Chateau Grand Traverse facts for kids
Chateau Grand Traverse is a famous Michigan winery. It is located on the Old Mission Peninsula AVA near Traverse City. The winery was started by Edward O’Keefe Jr.. It is special because it was the first to plant many Vitis vinifera grapes (these are the types of grapes used for most well-known wines) in Michigan on a large scale.
Edward O'Keefe and Chateau Grand Traverse also helped make the Old Mission Peninsula a recognized American Viticultural Area (a special wine-growing region) in the 1980s. At that time, Chateau Grand Traverse was the only commercial winery there. In 1980, the winery made Michigan's first commercial ice wine. Their 1987 vintage (year's harvest) of Chateau Grand Traverse Johannisberg Riesling Ice Wine was even served at the presidential inauguration of George H. W. Bush.
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History of Chateau Grand Traverse
Edward O'Keefe Jr.'s Journey
Edward O’Keefe, Jr., who founded Chateau Grand Traverse, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1931. He was a talented gymnast and even tried out for the 1952 Olympic team. His gymnastics career ended after an injury.
During the Korean War, O'Keefe served as a captain in the military. He was stationed in France and Germany. This gave him a chance to learn about the wonderful wines from those countries. After the war, he finished his studies and later worked for the U.S. Treasury Department.
Starting the Winery
In 1973, O'Keefe built a home in Acme Township in Grand Traverse County. He dreamed of starting a vineyard and winery that could make wines as good as those he tasted in Europe.
At that time, most Michigan wineries were in the southwestern part of the state. They mainly used different types of grapes, like French-American hybrids or native American labrusca grapes. O'Keefe wanted to grow Vitis vinifera grapes on the Old Mission Peninsula. He knew the peninsula was located along the 45th parallel north. This imaginary line crosses through many of the world's most famous wine regions.
However, many experts in Michigan did not think his plan would work. They were skeptical about growing Vitis vinifera grapes in that area.
Expert Advice and First Plantings
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To get help, O'Keefe talked to German winemaker Karl Werner. Werner connected him with Helmut Becker, a top grape expert from Germany. Becker visited Michigan and saw that O'Keefe's land had good conditions for grapes. He gave O'Keefe advice on how to improve the land. This included making sure air could drain properly to prevent frost damage. He also suggested creating a southwest slope to get more sunlight on the vines.
O'Keefe followed Becker's advice. By 1974, he was planting Vitis vinifera vines. These were German types of grapes that had been grafted (joined together) in Canada. His first plantings included 55 acres (about 22 hectares) of Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot noir, and Merlot. The Merlot was planted almost by accident, but it grew well and was still producing grapes years later.
Early Success and Recognition
Chateau Grand Traverse became the first official winery in northern Michigan on May 1, 1976. At first, O'Keefe sold fruit wines made from apples and cherries. He did this until his vinifera grape vines were ready to produce wine. The winery used a different label, O’Keefe Cellars, for these fruit wines and for less expensive wines made from grapes bought from other parts of the state. This label was stopped in 1985.
In the 1980s, Chateau Grand Traverse was the only commercial winery on the peninsula. It played a big part in getting the Old Mission Peninsula recognized as a special wine region. In 1980, the winery made Michigan's first commercial ice wine. The 1987 Chateau Grand Traverse Johannisberg Riesling Ice Wine was famously served at the presidential inauguration of George H. W. Bush. By 2009, Chateau Grand Traverse was making over 80,000 cases of wine each year. This made it one of Michigan's largest wine producers.
Vineyard Design
The vineyards at Chateau Grand Traverse were designed like those in the German wine regions of the Rhine. They planted more vines closer together than was common in the U.S. at the time. They used a special seven-wire parallel trellising system to support the vines.
Grapes and Wines Produced
Chateau Grand Traverse mainly focuses on Riesling grapes. Many of the winemakers who have worked there come from famous German wine-making families. These families are from the Mosel and Pfalz regions. The O'Keefes have even developed their own special clone (a plant grown from a cutting of another plant) of Riesling. This clone has adapted well to the climate of northern Michigan.
Today, the winery makes more than nine different types of Riesling wines. These range from dry wines to sweet botrytized wines (made from grapes affected by a special mold). They also make ice wines. These are made from grapes that are left on the vine to freeze naturally before they are picked.
Chateau Grand Traverse also produces wine from other vinifera grapes. These include Chardonnay, Gamay, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Muscat, Pinot noir, Pinot blanc, and Pinot gris.
