Daydreaming of lake views, rolling vineyards, and maybe fresh air breezing through your hair? Easily one of the most underrated places for that is Traverse City – it sits right on Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and is the definition of “hidden gem”.

The charming town has become one of the best wine destinations in all of the Midwest, and quietly gives Napa a run for its money at just a fraction of the price!

If you want to make the most of your time there, I highly recommend doing a proper tour, where you’ll be led by local expert guides, get behind-the-scenes experiences, and more! I’ve gone ahead and reviewed the 5 top  Traverse City Wine Tours, so let’s jump right in!

Best Wine Tours in Traverse City

	Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula	Four Winery Traverse City Wine Tour on Old Mission Peninsula	5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula
Meeting Location:	Civic Center Hotline, 1125 W Civic Center Dr, Traverse City	Downtown Traverse City	Hotel pickup and drop-off included
Tour Length:	5 hours	4 to 5 hours	7 hours
Start Time(s):	12:00 PM	11:00 AM, 3:30 PM	9:00 AM
What’s Included:	Air-conditioned vehicle, Premium Limo Style Bus, Local Tour Guide, Yeti Style Cooler for Customer Use	Group tour for up to 8 people, wine expert tour guide, private transport, explore 3 vineyards with commentary and meet winemakers or family	Semi-private bus, expert wine tour guides, wine samples, groups get complimentary bottle of wine
	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability	Check Tour Availability

Our 5 Top Picks For The Best Traverse City Wine Tour:

1. Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula
2. NON BUS 4 Winery Traverse City Wine Tour on Old Mission Peninsula
3. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula
4. NON BUS Traverse City Old Mission Sunset Wine & Distillery Tour
5. 4-Hour Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

Traverse City Wine Tour Reviews

1. Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

What to Expect on the Tour

Starting things off on the right foot, we have the 5-hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 4 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula. You’ll be taken on a thrilling adventure through Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula, visiting 4 local wineries where each stop offers different tastings.

Your ride for the day is a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle between vineyards, so you don’t have to worry about figuring out transportation after wine tasting.

Along the way, your guide shares regional stories – why the peninsula is perfect for producing Riesling and Pinot, how the Great Lakes influence the climate, and the history behind the different estates.

What Makes This Tour Great

One of the big things I loved about this tour was the curation – clearly it was someone highly knowledgeable on local wine and wineries. Fitting in 4 vineyards without feeling rushed is quite the feat, but our guide managed to do it seamlessly.

We got quite a bit of variety, too – different styles, vineyard settings, architecture, and history all changed up a bit at each one, so nothing feels monotonous. See everything from a proper chateau and horse farm to endless rolling hills and breathtaking bay views, all while enjoying world-class wines and some snacks (for extra cost).

The base cost is affordable and worth it for round-trip transport and an expert guide, but I actually thought the fact that every tasting is an additional cost was smart. That way, no one feels obligated to drink more than they intended, and can select those they’re most interested in.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

2. Four Winery Traverse City Wine Tour on Old Mission Peninsula

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re looking for something a bit more sophisticated than a crowded bus crawl, this “non-bus” wine tour on the Old Mission Peninsula delivers. While buses can sometimes offer their own kind of charm, when you’re in the market for comfort, you deserve a luxury SUV like an Escalade.

Be treated like the VIP you are, no matter if you select the Semi-Private Day Tour, Sunset Tour, or a completely private tour. While the winery options may change depending on availability, you’ll typically visit some of the area’s top selections, like Hawthorne Vineyards, Chateau Chantal, Bonobo Winery, Brys Estate, and more.

Wine splashes at each stop are included, though you can opt for full flights and food, which cost extra. However, a huge bonus is that they do include a complimentary bottle of wine for groups!

What Makes This Tour Great

Starting off with the non-bus promise, you know that this tour is gonna be comfortable, placing guest experience at the forefront. Elevate your wine experience from a crowded tasting room to a VIP vineyard day, with local, knowledgeable, friendly hosts!

Our host was absolutely incredible and local to Traverse City, so they had a great understanding of the area and its history relating back to wine. Not only did we get to see the inner workings of the different wineries and even stroll through vineyards and hidden rooms when time allowed, but we also had tons of laughs with the staff and our guide.

Trying boutique, high-quality spots really made a great impression on us, and we loved how the route was spread across the peninsula rather than focusing on just one strip. I’d recommend this one to anyone – even if you’re not necessarily a wine aficionado!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

3. 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula

What to Expect on the Tour

If you’re looking for a serene and knowledgeable day out, you can’t beat the 5-Hour Traverse City Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Leelanau Peninsula. I don’t know about you, but when I go on a wine tasting, there’s no way I want to have to figure out my transportation or even risk driving.

