Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour: Cadillac Escalade, 4 Wineries

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Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/16

Duration4h 30m

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Propose at a vineyard overlooking both bays, then celebrate with the winery crowd cheering you on.

A private Cadillac Escalade wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula visits four wineries in a morning or afternoon, with a local guide, wine tastings and complimentary champagne. The tour departs from downtown Traverse City and returns there; you choose which wineries to visit or let the guide recommend based on what you're after. Groups run 2–4 or 5–6 people, and the operator coordinates proposal moments at venues like Hawthorne Vineyards (dual bay views and an outdoor fireplace) or Bonobo Winery (where the staff celebrates with applause). Wine flights, glasses, bottles and food are available for purchase at each stop.

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour

Pickup in Downtown Traverse City
Visit Peninsula Cellars - Old School House
Tour Chateau Grand Traverse winery
Explore Mari Vineyards and hear Oak Island story
Wine tasting at Hawthorne Vineyards with bay views
Stop at Bry's Estates winery
Visit Chateau Chantal overlooking both bays
Experience Bowers Harbor Vineyards
Tour Bonobo Winery and celebrate with champagne
Visit Old Mission Distillers for drinks and wine
Drop off at local hotels or motels

The Experience

Old Mission Peninsula sits between two arms of Grand Traverse Bay, and the wineries here have become the backbone of Traverse City's wine region. The tour picks you up in downtown Traverse City and moves through the peninsula on a fixed route—four stops, roughly 4.5 hours total—but you're not locked into a preset itinerary. Tell your guide which wineries appeal to you, or describe what you're looking for (a secluded spot, the best reds, a place with outdoor seating) and they'll steer toward the right venues. The Cadillac Escalade is air-conditioned, holds your group alone, and the driver is a local who knows the region.

Each winery has its own character. Hawthorne Vineyards sits on a high bluff with views of both bays from the tasting room and an outdoor patio with a fireplace—a natural spot if you're planning to propose. Bonobo Winery, founded by two Traverse City brothers, has a Hollywood feel and is the only place on the peninsula where you can sample whiskey alongside wine; after you pop the question, the staff brings out champagne and the deck crowd applauds. Chateau Chantal overlooks both bays. Bowers Harbor is known as the doggy winery. At each stop, you taste wines—reds like Merlot and Pinot Noir, whites like Auxerrois and Chardonnay—and can order flights, glasses, bottles or charcuterie boards. The tour includes a complimentary bottle of champagne, handed to you by the owner.

The guides are wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs, mostly graduates of Michigan universities. They're trained to recommend wines that match what you actually drink, not what the menu pushes. If you've bought wine during the tour, you can leave it at your hotel and pick it up the next day. Sunset tours typically visit three wineries plus Old Mission Distillery, where the pours are strong and the mixed drinks are the draw; day tours stick to four wineries. The operator can coordinate with the wineries in advance if you're marking a special occasion.

What’s included

Wine tastings at four wineries.
luxury Cadillac Escalade transportation.
local expert guide.
pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City.
complimentary bottle of champagne.
wine flights, glasses, bottles and food available for purchase at each stop.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book the 2–4 person option if you're proposing or celebrating with a partner or small group and want the moment to feel intimate; the 5–6 person option works for a friend group or family gathering where the shared experience and the guide's recommendations matter more than privacy. Either way, you're not on a party bus—the Escalade holds only your group, the guide is a local wine expert, and the route bends to what you actually want to taste.