Last Updated on April 6, 2022
Castle Farms has always offered a wide variety of children’s events, such as Prince & Princess Story Time, Fairy Garden make-and-take classes, and more. Though, this family-friendly Charlevoix attraction is now catering to adults! Grab a glass (or flight) of wine or cider at the Castle Farms wine cellar, 1918 Cellars.
Where is the Castle Farms Wine Cellar and how do I get there?
The Castle Farms wine cellar (named 1918 Cellars) is located at the beautiful event venue, Castle Farms, in Charlevoix, Michigan. The cute Northern Michigan venue just recently opened their wine cellar in their Queen’s Tavern event space with expanded seating in the Queen’s Courtyard (which used to be the entrance to the farm).
The easiest way to get to Castle Farms is via magic pumpkin carriage (or a personal vehicle). Unfortunately, Michigan is not the best state for public transportation, therefore, renting a car upon arrival is highly recommended.
Travel Tip:
A great resource to use when needing to rent a car is Turo – essentially Airbnb for cars. The app is super user-friendly and easy to narrow down the dates, price range, and type of car you are looking for.
If traveling from out of state, likely the cheapest airport to fly into will be Detroit – though note that there are other small airports, such as Traverse City, that may end up being more convenient if you are tight on time.
Check here to see your suggested travel route and time.
What can I get at the Castle Farms Wine Cellar (1918 Cellars)?
Wine
If it wasn’t obvious before (or maybe you’ve already had a tad too much wine), yes, you can find plenty of wine at the Castle Farms wine cellar, which offers Michigan-made wines as well as ciders.
1918 Cellars allows guests to purchase wine by the bottle to take home as well as tastings on-site in the Queen’s Tavern.
Previously an event space, Castle Farms transformed the Queen’s Tavern into a wine tasting room, with extended outdoor seating in the Queen’s Courtyard.
Upon arrival, you will have the choice of either a glass of wine, a tasting (which includes five 1-ounce pours), or a flight (which includes five 3-ounce pours).
I would suggest doing the tasting if it is just one taster. If you are trying to share the tasting between two people (or if you’re a little more thirsty) the flight is the way to go – each person would essentially get 1.5-ounces of each of the five wines.
1918 Cellars offers a variety of sparkling wine, white wine, red wine, and hard ciders. You can select any of these for your tasting.
Travel Tip:
Grab a couple bottles of wine to gift to families and friends when you get home (Michigan wine is difficult to find out-of-state).
Food + Souvenirs
What’s a wine cellar without some tasty treats? Castle Farms wine cellar offers a variety of grab-and-go options for you to accompany your tasting (or to just take for the road). I suggest getting the chips and hummus or salsa to share with the table!
In addition to these grab-and-go options, 1918 Cellars also has a selection of local, Michigan-made goods for sale, such as coffee, cherry products, and more!
What else is there to do around the Castle Farms Wine Cellar?
You’re in luck, there’s tons to do before or after your trip to the 1918 Cellars.
Tour Castle Farms
If you haven’t done so already, make sure you set aside some time to tour the grounds of Castle Farms. The property is abundant in history and beauty – you’ll definitely want to remember to bring your camera. You can take a guided or self-guided tour of the grounds.
Be sure to check the event schedule prior to your visit. Sometimes Castle Farms closes early due to previously scheduled events or weddings.
Military Spouse Tip:
Castle Farms offers a military discount! You will have to ask in the gift shop when you arrive.
Stop in Downtown Charlevoix
Don’t miss stopping by the charming Downtown Charlevoix on your visit to the Castle Farms Wine Cellar. Less than 10 minutes away, you’ll find plenty of shopping, restaurants, sweet treats, breathtaking views, and so much more!
Make sure you wait around to see the bridge go up to allow the boats to pass through the canal.
Check out the Mushroom Houses
Built by Earl Young, these Mushroom Houses are super cool and unique to the area. You can do a self-guided tour or see them up-close with some background history on a guided Mushroom House Tour.
Catch a Sunset down by the Pier
If you’re looking for a picture-perfect Pure Michigan sunset, this is the spot. Walk down the pier to the lighthouse or take a sunset cruise to watch the day come to a close over Lake Michigan.
Walk and gawk
Take a walk along Belvedere Avenue and Ferry Avenue to gawk at the gorgeous houses overlooking Round Lake and Lake Charlevoix (seriously, some of them have separate garages for their yachts!). Start off at Belvedere Avenue (which is where you’ll also find John Cross Fisheries and Grey Gables), and make your way along Ferry Avenue over to Ferry Beach, where you can let the kiddos play, watch the boats, or have a picnic.
Where to Stay when visiting Charlevoix
Looking for a staycation or getaway? At Drift Destinations, we offer up-to-date information on the best hotels and deals in the area for your specific dates.
As travel advisors, we can even book your stay for you (hint: sometimes you may receive additional perks for booking through us!).
Finding a better price online than what we quoted you? We’ll do our best to match it!
Help a small business and contact us for all of your travel booking needs!
Military Bases Nearby:
Although there are not many military bases in Michigan, this is a fantastic spot to get away with your spouse and kids on leave.
With Detroit Metropolitan Airport being a larger hub, many flights tend to go through Detroit to get to South Korea. Consider stopping in Michigan for a vacation before you PCS overseas.
Some nearby bases include:
- Selfridge ANGB Air Force Base in Harrison, MI
- Detroit Arsenal Army Base in Warren, MI
- ISC Cleveland Coast Guard Base in Cleveland, OH
- Grissom Air Reserve Base Air Force in Kokomo, IN
- and more…
*This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase an item through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. You can read the full disclaimer here.
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