Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: 4 Wineries, No Bus - Traverse City

Pick your wineries and skip the party bus crowd

A semi-private or private wine tour on Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City that visits up to 4 wineries in a luxury SUV with a maximum of 4 people per vehicle. You tell your guide which wineries you want to taste at, and the tour includes wine samples at each stop; food, flights, and bottles are available for purchase. The tour runs 4.5 hours and picks up from downtown Traverse City.

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour

• Pickup in downtown Traverse City
• Visit Peninsula Cellars and Old School House
• Tour Chateau Grand Traverse winery
• Stop at Mari Vineyards and hear Oak Island story
• Enjoy Hawthorne Vineyards with dual bay views
• See views of East and West Grand Traverse Bays
• Visit Bowers Harbor Vineyards, the dog-friendly winery
• Tour Bry's Estates, try the Froze' drink
• Stop at Chateau Chantal, sample Ice Wine and brandy
• Visit Bonobo Winery, sample wines and charcuterie
• Optional stop at Old Mission Distillers for drinks
• Return to downtown Traverse City

The Experience

The tour starts with pickup in downtown Traverse City and heads to Old Mission Peninsula, where the microclimate created by East and West Grand Traverse Bays extends the growing season and prevents spring frost—the reason this region became one of America's premier wine destinations. You'll ride in a full-size luxury SUV (GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, or Chevrolet Suburban) with at most one other couple if you book semi-private, or entirely alone if you book private. Your guide is a local wine expert and University of Michigan or Michigan State graduate, not a taxi driver, and will help you navigate the wineries based on what you want to taste.

The standard day tour stops at 4 wineries; afternoon or sunset tours visit 3 wineries plus an optional distillery. You can request specific wineries from the peninsula's roster—Hawthorne Vineyards sits on a high bluff with views of both bays and an outdoor fireplace; Bowers Harbor, established in 1991, is known as the dog winery and has a patio alongside the vines; Brys Estates is one of Michigan's top ten most popular wineries and serves the Froze', a frozen wine drink; Chateau Chantal overlooks both bays and is the only place on the peninsula where you can buy ice wine or brandy by the glass; Bonobo Winery has expert-level reds and whites plus a charcuterie board; Chateau Grand Traverse was the catalyst for the region's wine industry; and Old Mission Distillers offers strong pours and mixed drinks. Wine samples are included; flights, bottles, glasses, and food are available for purchase at each stop.

The drive itself is part of the tour. You'll see the shoreline of East Bay on the way to Hawthorne, West Bay views on the drive to Bowers, and both bays during the rest of the route. The air-conditioned vehicle means you're not standing in the sun between tastings, and the fixed 4.5-hour window keeps the day from running long. Minimum age is 18.

What’s included

• Luxury SUV pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City.
• wine samples at each winery.
• expert local guide who is a wine enthusiast and University of Michigan or Michigan State graduate.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• up to 4 people maximum per tour (semi-private or private options available).
• your choice of which wineries to visit from the Old Mission Peninsula roster.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private option if you want the vehicle entirely to yourself and full control over the winery selection and pacing; the semi-private option works if you're comfortable possibly sharing the SUV with one other couple and want a lower price point. Either way, you're avoiding the loud party bus and getting expert wine knowledge instead of a taxi driver.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What's the difference between the private tour and the semi-private option?

The private tour is just your group—up to 4 people in one vehicle. The semi-private tour combines up to 2 couples (4 people maximum) with possibly one other couple, so you might share the SUV with one other pair or have it to yourself depending on bookings.

Can I choose which wineries to visit, or is the route set?

You tell your guide which wineries are on your list. The tour visits 4 wineries on day tours or 3 wineries plus an optional distillery on afternoon and sunset tours, and the guide will work with your preferences based on availability, weather, and season.

What does the tour include, and what costs extra?

The tour includes wine samples at each winery, the luxury SUV, pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City, and an expert local guide. Wine flights, bottles, glasses by the glass, food, and charcuterie boards are available for purchase at the wineries.

How long does the tour take?

The standard tour runs 4.5 hours from pickup to drop-off in downtown Traverse City.

What makes Hawthorne Vineyards special compared to the other stops?

Hawthorne sits on a high bluff overlooking both East and West Grand Traverse Bays with no view of traffic or neighbors—just vineyard, woods, and water. The tasting room has an outdoor patio with bay views and a cozy outdoor fireplace.

Is there food available on the tour?

Food is not included, but several wineries offer snacks and charcuterie boards for purchase. Brys Estates has snack packs, and Bonobo Winery has an expert-level charcuterie board and hummus available depending on the day.