Our Luxurious Winery Tours Will Dazzle You
Sip amazing wines in comfort and style on our luxurious tours of wineries in Traverse City and on Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula in northern Michigan.
You’ll travel through spectacular rolling countryside alongside Lake Michigan in one of our elegant Mercedes-Benz high-top shuttles. They’re equipped with enormous windows so you don’t miss a thing.
We offer two types of winery tours:
- On a private group tour, you and your friends get to choose from among nearly 30 wineries that we visit to create an unforgettable experience. We describe each of them below, and we’ll be happy to help you choose great wineries based on your interests.
- On public join-in tours, individuals, couples, and small groups join with others to visit wineries that we choose.
Have a Blast on a Private Winery Tour
Our private group winery tours are perfect for bachelor and bachelorette parties, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties – or any other time you and your friends or family get together.
Depending on which wineries you choose, you’ll get to sip Auxerrois, Blaufrankisch, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Lemberger, Marsanne, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, and Vignoles, among others. Many wineries also offer hard ciders.
Our friendly, knowledgeable chauffeur/guides will pick up your group at most locations, from downtown Traverse City to hotels along the bay, and deliver you back there at the tour’s end. We provide chilled bottled water in our vehicle and give you a Grand Traverse Tours cloth wine tote as a complimentary souvenir.
We offer wine tours seven days a week, 361 days per year. Reserve your tour as soon as possible because our schedule fills up fast!
Pricing for private group tours depends on which vehicle you choose and the length of your tour. Visit the page about our fleet for details.
The price of your tour does not include:
- Tasting fees of $5-10 per winery that most charge for multiple samples. Some tasting fees include a souvenir glass or discounts on purchases of bottles of wine.
- A driver gratuity, which is greatly appreciated. The industry standard is 20%.
Be sure to bring an ID on your tour, since most wineries check them no matter your age.
Check out the winery descriptions below, then call Grand Traverse Tours at 231-947-7433 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll make sure your wine tour is Grand!
Old Mission Peninsula Wineries We Visit
Mari Vineyards which opened in May 2016, grows 20 grape varietals – from Cabernet Sauvignon to Teroldego. Reality TV star Marty Lagina founded the winery, which offers panoramic views of East Grand Traverse Bay.
Bonobo Winery is owned by Carter Oosterhouse and Amy Smart Oosterhouse, along with Carter’s brother and his wife. It specializes in Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling, among other wines.
Bowers Harbor Vineyards, established in 1991, overlooks West Grand Traverse Bay. Its top varietals include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Riesling.
Brys Estate Vineyard was named one of the top 20 most admired wine tasting rooms in the United States by Vineyard & Winery Management, the largest wine trade publication in North America. It has eight varietals planted. The red grapes are Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Pinot Noir, and the white grapes are Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, and Riesling. The vineyard offers a video tour.
Chateau Chantal offers stunning views of both West Grand Traverse Bay and East Grand Traverse Bay from its rolling vineyards. The 65-acre estate produces Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and other varietals. It also has an 11-room B&B.
Chateau Grand Traverse, founded in 1974, was the first winery established on Old Mission Peninsula. It focuses on 12 grape varietals: Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Merlot, Muscat Ottenel, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. The Chateau, which has views of East Grand Traverse Bay and West Grand Traverse Bay, also has a 6-room inn.
Hawthorne Vineyards, which is located on a high bluff overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay, opened in 2013. Its red wines include Cabernet Franc/Merlot, Cherry Splendor, Gamay, Lemberger, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Rose, while its whites include Auxerrois, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling.
Peninsula Cellars is operated by sixth-generation Old Mission Peninsula farmers. The tasting room is in a former one-room schoolhouse, and features themed wines like Homework, Detention, and Pop Quiz. The winery also features more conventional libations like Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir Rose, and Riesling, along with apple wine, cherry wine, and hard cider.
Black Star Farms Old Mission is an extension of Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay on Leelanau Peninsula. It opened in 2007. The tasting room, which is surrounded by views of vineyards, orchards, and Grand Traverse Bay, offers samples from among Black Star’s more than 45 wines, ciders, and brandies.
Tabone Vineyards is a newer estate winery that’s already winning medals in international wine competitions. It produces Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and blends.
2 Lads Winery specializes in cool climate red and sparkling wines, and also produces small runs of white wines. The winery offers Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and sparkling wines at its tasting room, which has great views of East Grand Traverse Bay.
Leelanau Peninsula Wineries We Visit
Baia Estate makes Italian-style wines on its 70-acre property in Leelanau County. At its tasting room in Northport, the winery offers Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Rose.
Rove Estate provides breathtaking views at its tasting room, which sits atop the highest point in Leelanau County. It produces small-batch artisan wines such as Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Rove Estate also hosts weddings and other private events.
Brengman Brothers has three vineyards that produce grapes for Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and white blends. The winery was a founding member of the Great Lakes Sustainable Wine Alliance and was the first 100% solar powered winery in Michigan. It also hosts weddings and corporate events.
Shady Lane Cellars, located in Suttons Bay at the base of Leelanau Peninsula, is a boutique estate winery and vineyard. Its wines include Blaufrankisch, Cabernet Franc, Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Riesling, among others. The winery also hosts weddings and other private events.
Chateau de Leelanau is located in Suttons Bay at the start of the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail. Its wines include Bianca, Riesling, red blends, white blends, cherry, and peach. It also produces hard ciders in flavors like Berry Bonanza, Caramel Apple, and Cherry Bay.
Willow Vineyards, which was established in 1992 in Suttons Bay, offers a spectacular view of West Grand Traverse Bay. It produces a variety of wines, including Chardonnay, cherry, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Rose, and Riesling. The winery also hosts weddings.
