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Chateau Chantal is a winery located on the Old Mission Penninsula, in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The chateau sits atop one of the highest points on the Old Mission Pennisula and has stunning views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays. The winery is a european style chateau and sits on a 64 acre estate. Chantal is in an official American Viticultural Area, one of only four in Michigan, a state that specializes in vinifera, hybrid and native grape varieties. The Chateau has a tasting room, eleven room Bed and Breakfast,and Hospitality Room where cooking classes and Jazz at Sunset are hosted.

History
While Chateau Chantal was not incorporated until 1991, its history began in December 1983,when Robert and Nadine Begin formed Begin Orchards and purchased 60 acres of cherry orchards on the Company's current site. Between 1984 and 1991, the Begins cleared much of this land, planted various grapes varieties and purchased additional land. In July 1990, Mr. Begin received a Special Use Permit from the Peninsula Township to operate the Chateau. In June 1991, the Company was incorporated and in 1993 construction of the Chateau was completed. July of 2003 saw the completion of an expansion which added eight B&B units to the original three, and a 2,000 sq. ft. Hospitality Room equipped for executive retreats and events. In late 2010, Chantal finished its second major exansion adding on to its cellar and tasting room. The addition adds 9,835 square foot to the cellar, a 1,784 square foot tasting room addition, and 2,730 square foot patio space located on the roof of the cellar for seasonal use.

Argentina
Chantal purchased a vineyard in Argentina in 2003 to be able to offer a bold red wine to their lineup. The vineyard is in the province of Mendoza, Argentina. The proper name of the South American Vineyard is Chateau Chantal SA and grows Malbec and Bonarda. Bonarda is a widely planted grape variety in Argentina used to make red wines. Malbec grapes are known for their robust tannins, and are thought of as being the grape of Argentina.



Robert and Nadine Begin
Robert was a Roman Catholic priest for twelve years and Nadine, a former Felician Sister. The two went their seperate ways from the serving in the church and were married in 1974. They remain devout to their faith. Mr. Begin did post graduate studies in low income housing under a one-year Ford Foundation Grant, in the late 1960s. Further, Mr. Begin studied with the Smaller Company Management Program at the Baker School of Business, Harvard University, during the early 1970s. In 1972, Robert headed a construction business in the Detroit area. As a nun, Nadine earned a Master’s Degree in Home Economics and taught for 22 years. From 1972 to 1983, Mr. Begin served as the CEO of Matvest, Inc., a construction management company with operations in nine major cities at the time of his resignation. He has been the sole proprietor of Begin Orchards since 1983. In 1991 the company was renamed Chateau Chantal after their daughter Marie-Chantal Begin. Mr. Begin is the Company's founder and Chairman of the Board. Nadine wrote the book Feed my Lambs, Feed my Sheep - The Meals and Memories of a Lifetime. This book is half cookbook half memoir. Nadine is an accomplished cook and prepares many of the meals in the B&B herself. The book outlines her life story from growing up on a farm, joining the convent, marrying Bob and starting a family, and starting a winery in Norhtern Michigan. The book is filled with photos, prose, poetry and family recipes that she picked up in her journey that began in 1932.

Chateau Chantal as a Corporation
The Company was incorporated in 1991. At the end of 2006 there were shares of common stock issued and outstanding. The Begin family, founders of the Company, hold approximately 44% of the common stock. Director Arnold Ochs holds 36%. Three equity alliance investors hold 10%. The remaining 10% is held byiinvestors who acquired shares at various times including a 2003/2004 stock offering.

Governance
The company is governed by a five to nine member Board of Directors. Directors are elected by majority vote of shareholders voting at the Company's annual meeting.

Mark B. Johnson
Johnson is the WineMaker and also the Vice President. His responsibilities include overseeing the Company's grape growing and wine production and distribution marketing,. Mr. Johnson received his B.A. degree in social work from Michigan State University in 1974. In 1983, he received a degree in Viticulture and Enology at the Federal Research Station and Institute, Geisenheim, Germany. From 1983 to 1993, Mr. Johnson was employed as a winemaker at Chateau Grand Traverse, a local winery. His employment with the Company began in 1993.

Brian Hosmer
Hosmer was hired as a WineMaker at Chateau Chantal in 2007. Hosmer was born in Flint, and is a graduate of Michigan State University in Resource Development, he switched his area of study to winemaking and viticulture after several teaching-assistant positions in France, Spain and Belgium -- where he learned to appreciate wine. Hosmer went through the two-year wine/viticulture program at MSU.



Recent Awards
Indy international Wine Competition 2007 Cabernet Franc Double- Gold, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2008 Pinot Grigio- Gold, Tasters Guild International 2007 Cabernet Franc- Gold, Tasters Guild International 2007 Pinot Noir PR- Gold, Tasters Guild International 2008 Pinot Grigio- Gold, Tasters Guild International 2007 Chardonnay PR- Gold, Tasters Guild International Tonight- Gold, Tasters Guild International 2007 Reserve Malbec- Gold, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging Twilight- Gold, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp 2007 Pontes Pinot Noir- Silver, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp 2007 Estate Pinot Noir- Silver, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp 2007 PR Chardonnay- Silver, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp Tonight- Silver, Riverside International Wine Competition 2005 PR Riesling- Silver, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition Tonight- Silver, Tasters Guild International 07 Pinot Noir PR Pontes- Silver, Tasters Guild International 2007 Trio PR- Silver, Tasters Guild International Nice Red- Silver, Tasters Guild International 2007 LH Riesling Silver, Tasters Guild International 2005 Riesling PR Silver, Tasters Guild International Twilight Silver, Los Angles International Wine & Spirits Competition Twilight Silver, Los Angles International Wine & Spirits Competition 07 Pinot Noir PR Pontes Silver, Los Angles International Wine & Spirits Competition 2008 Pinot Grigio Silver, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging 2007 Cabernet Franc Silver, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging 07 Pinot Noir PR Pontes Silver, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging 2007 Chardonnay PR Silver, Indy international Wine Competition 2008 Semi Dry Riesling Silver, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp Twilight Bronze, Finger Lakes International Wine Comp Celebrate Bronze, Riverside International Wine Competition 2007 PR Chardonnay Bronze, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2007 PR Chardonnay Bronze, Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2007 PR Trio Bronze, Tasters Guild International Naughty Bronze, Tasters Guild International Cerise Bronze, Tasters Guild International Celebrate Bronze, Los Angles International Wine & Spirits Competition 07 LH Riesling Bronze, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging 2007 Pinot Noir PR Bronze, OCC Great Lakes Wine Judging 2007 Trio PR Bronze, Indy international Wine Competition 2008 Pinot Grigio Bronze, Indy international Wine Competition Celebrate Bronze, Indy international Wine Competition 2008 Gewurztraminer SH Bronze, Indy international Wine Competition Cerise Bronze, San Francisco International Wine Competition 2008 Gewurztraminer SH Bronze,