Traverse City Wine Guide

Did you know that Michigan is home to several wineries? It’s true! Most people don’t think of Michigan as a wine destination, but there are several vineyards in the state.

Many of the vineyards are near Traverse City on one of two peninsulas: Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula. These two peninsulas are home to some of the best wineries in Traverse City that are producing everything from dry to sweet wines.

You could spend several days exploring the wineries in this region, but I’d personally recommend a minimum of 2 days. If you have a full two days dedicated to wine tasting, you will be able to see both peninsulas without feeling rushed.

In this post, you’ll find information about several of the wineries we visited plus some useful tips if you’re visiting the area. Planning a trip like this can be a little confusing, so this post should give you a good idea of what wineries you might like to visit during your trip to Traverse City. Cheers!

Winery Overview

Brys Estate

• Location: Old Mission Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $15 for 5 wines
• Food: Yes (not included).

Brys Estate is an amazing winery to visit if you want an incredible view while tasting. Their upper deck has a view of the vineyard and there’s a great spot to take photos. The wines we tasted at Brys Estate were delicious and we ended up liking the red wines the most. The Cabernet Franc was by far my favorite. They also offer frosé by the glass!

Bowers Harbor

• Location: Old Mission Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $12-$30 depending on flight (4 wines per flight)
• Food: They had a few snacks available for purchase (not included with tasting).

Bowers Harbor offers a wide variety of tasting flights plus wines and ciders by the glass. I opted for their “First Class Flight” which had a mix of both whites, reds and rosé wines. One thing I loved about this winery is that we were able to sit at a table in the middle of the vineyard for our tasting experience. It was so nice and private. It’s the perfect place to relax for an afternoon and take a few photos.

Bonobo

• Location: Old Mission Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: No tastings. They have wines by the glass and bottle. Glass prices start at $9.
• Food: Small plates are offered on weekends.

We stopped by Bonobo for a quick glass of wine, and it was very relaxing. They weren’t offering tastings when we visited, but you can order wines by glass or bottle. There is plenty of space to sit outside near the vineyards or on their upper terrace. You can also take a little stroll amongst the vines when you visit.

Shady Lane Cellars

• Location: Leelanau Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $5 for 3 wines
• Food: Yes (not included).

Shady Lanes is a beautiful winery located on the Leelanau Peninsula. You can do a tasting of three wines for only $5 or order wines by the glass. Since it was early September, we were able to sit outside by the fire while we sipped on some wine. It was so cozy! They have plenty of outdoor seating for both small and large parties.

Mawby

• Location: Leelanau Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $12 for 3 wines
• Food: Yes (not included).

Mawby was, by far, my FAVORITE wine tasting of the entire trip. This is where we learned the most and got the most information. Mawby was founded in 1973 and is known for their sparkling wines. If you want bubbles, this is the place to go! Also, if you can, be sure to book their Table Four2 Experience. This is a private wine and food pairing experience in the vineyard, and it’s one of the best winery experiences I’ve ever had. Be sure to put this place on your list!

Aurora

• Location: Leelanau Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $10 for 5 wines ($25 for reserve experience w/ charcuterie)
• Food: Our tasting came with a charcuterie board, but it doesn’t look like they offer that experience after September 5th.

Aurora is a great stop if you’re looking for a wide variety of wines to taste. You can pick 5 different wines to taste, but there were over 20 wines on the menu (plus ciders). There really is something for everyone at Aurora. Also, their winery is gorgeous and the views are incredible.

Black Star Farms

• Location: Leelanau Peninsula
• Tasting Cost: $9 for 3 wines
• Food: They have food at the Hearth & Vine Café, which is located on their property directly across from the winery.

Black Star Farms is a gorgeous 160-acre estate on the Leelanau Peninsula. They have have an Inn where you can stay, a restaurant, a winery, hiking trails and an equestrian center. They really do have it all! We stopped in for a quick wine tasting on their terrace patio. They also have a barrel room for wine club members and guests staying at the Inn. This would be a great stop if you want to do a wine tasting and grab lunch at their restaurant.

Map

Tips and Tricks

• I’d recommend 3-4 wineries per day (at most), especially if you’re driving. It can get to be a little too much beyond that.
• If you’re with a bigger group, I’d look into a transportation service or private car.
• Many, if not all, of the wineries offer wines by the glass if you prefer that over a tasting flight.
• The cost of a wine tasting was between $5-$20 per person, and the tasting usually consisted of 3-5 wines of your choosing.
• Most wineries let us choose what we wanted as part of our tasting flight. For example, if there were 20 different wines on the menu, you could choose whatever 5 wines you wanted.
• I’d recommend spending one day on each peninsula versus driving back and forth between the two. Spend one day tasting in Old Mission and one day tasting in Leelanau.
• Almost every winery offers wines by the glass or bottle. This might be a good option if you’re with a bigger group.
• Most wineries had some sort of food option or charcuterie board. If they don’t offer food, you could always call ahead to see if you could bring a picnic of your own.

Itinerary

It can be quite challenging and time consuming to plan a wine tasting trip, so I’ve included the PERFECT two day itinerary (available to download below). This itinerary would be ideal for someone who is visiting Traverse City for the first time and/or has never been wine tasting in Traverse City.

What’s Inside?

This PDF features a FULL TWO DAY ITINERARY of wine tasting in Traverse City, Michigan. Each day is broken down by the hour and includes four wine tastings per day, plus dinner recommendations. You will also find links to ALL of the winery’s websites in this guide. This itinerary will give you everything you need to have the best trip ever!

• Price: $5
• Format: PDF

THIS ITINERARY WAS CREATED IN SEPTEMBER 2020. ALL SALES ARE FINAL.

Other Resources

• Traverse City Website
• Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail
• Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail
• Michigan Wineries and Vineyards

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