Ciccone Vineyard and Winery specializes in fruit-forward European style wines. Set on a hilltop in Suttons Bay with stunning views of West Grand Traverse Bay, its wines include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, and blends. The winery also hosts weddings.
Mawby Sparkling, as the name implies, makes sparkling wines exclusively. Founded in 1973, it was one of the earliest wineries on Leelanau Peninsula. Mawby Sparkling is located five miles south of Suttons Bay.
Black Star Farms opened in 1998 as a winery and luxury inn. The Suttons Bay winery produces over 45 wines and spirts. It also has a farm-to-table café and hosts weddings and other private events.
45 North Vineyard & Winery gets its name from the fact the 45th Parallel runs directly through its vineyard. The Lake Leelanau winery produces Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Lemberger, Marsanne, Merlot, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, and Sauvignon Blanc, among other wines. It also features hard ciders and hosts weddings, private parties, and business meetings.
Tandem Ciders gets rave reviews for its hard ciders and its tasting experience. Located just north of Suttons Bay, Tandem received national recognition in 2011 when Bon Appetit magazine named a Tandem product one of the top ciders of the year. Its most popular cider is called Smackintosh.
Leelanau Cellars, founded in 1974, offers free tastings at its tasting room in Omena on the shore of Grand Traverse Bay. The winery, still family owned and operated, offers more than 50 labels to sample. They include Baco Noir, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Rose, Vidal, and Vignoles; numerous blends; dessert wines; and blueberry, cherry, cranberry, and raspberry fruit wines.
Green Bird Organic Cellars is the only certified organic vineyard and winery in Michigan. The winery, located 2 miles south of Northport, offers wines like Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, hard ciders, and microbrews. It also hosts weddings and other events.
Verterra Winery produces a variety of hard ciders and red, white, rose, and sparkling wines in Leland. Its tasting room dates from 1927, when it was a combination barber shop/pool hall. Verterra also hosts weddings and other private events.
Blustone Vineyards in Lake Leelanau offers panoramic views from its hilltop location. The winery primarily focuses on Cabernet Franc Rose, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Riesling, along with hard ciders.
Good Harbor Vineyards opened in 1980, making it one of the earliest wineries on Leelanau Peninsula. On its 125 acres of vineyard the Lake Leelanau winery, which also makes hard cider, primarily focuses on Chardonnay, Gruner Veltiner, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Riesling grapes, with smaller plantings of Cabernet Franc, Lemberger, Merlot, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zweigelt.
Chateau Fontaine opened its tasting room in 2000, and gets some of the best reviews of any winery in northern Michigan. The Lake Leelanau winery produces Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and red blends, among other wines.
Bel Lago Vineyards & Winery grows more than 100 grape varieties on 36 acres that overlook south Lake Leelanau. Some of its rare varieties include Auxerrois, Cayuga White, and Siegerrebe. It also produces a Cabernet Franc ice wine and a variety of hard ciders.
Cherry Republic Winery – as you might have guessed – produces a wide variety of cherry wines and hard ciders. Its wines range from Balaton Cherry Wine to Cherry Icewine. The Glen Arbor winery also has a selection of cherry sodas for kids.
Aurora Cellars is a boutique winery that offers an assortment of locally produced food to complement its wine tasting. Its wines include Blaufrankisch, Brut, Brut Rose, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Rosso, Sauvignon Blanc, and Vignoles, among others. The winery also hosts weddings.
Two K Farms is a cidery and winery located five minutes south of Suttons Bay. The farm grows more than 30 varieties of heritage cider apples. On tap are a variety of French, English, American, sangria, hopped, and barrel aged style ciders. The farm also produces Riesling and a few other wines. Its tasting room, which opened in 2018, offers panoramic views of West Grand Traverse Bay.
French Valley Vineyards is one of the newest wineries on Leelanau Peninsula. It has a lakefront tasting room at the Vineyard Inn just north of Suttons Bay, where it offers Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Riesling, blends, and cherry wine.
Nathaniel Rose Wine produces some of the highest end wines in Michigan. It has a tasting room in Suttons Bay. Its wines include Cabernet Franc, Marsanne, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, and blends, among others.
Silver Leaf Vineyard and Winery is located in Suttons Bay. Its wines include Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and cherry wine.
Laurentide Winery has won many medals for the wines it produces in Lake Leelanau. Its wines include Chardonnay, Fume Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir Rose, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, blends, and cherry wine.
Amoritas Vineyards in Lake Leelanau offers breathtaking views of Lake Leelanau and Leelanau County from rolling hills on the 150-acre property. It produces Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, blends, and hard apple cider.
Boathouse Vineyards offers a tasting room that’s accessible by boat as well as by car. The Lake Leelanau winery has 21 acres of vines and produces Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir Rose, Riesling, blends, and cherry dessert wine, among others.
Soul Squeeze Cellars produces boutique wines and hard ciders in Lake Leelanau. Its wines include Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sparkling Gruner, and cherry fortified, and it offers numerous varieties of hard apple cider.
Other Wineries We Visit
Left Foot Charley is located in the former Northern Michigan Asylum in Traverse City. In 2018, The Washington Post said: “Left Foot Charley is one of the wineries demonstrating Michigan’s excitement.” It produces Blaufrankisch, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Gitali, Kerner, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, and Rose from grapes from 18 northern Michigan growers. It also offers a selection of hard ciders.
Northern Natural Cider House & Winery in Kaleva produces a wide variety of wines and hard ciders, all made with organic fruit. Its wines include Chardonnay, cherry, Riesling, and Rose, among others. Its semi-sweet Northern Star Organic Cider won a gold medal in the 2016 World Cider Competition.
To schedule your private group winery tour, call Grand Traverse Tours today at 231-947-7433 or email us at [email protected].