TIME VISITED: Summer 2017 BUSY ? EXTREMELY ON WEEKENDS
WEATHER: 70s⛅️ REASON FOR VISIT: Current resident
WHERE TO STAY: AIRBNB EXPENSIVE?: $$$
This past May I moved up to Traverse City, Michigan. This city has quickly stolen my heart. There is so much to do and see here! When you are in downtown Traverse City you are minutes from Traverse Bay and many other lakes, so it is hard to beat come summer time. The East and West Bays of Traverse offer stunning views and so many activities. From boating, to swimming, winery tours, sand dunes, amazing restaurants, biking and walking trails, etc. To write a single blog post about the Traverse City area would be impossible, because there are so many things to see. I am going to start with a beautiful peninsula just a few minutes from downtown Traverse City.
This summer and fall I had the opportunity working as a tour guide for Traverse City Wine and Beer Tours. They operate out of Traverse City and mainly give winery tours on Old Mission and Leelanau Peninsula and Brewery Tours in Traverse City. If you check out their website they offer way more than that. These drinking establishments are enough to make you want to visit! Old Mission Peninsula offers ten wineries, a few restaurants and even a Brewery/Distillery.
From downtown Traverse City the closest winery on Old Mission Peninsula is 10 minutes away and the furthest 25 minutes away. Almost all the wineries offer beautiful views of either east or west bay or both. They all have their own special something.
*Ok so after giving over 50 tours so far I have learned something. No matter what, everyone has a different opinion on what a good or bad wine is. I sometimes take people to a winery and half of them say it was their favorite and the others say it was their least favorite. These are my opinions on my favorites and what I hear most on my tours! Before you head to the wineries click on the links below and do a little research, if you don’t like red wines don’t visit Mari, if you don’t like sweet wines, don’t visit Peninsula Cellars, etc.
MY FAVORITE WINERY
Bowers Harbor Vineyard
On these tours I’m constantly getting the question what is your favorite winery?! Although that depends on what I want to drink that day, most likely my answer will be Bowers Harbor Vineyard. They are my favorite for multiple reasons. Not only do they have great wine, they also offer cider, are super friendly (including dog friendly) and have such a welcoming and “homey” setting! They have some tables and chairs set up right in between the rows of vines and you can even book private lunches in a beautiful outdoor seating room, right outside the tasting room. The owners live right on the property and are very hands on. This winery has a dog friendly patio and you can even buy a bandana for your dog; take a picture of them in it, post it, send it in, and they will feature your dog on their social media!
THE NINE OTHER WINERIES
2 LADS Winery
2 Lads Winery is a bit off the main road (Center Road) where most of the wineries are located) this often turns off tourists from visiting. Big mistake, this winery is only 5 minutes off Center Road and not only offers excellent wine, but a stunning wide open view of East Bay. The building is perched on top of the hill and in a very modern clean building with huge windows. Indulge in a charcuterie board while you enjoy their tasting menu.
Mari Vineyards
Mari Vineyards is special because they are specializing in something none of the other wineries are. Northern Michigan is known for their white wines, because the white grapes simply grow better and more easily in this part of the world. But Marty, the owner of Mari Vineryards, is up for a challenge! He has planted exotic varieties and has engineered a particular white tent that goes over these red grapes to mature them faster. This has allowed his winery to produce some great red wines. Another one of my favorites is their Riesling. I typically don’t drink Riesling’s but one of their employees convinced me to give a try, it is unlike any Riesling I have had before, I loved it and ended up getting a glass. Not only are their wines delicious but the building (you can see below in the video) is absolutely stunning. They have created the whole Tuscany feel right here in Michigan. When you add the view of the east bay here, you can’t really beat it. Do yourself a favor and enjoy a glass of wine on their patio !
