Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour Traverse City: Luxury SUV, No Bus

Four wineries, two bay views, one luxury SUV, no bus crowds.

A wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula departing from Traverse City in a private luxury SUV (Tahoe, Escalade or Yukon) for groups up to four, with tastings at four wineries, a local guide, hotel pickup and a complimentary bottle included. You choose which wineries to visit from the peninsula's roster (Peninsula Cellars, Chateau Grand Traverse, Mari Vineyards, Hawthorne, Bry's Estates, Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor, Bonobo and Old Mission Distillers), or let the guide recommend based on what you drink. The tour runs four to five hours and includes travel time between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour

• Pick up from downtown Traverse City
• Visit Peninsula Cellars - the Old School House
• Tour Chateau Grand Traverse winery
• Explore Mari Vineyards and hear Oak Island story
• Enjoy Hawthorne Vineyards with dual bay views
• Stop at Bry's Estates winery
• Visit Chateau Chantal overlooking both bays
• Experience Bowers Harbor Vineyards
• Tour Bonobo Winery and sample wines and whiskey
• Visit Old Mission Distillers for drinks and wine
• Return to downtown Traverse City

The experience

You get picked up from your hotel in downtown Traverse City and driven to Old Mission Peninsula in a cherry-red Chevrolet Tahoe RST or comparable luxury SUV, not a party bus. The guide is a local wine expert, often a University of Michigan graduate or someone from a Michigan State school, who knows the peninsula's wineries and can steer you toward the reds, whites or something unexpected depending on what you're after. Wine samples are part of the tour. Flights, bottles and food are extra, with tastings ranging from twelve to fifty dollars if you want to go deeper.

The stops themselves matter as much as the wine. Hawthorne Vineyards sits on a high bluff with views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays from the tasting room: no traffic, no neighbors, just vineyard and water. Bonobo has the only whiskey pour on the peninsula and a frozen lavender-vodka drink if wine isn't the move that day. Mari Vineyards has the Curse of Oak Island story attached to it. Chateau Chantal overlooks both bays. The drive between tastings is built into the four- to five-hour window, and you'll see the shoreline at times, especially on the route to Hawthorne where the East Bay comes into view.

A complimentary bottle comes home with you. The tour works as a join-in shared SUV with other groups, a private booking for your group alone, or a semi-private option depending on which you choose at checkout. Minimum age is twenty-one to participate.

What’s included

• Wine tastings at four wineries of your choice.
• complimentary bottle to take home.
• luxury SUV transportation for groups up to four.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from downtown Traverse City.
• local wine expert guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Options for this experience

3 options

Luxury SUV option for groups, open to the publicUp to 15 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Includes pickup

Luxury SUV option: private tourUp to 15 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Pickup is included with the luxury SUV

Public luxury SUV tour you can joinUp to 5 people · Guide in English · 8 departure times: the first at 10:30, the last at 16:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Last departure this season: 30 Dec

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 and older) · Under 21: can't be booked

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private SUV option if your group wants to set the itinerary and pace without other parties. The shared luxury SUV works if you're open to meeting other wine travelers and want a lower price point. Either way, you're in a small vehicle with a knowledgeable local guide, not on a party bus with a crowd.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can I pick which wineries we visit on Old Mission Peninsula, or is the route set?

You tell the guide where you want to go, and the tour visits four of your choices from the peninsula's nine main wineries: Peninsula Cellars, Chateau Grand Traverse, Mari Vineyards, Hawthorne, Bry's Estates, Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor, Bonobo and Old Mission Distillers. If you're not sure which ones suit you, the guide will recommend based on what you drink.

What's included in the wine tour price, and what costs extra?

Wine tastings and samples are included, plus hotel pickup from downtown Traverse City, the luxury SUV ride, travel time between wineries, a local guide, and a complimentary bottle to take home. Flights, individual glasses, bottles and food like charcuterie boards or popcorn flights are available for extra cost, ranging from twelve to fifty dollars depending on what you order.

How long does the tour take, and does that include driving time between wineries?

The tour runs four to five hours total, and that time already includes the drive from Traverse City to Old Mission Peninsula and between each winery stop.

What kind of vehicle will we be in?

You'll ride in a luxury SUV (a cherry-red Chevrolet Tahoe RST or comparable Cadillac Escalade or Tahoe) not a party bus. The vehicle holds up to four guests and is air-conditioned.

What are the views like on this tour?

Grand Traverse Bay is split into East and West arms by Old Mission Peninsula, and the tour is built around seeing both. On the drive to Hawthorne Vineyards you'll see the East Bay shoreline. On the way to Bowers you'll see the West Bay. Hawthorne's tasting room itself sits on a high bluff overlooking both bays with no traffic or neighbors in sight. Just vineyard, woods and water.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not a wine expert?

Yes. The guide is a wine enthusiast and expert who will recommend wines based on what you like to drink, so you don't need to know anything going in. The tour is flexible and designed to match your taste.