Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries in a Luxury SUV, Not a Bus

Four wineries, bay views on both sides, and a guide who actually knows the wine

A wine tour of Traverse City's Old Mission Peninsula visiting 4 wineries in a luxury SUV (private or join-in public option) with a local expert guide and complimentary bottle included. You tell the guide which wineries you want to visit or let them match you to the right wines for your taste. The vehicle is air-conditioned, the pace is yours, and the tour runs 4 to 5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour

• Depart from Traverse City
• Visit Peninsula Cellars and Old School House
• Tour Chateau Grand Traverse winery
• Stop at Hawthorne Vineyards with bay views
• Visit Bowers Harbor Vineyards, the doggy winery
• Optional visit to Old Mission Distillers
• Enjoy scenic views of East and West Grand Traverse Bays

The experience

You arrive in Traverse City and want to taste the wines that made this region famous without renting a car or sitting on a party bus. This tour picks you up and drives you to four wineries on Old Mission Peninsula in a climate-controlled luxury SUV (a GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban or Cadillac Escalade) with a local guide who knows the region's wine story. The guide is a wine enthusiast or expert, often a University of Michigan or Michigan State graduate, and they'll match you to wines you actually want to drink instead of pushing a fixed route. If you have favorite wineries in mind, tell them. If you don't, they'll find the ones that fit your palate.

The drive itself is half the tour. On the way to Hawthorne Vineyards you see the East Bay shoreline. On the way to Bowers you see the West Bay. The Old Mission Peninsula splits Grand Traverse Bay into two arms, and the tour uses that geography to show you both. You'll visit wineries like Chateau Grand Traverse, which started Traverse City's wine region, Bowers Harbor (known as the doggy winery), Brys Estates (one of Michigan's top 10), and Chateau Chantal, which overlooks both bays. The newer stops (Bonobo Winery and Old Mission Distillers) round out the selection. Wine samples are included. Bottles, flights and food are extra. Every reservation comes with a complimentary bottle to take home.

You choose private or join-in public. Private tours (groups of 1–7) get their own vehicle and can request specific wineries. Public join-in tours combine couples and small groups in the same SUV, keeping the cost down while keeping the experience upscale: no party buses, no rushed schedules. Bookings over 6 people run private. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours depending on the season and which wineries are open. Pickup is included, and the guides speak English and Spanish.

What’s included

• Visits to 4 wineries on Old Mission Peninsula (you choose or the guide recommends).
• wine samples at each stop.
• complimentary bottle of wine to take home.
• luxury SUV transportation (GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban or Cadillac Escalade).
• local expert guide fluent in English and Spanish.
• pickup included.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Options for this experience

4 options

Shared luxury SUV tour, open to public bookingGuide in English · 14 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:00Pickup is included

Luxury SUV tour, private optionGuide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Pickup is included

Public luxury SUV option, group tourGuide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Pickup is included

Public tour with 3 stops for wine and beerGuide in English or Spanish · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Three-winery tour of the Old Mission Peninsula, with drop-off at a brewery or distillery of your choice, for 4 stops in total! First class: visit 3 of Traverse City's most popular wineries, then be dropped off downtown at your favorite beer or food spot. Duration: 4 hours. You choose the route, unless otherwise requested. Wineries include Mari, Bonobo and Chateau Grand Traverse. The 3-stop wine and beer route ends with beer downtown in Traverse City. Luxury SUV: skip the old summer camp bus and travel VIP in one of our luxury SUVs or limousines. Pickup is included.

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

Information

Lasts 4h–5h, runs every day, 15 start times, from US$ 69 per person, with a live guide in English and Spanish and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to Friday: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00 and 16:30Saturday: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 15:30, 16:00 and 16:30Sunday: 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30 and 15:00

GroupUp to 24

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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.

Book up toStart time

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

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Book the private option if your group wants to request specific wineries and have the vehicle to yourselves. The public join-in option works for couples and small groups who want the same expert guide and luxury SUV at a lower price by sharing the ride with other wine tourists.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can I choose which wineries I visit on the Traverse City wine tour?

Yes. Tell your guide which wineries are on your wish list and they'll build the route around your preferences, or they'll recommend four based on your taste if you're not sure what you want to try.

What's the difference between the private and public join-in options for this tour?

Private tours are just your group in one vehicle and you can request specific wineries. Public join-in tours combine multiple small groups and couples in the same SUV at the same price, so you share the ride but not the cost of a private vehicle.

Is the wine tour vehicle air-conditioned?

Yes. The tour uses luxury SUVs (GMC Yukon, Chevrolet Suburban or Cadillac Escalade) all with air conditioning, which sets this tour apart from older school buses that don't have cooling.

What does the Traverse City wine tour include?

The tour includes visits to 4 wineries, wine samples at each stop, a complimentary bottle of wine to take home, and a local expert guide. Wine flights, bottles, glasses and food are available for purchase at the wineries.

How long is the Old Mission Peninsula wine tour?

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours depending on the season, which wineries are open, and how long you spend at each stop.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the tour?

No. Pickup is included with your reservation, so the guide meets you and handles all the driving between wineries.