Chateau Chantal
Chateau Chantal is the most popular winery on Old Mission Peninsula. Their building is more like a castle perched on top of a hill. From their entrance you can enjoy 360 views of both the East and the West Bay. I hear from clients that their all time favorite wine here is the Chardonnay. Not only do they have good wine, their story is what really makes me love it here. The owner’s Robert and Nadine Begin were a priest and nun before they met! After serving others for over ten years they both pursued other careers, met and fell in love. The Begin’s purchased the very property the tasting room is on today back in 1983. They have lived on this property ever since and are very hands on. I actually saw Robert checking on the grapes this morning. The property also has a Bed and Breakfast that offers beautiful views and unlimited access to the tasting room.
Chateau Grand Traverse
Another extremely popular winery in the area is Chateau Grand Traverse it is also the first winery on this peninsula. This winery offers the most beautiful photo opportunity of West Bay and Power Island. They are also the most commonly found wine in Michigan grocery stores. They have a great retail section and people love their Riesling and Cherry Wine’s.
Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery
I believe Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery offers the most hands on wine tasting of all the wineries. They take you into their cellars and give you a bit more information about what your drinking than the other wineries. They also have an area where you can play bocee ball and a beautiful porch that you can enjoy a wonderful charcuterie board. I hear the most comments about their Pinot Noir and Rose. They also are famous for the frozen Rose, “Frose” that you can enjoy on a nice summer day on their patio. One of my favorite things about Brys Estate is their secret garden. This blooms all summer, but is particularly beautiful come mid July to early August, when the lavender blooms. They take this lavender and make the best smelling hand soap, lotion and hand sanitizer. I always tell my tours to go to the bathroom here because the soap is so amazing!
Bonobo Winery
This winery is getting quite popular because the owner is Carter Oosterhouse from HGTV. He owns this winery with his brother Todd. He has the shows Million Dollar Room and Trading Spaces. Well what most people don’t know is that he was born in Traverse City! Bonobo Winery is also known for their beautiful building and patio with a jaw dropping view of West Bay. Mario Batali is friends with Carter and has visited the winery multiple times. He has even helped with some of the menu so their food is delicious. Don’t leave without trying their truffles! ***This winery has slower service than others, so give yourself a bit more time at this one if you want to enjoy their tasting.
Hawthorne Vineyards
This vineyard, like 2 Lads, is a bit off the main road so less visited. But if you take just a few extra minutes you can enter their vineyard and drive right through it! Hawthorn Vineyards is very picturesque and this building is adorable and offers peek-a boo views of both East and West Bays. They operate under the same wine makers as Chateau Chantal. Enjoy their quaint and intimate tasting room.
Peninsula Cellars Winery
This winery is very well known for their sweet wines. Peninsula Cellar Winery has an awesome story. They started their grapes in 1991 and opened their first tasting room in 1995 inside the Old Mission General Store. Six years later they purchased the Maple Grove Schoolhouse and moved their tasting room to this location. The schoolhouse is an adorable and historical building, it was built in 1896. The Kroupa Family runs this winery and their family settled on the peninsula 118 years ago. Some of their wines have typical names, but others are uniquely named around their schoolhouse “theme” some are Detention and Homework. I know you are more interested in the wines and ciders here but they also make an amazing rootbeer!
Black Star Farms
Black Star Farms is the only winery with a location on Old Mission Peninsula and Leelanau Peninsula. I prefer the location on Leelanau, it is more of an estate and a lot bigger, but the Old Mission location is also great! Black Star Farms on Old Mission did just open an outdoor tasting area and they offer wines AND spirits! Black Star is the first winery you will hit coming from Traverse City, so if you are short on time definitely head up and try this one.
JOIN THE WINERY CLUBS! CHECK THEIR CALENDARS!
So many events are offered at these wineries! Come November some wineries are participating in a MAC AND CHEESE BAKE OFF with wine pairing! YUM!
MOST EVENTS THIS YEAR ARE FULLY BOOKED, SO MARK THESE ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR 2018!
To learn more about other wineries in the Traverse City area check out my post on Places to drink on Leelanau Peninsula!
Have you visited the wineries on Old Mission Peninsula before?! What were your favorites? Comment below!
