Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries, No Bus

Pick Your Own Wineries Instead of Riding a Bus Route

A flexible wine tour of Old Mission Peninsula departing from downtown Traverse City, visiting 4 wineries (or 3 plus a distillery on afternoon tours) in a luxury SUV with a live guide who customizes stops based on your preferences. You choose which wineries to visit from a roster of 9, and the guide handles the route. Wine samples are available at each stop, with flights, glasses and food purchased separately. Minimum age 21.

Step-by-step itinerary

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Tour

• Pickup in downtown Traverse City
• Visit Peninsula Cellars - the 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 and taste Ice Wine
• Visit Bowers Harbor Vineyards, the dog-friendly winery
• Stop at Bonobo Winery for wines and snacks
• Optional visit to Old Mission Distillers for drinks
• Drop off in downtown Traverse City

The experience

What separates this tour from the standard bus route is the choice itself. You arrive at pickup in downtown Traverse City and tell your guide which wineries are on your list: Peninsula Cellars, Chateau Grand Traverse, Hawthorne Vineyards, Brys Estates, Chateau Chantal, Bowers Harbor, Bonobo Winery, Mari Vineyards, or Old Mission Distillers. The guide knows the peninsula, knows the wines, and builds the day around what you actually want to taste instead of a fixed itinerary. If you're not sure, they'll steer you toward the right stops. The tour runs 4 to 5 hours and covers the peninsula's viewpoints. You'll see both the East and West arms of Grand Traverse Bay from the tasting rooms, especially from Hawthorne's high bluff and Chateau Chantal's overlook.

Transport is in a luxury SUV (Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon or Tahoe), not a party bus. Couples and small groups often share a vehicle. Groups of 6 or 7 typically get their own. The air-conditioned vehicle means you're comfortable between stops, and the guides are wine experts and local Traverse City natives. Many are University of Michigan, Michigan State or Eastern Michigan graduates. Groups receive a complimentary bottle of wine (Gamay, Secco or Gewürztraminer, depending on availability) to take home. Wine samples and splashes are part of the tour. Flights, glasses by the pour, and food like charcuterie boards or fried goat cheese are available for purchase at each winery.

The wineries themselves carry the story. Brys Estates is known for the Froze', a frozen wine drink that dominates summer afternoons on their deck. Bonobo Winery, founded by Traverse City brothers, has a Hollywood feel and serves whiskey alongside wine. Chateau Chantal sits at one of the peninsula's highest points and is the only place on Old Mission where you can buy a glass of Brandy or Malbec. They also pour Ice Wine that was served at a White House dinner. Bowers Harbor, established in 1991 as a horse farm, is nicknamed the dog winery and has a fire pit and pavilion alongside the vines. Hawthorne's tasting room overlooks both bays with no traffic or neighbors in sight. Just vineyard, woods and water.

Pickup and drop-off happen in downtown Traverse City (some hotels included). Choose between a group public tour, a join-in public tour, or a private option. The difference is who you're touring with, not where you go or how the guide works. Gratuity is 20% and goes directly to your guide.

What’s included

• Luxury SUV transport (Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon or Tahoe).
• pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City.
• live wine expert guide.
• wine samples at each stop.
• complimentary bottle of wine to take home.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• customizable winery itinerary based on your preferences.

Options for this experience

3 options

Luxury SUV option, group public tourUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30Includes pickup

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

Luxury SUV tour, private optionUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 09:30, the last at 16:30First class private wine tour 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 12

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 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 you want the SUV and guide to yourself. Choose a group or join-in public tour if you're open to sharing the vehicle and splitting the cost. The flexibility to pick your own wineries means you're not locked into a bus route. If you've heard about one winery and want to skip another, you say so and the guide adjusts.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What's the difference between the group public tour, the join-in public tour, and the private option?

The group public tour is for your party alone in a vehicle; the join-in public tour combines your group with other travelers in the same SUV; the private tour is exclusively yours. All three follow the same flexible model where you choose the wineries, and all include the complimentary bottle of wine and expert guide.

Can I really pick which wineries I want to visit?

Yes. The tour works with 9 wineries on Old Mission Peninsula (Hawthorne, Bowers Harbor, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estates, Old Mission Distillers, 2 Lads, Mari Vineyards and Bonobo), and you tell your guide which ones are on your wishlist. The guide will build the route around your choices, subject to availability, season and weather.

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

The tour includes the vehicle, the guide, pickup and drop-off in downtown Traverse City, and a complimentary bottle of wine to take home. Wine samples and splashes at each winery are part of the experience. Flights (ranging from $15–$50), individual glasses ($8–$15), food, and bottles for purchase are extra.

How many wineries do we visit?

Day tours visit 4 wineries. Sunset and afternoon tours visit 3 wineries and have the option to add Old Mission Distillers. The exact stops depend on your preferences, availability, and season.

What makes Hawthorne Vineyards worth the stop?

Hawthorne sits on a high bluff with views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays: no traffic, no neighbors, just vineyard, woods and water. The tasting room has an outdoor patio with a cozy fireplace, and the seclusion is arguably the most peaceful spot on the peninsula.

Is there food available during the tour?

Food is available for purchase at the wineries. Options vary by location but include popcorn flights, charcuterie boards, pretzel bites, fried goat cheese and snack packs. Availability depends on the winery and season.