Chateau Grand Traverse has donated $10,000 to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to support tree planting in Michigan state parks. 

The donation was the first in a three-year partnership between the winery and DNR called "The Wine of the Great Outdoors." Chateau Grand Traverse has been selling three wines since May 2015 - called Woods, Waters and Picnic - and designating 50 percent of the net profits from sales of those varietals to the DNR. The public was invited to vote online on how donated funds from the first year should be allocated. More than 1,300 residents voted on options including improving wayfinding trail signage, improving accessibility or replacing diseased trees. An overwhelming majority voted for tree replacement.

The $10,000 donation will fund the planting of nearly 200 trees that were felled due to disease, including from oak wilt and emerald ash borer. Planted trees will "specifically be selected to fit the ecoregion and be native species for that area," according to the DNR.

“As wine grape growers, we are committed to being stewards of the land," said CGT President Eddie O’Keefe at the check presentation ceremony. "To be able to support our state parks with a significant tree-planting program, we can enhance the beauty of our natural areas for people to enjoy for many generations to come.”

Online voting has been reopened for the next year with three new recreation funding options. Choices including recycling (improving recycling options in Michigan state parks and purchasing additional recycling bins in parks that currently don't recycle), natural playgrounds (creating playgrounds that celebrate play options in nature and are designed for children of all abilities), and tree replacement (continuing to replace trees lost to disease or infestation).