location gives guests easy access to wineries on both the Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula.

Northern Michigan Gems

Despite tough competition from California wineries, these two Northern Michigan gems have proven that the region is a premier destination for wine lovers. The USA Today 10Best awards are determined by reader votes, with nominees selected by a panel of experts.

Marisa Fancy along with her husband and four children dreamt of moving “Up North”. They had vacationed for years in northern Michigan and in 1995 they finally made the move.

The family was always out exploring, but with 4 kids there was some limitations on what they could do. Marisa discovered the amazing network of trails in Northern Michigan after Steve died and she would walk for miles. The trails provided her with peace, comfort and solitude at a difficult time in her life. Later, after meeting Guy who would become her second husband, she learned to golf and found another passion she could enjoy in beautiful Northern Michigan.

Marisa has been the family historian, writer, and poet for as long as she can remember. She has always loved to write and has now found a creative outlet for it other than family. You can read her articles in Adventures in Northern Michigan, Northern Michigan History and Golf Up North.