Traverse City Wine Tour: Old Mission Peninsula in Luxury SUVs

Four wineries, two bays, one flexible itinerary

A wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City that visits 4 wineries in a luxury Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon, with an expert guide who customizes stops based on your preferences. You choose which wineries to visit from a list of 9 on the peninsula. Wine samples are included, though tastings, bottles, flights and food are available for purchase at each stop. Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Traverse City. Groups of 6 or fewer share a vehicle. Larger groups get a second vehicle. A complimentary bottle of wine is included for your group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Traverse City Old Mission 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
• Visit Bry's Estates and try the Froze' drink
• Experience Chateau Chantal with bay views
• Explore Bowers Harbor Vineyards, the doggy winery
• Visit Bonobo Winery with Hollywood feel
• Optional stop at Old Mission Distillers
• Return to downtown Traverse City

The experience

What separates this from a party bus is the guide and the route. You're not packed into a shuttle with forty people. Instead, you ride in a Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon with a small group, and the itinerary is yours to shape. Before the tour starts, tell your guide which wineries you want to visit: Hawthorne with its dual bay views, Chateau Chantal perched on the peninsula's highest point, Brys Estates known for the Froze (a frozen wine drink), Bonobo with its Hollywood-style tasting room, or any of the others on the peninsula. The guide knows the wineries, the wines, and the roads. You decide the stops. This flexibility is the core of the tour: no preset route, no "we're going here whether you want to or not."

The drive itself is part of the experience. Old Mission Peninsula splits Grand Traverse Bay into East and West arms, and the route takes you along the shoreline at times, so you see both bays during the tour. Hawthorne's tasting room sits on a high bluff with views of both arms. Chateau Chantal overlooks both bays from one of the peninsula's highest points. Between stops, the guide talks about the region's wine history (Chateau Grand Traverse was the catalyst that started Traverse City's wine industry), and points out the landscape. Wine samples are included in the tour price. At each winery, you can order flights, glasses, bottles, or join a wine club if something catches your interest. Snacks like charcuterie boards, popcorn flights, and fried goat cheese are available for purchase. A complimentary bottle of wine goes to your group at the end.

The tour runs 4 to 5 hours depending on how long you linger at each stop and which wineries you choose. Sunset and afternoon tours visit 3 wineries plus an optional distillery instead. Your guide is a wine enthusiast and local (many are University of Michigan, Michigan State, or Eastern Michigan graduates), and the company is owned and operated by a former law enforcement officer. The vehicles are air-conditioned, and groups of 6 or fewer ride together. If your group is larger, a second vehicle joins the tour. Gratuity of around 20% is customary for the guide.

What’s included

• Wine samples at each stop.
• luxury Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon with air conditioning.
• expert local guide who customizes the itinerary based on your winery preferences.
• pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City.
• complimentary bottle of wine for your group.

Options for this experience

3 options

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

Public luxury SUV option for groupsUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Includes pickup

Private option for the luxury SUV tourUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30First-class private wine tour, non-bus, in fancy SUVs, pickup is included

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 16:30

Book up to1h before

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

GroupUp to 20

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 7 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 effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the public tour if you're comfortable meeting other wine travelers and want to keep the cost down. Pick the private option if your group wants the vehicle and guide to yourselves. Either way, you're steering the itinerary. Tell the guide which wineries matter to you, and the route follows your interests instead of a fixed schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

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

The route is flexible. Tell your guide which wineries you want to visit from the 9 on Old Mission Peninsula (Hawthorne Vineyards, Bowers Harbor, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estates, Bonobo Winery, Old Mission Distillers, 2 Lads, and Mari Vineyards), and the tour stops at 4 of them based on your preferences, availability, weather and season.

What's included in the tour price?

Wine samples, the luxury vehicle, the expert guide, pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City, and a complimentary bottle of wine for your group are included. Wine tastings, flights, bottles by the glass, food, and snacks are available for purchase at each winery.

Will I be on a tour with other groups, or is it private?

The tour is semi-private. Couples and small groups of 6 or fewer typically share a vehicle with one other group. Larger groups of 6 or more usually get their own Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon. If your group exceeds the capacity of one vehicle, a second vehicle joins the tour.

What are the bay views like on this tour?

Old Mission Peninsula divides Grand Traverse Bay into East and West arms, and the drive takes you along the shoreline at times so you see both. Hawthorne Vineyards sits on a high bluff with views of both bays from the tasting room. Chateau Chantal overlooks both arms from one of the peninsula's highest points. The views are a large part of what makes this tour award-winning.

Is there food available during the tour?

Food is not included in the tour price, but each winery offers snacks and charcuterie for purchase. Brys Estates has snack packs; Bonobo offers pretzel bites, charcuterie boards, and fried goat cheese (depending on availability); other wineries have popcorn flights and other options.

What's the difference between the public and private tour options?

The public luxury SUV tour combines your group with other travelers in one vehicle. The private luxury SUV tour is for your group alone. Both visit 4 wineries, include wine samples and a complimentary bottle, and let you choose the stops. The difference is whether you share the ride.