Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: 3 Wineries, No Party Bus

★★★★★★★★★★ 5.00 (12 reviews)

Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/7

Duration3h–4h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Ride in an air-conditioned SUV past bay views while tasting wines at three Old Mission wineries.

A wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula departing from downtown Traverse City in a luxury SUV—not a party bus—with an expert guide, three winery stops, and views of Grand Traverse Bay's East and West arms. The vehicle seats small groups or couples, and wine samples are included at each stop. Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Traverse City; the tour runs 3 to 4 hours, with afternoon and sunset departures available depending on the season. You choose between a shared public tour, a private SUV for your group, or joining a public tour in a luxury vehicle.

3h–4h

Step-by-step itinerary

Afternoon wine tour and scenic views

Pickup in downtown Traverse City
Drive along East Bay shoreline
Visit Mari Winery and sample wines
Visit Chateau Grand Traverse and sample wines
Drive along West Bay shoreline
Visit Bonobo Winery for wine and food
Drop off at favorite brewery, distillery, or food spot

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup in downtown Traverse City and heads straight to Old Mission Peninsula, the narrow strip of land that divides Grand Traverse Bay into its East and West arms. On the drive out, you'll see the shoreline of the East Bay; on the way back, the West Bay opens up. The views are a major part of the tour—you're driven right along the water at times, and the bay stays visible through most of the afternoon.

Three wineries are the standard stops. Bonobo Winery is usually the finale, a place where the tour guide notes you'll feel like a movie star. The wines there run to expert-level reds like the BDX and a top-shelf Pinot Noir, plus bubbly Blanc de Blancs and chardonnays for white drinkers. Bonobo is the only winery on the peninsula where tour guests can sample whiskey, and they make a frozen lavender vodka lemonade if you want something cold. The other two stops rotate—Mari and Chateau Grand Traverse are the usual picks for afternoon tours, though Hawthorne, Peninsula Cellars, Old Mission Distillers and Brys Estates are options too. Wine samples and splashes are included; flights, bottles, glasses and food (pretzel bites, charcuterie, fried goat cheese when available) cost extra.

The vehicle is a luxury SUV—GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, with Cadillac Escalade coming soon—with ice-cold air conditioning. Small groups and couples usually ride together in the shared public option; groups of six or seven typically get their own vehicle. The guides are wine enthusiasts and experts, many of them University of Michigan, Michigan State or Eastern Michigan graduates who know Traverse City well. After the wineries, the tour can drop you at a brewery, distillery or food spot in downtown Traverse City if you want to keep the day going. Sunset times shift with the season and weather, so check with the guides about timing if you're booking a sunset departure.

What’s included

Wine samples at three Old Mission Peninsula wineries.
expert wine guide who knows the region.
luxury SUV with air conditioning (GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban, or Cadillac Escalade).
pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City at select locations.
views of Grand Traverse Bay's East and West arms during the drive.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book the shared public tour if you're a couple or small group and want to split the cost with other wine drinkers; choose the private SUV option if your group of six or more wants the vehicle to yourselves and the flexibility to linger at a winery or adjust the stops. The afternoon departure works if you want three wineries without waiting for sunset; the sunset timing is worth it if you want to end the day on the water with the light changing over the bay.