group had enough time for a shortened version of the Chateau's tapas tastings. My favorite duo was similar to that at Black Star Farms: a cherry dessert wine called Cerise served with a chocolate truffle. The combination must be heaven-inspired.

From Chateau Chantal, we took a short drive to nearby 2 Lads Winery (G), our final stop of the day. The 10,500-square-foot winery is housed in a simplistic, modern building that soars above the landscape. One wall of floor-to-ceiling glass yields panoramic views of the East Bay. The first of the winery's 22 acres of vineyards were planted in 1999.

2 Lads Winery specializes in cool-climate reds and sparkling wines with a few whites thrown in for variety. The Lads bill their wines as bold, modern, and true--just like their fun and untraditional bottles (one was an elongated polka-dot glass container).

So who are these two lads? Winemaker Cornel Olivier hails from South Africa, where he grew up in the beautiful Stellenbosch wine region learning the business on a small family farm. Business partner Chris Baldyga is a Traverse City boy. With his mother working at a local winery for most of his life, he too grew up learning farming and winemaking.

Just down the road from 2 Lads Winery is the Mission Point Lighthouse. A visit there would make for a nice extension to a tank-of-gas adventure like ours. But, filled with good wine, some grand pie, and now even more chocolate, we were all ready to call it a day. We'd done about 60 miles round trip--with many more wineries in the region awaiting my next visit.

And one of the best things about a winter winery tour in this cold part of the country?! Sampling wine keeps you warm from the inside out.