Traverse City Wineries, Wine Tasting, Tours, and Reviews
Discover Traverse City Wineries
Traverse City, Leelanau Peninsula, the Old Mission Peninsula, and the Grand Traverse Bay region is home to over 40 vineyards and wineries. The combination of soil, water, climate, and geography creates the perfect environment suited for growing grapes and making wine.
Be sure to take advantage of tasting along the way as you explore the Old Mission Wineries as well as the numerous Leelanau wineries. Sample a glass of wine, while you stroll through vineyards, explore wine caves and cellars. Wine flights are great to share as you discover award-winning wines from Northern Michigan.
Don't forget to schedule enough time! It’s easy to spend an entire weekend or more taking in everything that the Grand Traverse wine region has to offer.
World Class Views, World Class Wines
The Traverse City region offers breathtaking views, with the colored waters of the Grand Traverse Bay, to the rolling vineyards, the Traverse Wine Coast is amazing. Bring your camera and take plenty of photos! Lake Michigan is nearby and you might consider a side trip to the Sleeping Bear Dunes or maybe a hike at Alligator Hill. There are a few wineries nearby.
Wine from Northern Michigan rivals other famous areas like Napa and Sonoma. Traverse City wineries have won accolades by critics as well as in judged competition. Our amazing wines are world class! Which will your favorite be? Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, maybe a Cherry wine?
Located on the 45th parallel, geographically the region is split roughly in two by the Old Mission and the Leelanau peninsulas. Each of these have unique microclimates and soil that influence the vines and the grapes that are grown in each area. Subtle differences in altitude and sunlight exposure on the rolling hills really can affect the grapes and how the wine tastes. Each winery is utterly unique and special.
Most Traverse City wineries also have vineyard and winery tours, host weddings and private parties, offer live music and entertainment, and of course spectacular views all year round.
The Grand Traverse Bay Area is one of Michigan's most scenic regions. The area offers visitors a variety of activities including hiking, biking, boating, fishing, and golfing. Visitors can also enjoy the many festivals held throughout the year.
Traverse City Wine Tasting
Explore your passion for wine. The region offers a variety including white, reds, rose's, fruit, and sparkling wines.
Almost every winery in the region has tasting room and offers wine tasting. Most charge a small fee, a few are even free! Typically flights of wines are around $5 - 7. Quite a bargain considering many west coast wineries charge much more. Private tastings are offered by many allowing guests a more intimate experience while they discover their favorite wines.
The best part about visiting a winery is that there is no obligation to buy anything. You can taste what you want and then decide if you'd like to purchase some bottles. If you're interested in purchasing wine, be sure to ask about discounts on bulk purchases. Many wineries offer discounts for large orders. Wine club members qualify for special discounts too!
Not just wine... Beer, Hard Cider, and Mead too!
More and more wineries are offering hard Cider and Mead. Its no surprise considering the abundant fruit orchards on the Leelanau and Old Mission peninsulas. And of course, Traverse City is home to some of the best craft breweries too!
Traverse City Wine Tours
Why not take a tour and see the behind the scenes process of making wine? Most wineries and vineyards offer tours of their facilities.
These tours typically include a visit to the cellar where the grapes are stored before they go through the crushing process. The crush pad is usually located near the entrance of the facility. From here the crushed grapes are transferred into tanks and barrels.
You'll often find a barrel aging rooms. Barrels come in different sizes and shapes and each type of wood imparts its own unique flavor. Some winemakers use oak barrels while others prefer stainless steel.
Guided Tours
Perhaps the best way to visit the area wineries and enjoy a day of tasting, is to take a chauffeured guided tour. The driver or guides have in-depth knowledge of each winery and can help you choose which wineries best suit your tastes and schedule. And let’s not forget that a guided tour reduces the chance of spoiling your trip with a DUI or worse.
