Chateau Aeronautique Winery

Origin Story

Flying for Northwest Airlines, I visited wineries across the U.S. and Europe, schlepping wine home every trip. I bought my dream home — house and hangar on a grass runway — and was building a wine cellar when Northwest went bankrupt. Facing pay cuts, my copilot suggested I make my own wine. A winery-owning friend jumped in to help and, seeing my hangar, suggested I start a winery. I abandoned my Plan B of law school — and here we are! A passion became a purpose, proving that life’s detours can make for an extraordinary journey.

How They Started

Although for years I loved visiting wineries, it never occurred to me to make wine — I knew nothing about it. Intrigued, I stumbled upon a great wine-making guide at my local library. The process sounded fun, but what surprised me most were the parallels to flying: stay vigilant, never let down your guard. Inspired, I bought 100 pounds of Pinot Noir grapes and made my first wine — 30 bottles. It turned out great! So, I licensed my Hangar as a Winery, leveraged wine-making equipment, and bought ten tons of grapes — and made 8,000 bottles of wine.

Mission Statement

At Chateau Aeronautique Winery, our mission is to craft world-class wines from Michigan’s finest grapes and serve them in a beautiful, welcoming setting where friendships take flight. We are dedicated to creating exceptional wines that reflect both our passion and the unique terroir of our region. Whether gathered in our vineyard, savoring the aromatic mystique of the cellar, raising a glass in our tasting rooms, or sharing a bottle in our open-air Biergarten, we strive to provide an unforgettable experience—where every pour is shared among friends, every moment is filled with joy, laughter flows as freely as the wine, and every visit feels like a journey worth taking.

Top 3 Wines

This winery is known for:

Aviatrix Crimson

Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Franc

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Syrah

Pinot Noir