With this tour, you’ll be chauffeured between stops in a comfortable vehicle, so no need to deal with logistics. Expect to pay for each wine tasting you want to partake in (around $5 – $15 per tasting), which is quite convenient as you’ll be visiting 3 different wineries so there are plenty of different opportunities.

The tour’s structured to balance winery learning and tasting with scenic views, vineyard walks, and lake vistas, making the 5 hours just fly by. Oh, and they do allow drinks and snacks on the bus, so you can bring your own if you feel like it! Even better, you’ll be back in time for dinner or sunset after returning!

What Makes This Tour Great

If you’re short on time and want to learn and experience as much as possible without rushing things, this should be at the top of your list. From our guide to all the owners and employees at the wineries, everyone was so friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable.

We got to ask our guide just about any questions that came to mind, from Traverse City history to the different types of terroir found here. Each stop we made was renowned for its quality, yet they all offered something unique from the others, maximizing our experience even further.

We had a good amount of time at each vineyard, and as we only had around 7 people in our group, it felt intimate and exclusive – so much different from your average big group tour! Rove Winery and Shady Lane Cellars were beautiful, but Black Star was my favorite.

Black Star Farms was so interesting, and aside from their handcrafted wines and spirits, the vineyards and facilities were so stunning!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

4. Traverse City Old Mission Sunset Wine & Distillery Tour

What to Expect on the Tour

Anyone would be remiss to be in the Traverse City area and skip a sunset – after all, it’s easily one of the most stunning areas in the Midwest, and even more so when the golden light envelopes it.

The Non Bus Traverse City Old Mission Sunset Wine & Distillery Tour is the perfect way to experience it in all its glory, taking you from Traverse City by luxury SUV, across Old Mission Peninsula. The “non-bus” format means no massive crowds – just you and a few fellow wine lovers enjoying beautiful views and delicious drinks.

Like the others we’ve covered so far, this tour includes wine splashes, though full flights and bottles are available at extra cost (outside of the complimentary bottle of wine groups booking together receive).

You’ll also get to see stunning vantage points over Grand Traverse Bay, vineyard silhouettes in sunset light, and a relaxed pace that lets you fully enjoy the views and vino. Combine that with tasting room access, round-trip transport, and fun guides, and you have the makings of a perfect tour.

What Makes This Tour Great

I had such a fun time on this tour, I can’t believe we were out there for a full 5 hours because the time just flew on by. Of course, the gorgeous views, different wine samples, all the learning, and behind-the-scenes looks made for an already amazing event.

However, our friendly local guide amplified it all with interesting personal anecdotes and his explanations of the terroir and wine in a way that was easily digestible, even for newbies.

This is full VIP treatment with wine connoisseurs at the helm, designed to bring you a premium experience where everything is curated, down to the tiniest detail. I personally recommend opting for the completely private tour, where you’ll be able to fully customize your 4-stop itinerary.

If you don’t know which you’d like to visit, your guides can help you with suggestions based on your specific interests. You really can’t lose here!

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

5. 4-Hour Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula

What to Expect on the Tour

Last but certainly not least is the 4-Hour Traverse City Sunset Wine Tour: 3 Wineries on Old Mission Peninsula. Take the stress and logistics out of the equation and focus purely on majestic views, excellent wine, and fantastic guides. \

Expect to meet your guide and the rest of your group at the Grand Traverse County Civic Center, which is super easy to access, no matter where you’re staying in the city. From here, your guide/driver will take you in a comfortable, premium limo-style bus, where you’ll have a cooler onboard to keep any snacks or drinks you’d like to bring along.

While just like with the other tours, the tastings are not included, the flight costs are incredibly affordable. Not to mention, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to purchase snacks, cheeses, spreads, and more! The routing is perfect, where your timing has you lined up with sunset over Grand Traverse Bay.

What Makes This Tour Great

Rather than doing a tour consisting of a sweaty bus full of people and a guide who just rattles off facts, this tour is immersive and personalized. Our guide was so much fun that it felt like a longtime friend sharing the peninsula’s wine lore and hidden stories.

The focus is on quality over quantity, taking you to 3 different wineries for deeper engagement and genuine learning, and sipping. The limo-style bus, the Yeti cooler for wine and other drinks, the immersive tastings, and the round-trip transportation make this a far more seamless, classy time rather than hopping from winery to winery on your own (also, much safer and more responsible).

This is the kind of “wine tour without the hassle” experience that many travelers seek out when planning Traverse City wine days.

Reserve Tour Now and Pay Later / Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours of Tour Start Time

Katarina Jelks

Katarina Jelks is a professionally trained sommelier from Hawaii. She received her Wine & Management Diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Her experience working across the wine industry, in locations all around the world (France, Australia, New Zealand, the US & more), has resulted in a global perspective. She loves sharing her passion with others and helping them to chase their thirst for interesting wine and great food.