Best Old Mission Peninsula Wineries: A Complete Wine Trail Guide

Researched and written by BG Vance. Last updated October 19, 2026. Hours, tasting fees, tour prices and seasonal schedules change, so check each winery’s website or social page before you go.

The Old Mission Peninsula is the easiest wine region in Michigan to visit. Ten wineries sit along a single 19-mile peninsula that starts minutes from downtown Traverse City, with bay views on both sides of the road and most tasting rooms within a short drive of each other. That makes it ideal for a half-day or full-day wine trail, even if you have never been. This guide covers every winery on the trail (plus one well-known neighbor), what each one is actually known for, the events and experiences that are worth planning around, and practical tips on timing, tours, dogs, kids and where to stay.

The Best Old Mission Peninsula Wineries at a Glance

Old Mission Peninsula Wine Country: What to Know First

• A small but mighty AVA: The Old Mission Peninsula became a federally recognized American Viticultural Area on June 8, 1987, and at about 19,200 acres it is the smallest of Michigan’s five AVAs.
• Shape and size: The peninsula is about 19 miles long and no more than three miles wide. It divides Grand Traverse Bay into an East Arm and a West Arm. The West Bay is more than 400 feet deep and the East Bay more than 600 feet deep, and all that water helps protect the vines from spring and fall frost.
• The 45th parallel: The peninsula sits on the same latitude as Bordeaux, Piedmont and Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
• How it started: In 1974, Ed O’Keefe planted Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Riesling and opened the peninsula’s first winery, Chateau Grand Traverse. It was licensed in 1976, and O’Keefe later petitioned for the AVA designation.
• Riesling country: Riesling is the peninsula’s signature grape and covers more acres than any other variety at Chateau Grand Traverse. Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Gamay Noir also do well.
• How many wineries: The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail officially has ten members. Some guides count eleven because Bonobo Winery, which sits on Center Road, is not on the trail’s roster.

How to Drive the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail

Two roads matter. Center Road (M-37) runs up the spine of the peninsula and reaches most tasting rooms directly. Peninsula Drive follows the west shoreline with water views and a slower pace. A good plan is to drive north on Center Road and return on Peninsula Drive. Hawthorne Vineyards and Tabone Vineyards are the stops that are easier from Peninsula Drive. The stretch of M-37 on the peninsula is also a designated Pure Michigan Byway.

Of the trail’s wineries, only Hawthorne closes completely in winter, and the others run reduced hours. Check ahead before you drive out.

Old Mission Peninsula Wineries: The Full List

Black Star Farms (Old Mission Tasting Room)

The first winery most visitors reach, just off M-37 near the base of the peninsula. Black Star opened this tasting room in 2007. It is a tasting-room-only location, and the estate vineyards and the inn are on the Leelanau side near Suttons Bay. The room is built around a round bar made from wine barrels, and the Arcturos line, made from the estate’s own grapes, is the best place to start. See our Leelanau Peninsula wineries guide for the main estate.

Address: 360 McKinley Rd. E, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Black Star Farms

Phone Number: 231-944-1300

Hawthorne Vineyards

Reached by a winding private road off Peninsula Drive, Hawthorne is the most secluded tasting room on the peninsula. It sits on a bluff with views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bay, and it is open seasonally, so confirm dates in spring and fall. The staff builds themed flights of dry whites, dry reds, a sweeter set or a premium flight. The Barrel Reserve Chardonnay is the wine locals point to, and the winery serves cups of popcorn alongside charcuterie. Reservations are encouraged.

Address: 1000 Camino Maria Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Hawthorne Vineyards

Phone Number: 231-929-4206

Mari Vineyards

Mari’s Tuscan-style building was inspired by the founder’s Italian roots. Marty Lagina named the winery for his grandmother, Teresa Mari. The estate grows Italian varieties that are hard to find in Michigan, including Nebbiolo, Sangiovese and Teroldego, with hoop houses to help ripen the tougher grapes, alongside Riesling, Gamay Noir and Cabernet Franc.

The big draw is its underground wine caves, carved about 30 feet below ground, with daily drop-in tours (around $20 at last check). One tunnel lines up with the sunrise on the summer solstice, a tradition for wine club members. Live music has run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the patio looks out over East Grand Traverse Bay.

Address: 8175 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Mari Vineyards

Phone Number: 231-938-6116

Peninsula Cellars

The tasting room is the Maple Grove Schoolhouse, which served students from 1896 until 1958 and still has its original slate chalkboard and floors. Peninsula Cellars moved into the building in 1998. The Kroupa family runs it, and the winery is known for Riesling, especially its Late Harvest Riesling, plus Gewürztraminer and a couple of hard ciders. Seating is first come, first served, groups of 12 or more should reserve, and the winery accepts cashless payment only.

Address: 11480 Center Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Peninsula Cellars

Phone Number: 231-933-9787

Bonobo Winery

Brothers Todd and Carter Oosterhouse, Traverse City natives, run Bonobo, which is named for the endangered ape, and a share of proceeds supports The Bonobo Conservancy. The winery is known for estate Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Pinot Noir, with a growing sparkling program. The deck faces West Grand Traverse Bay and is one of the best places on the peninsula for a summer sunset. Bonobo offers pours by the glass rather than flights, along with small plates and private VIP tastings. It is not listed on the trail’s official roster, but it is right on Center Road.

Address: 12011 Center Rd, Traverse City, MI 49685

Website: Bonobo Winery

Phone Number: 231-282-9463

Chateau Grand Traverse

The peninsula’s original winery and the best place to understand why Riesling matters here. Chateau Grand Traverse makes about ten styles of Riesling, as well as Gamay Noir and other varieties, and its vineyards sit on the 45th parallel. The “Art of Riesling” tour, held on Saturday afternoons, runs about an hour and starts in the vineyard before moving to the cellar and a guided tasting. The cellar holds 100 stainless steel tanks and more than 500 oak barrels. The Inn at Chateau Grand Traverse has six adults-only guest rooms on the property.

Address: 12239 Center Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Chateau Grand Traverse

Phone Number: 231-938-6120

Bowers Harbor Vineyards

A former horse farm with 20 acres of vines. The tasting room is a converted stable, and the grounds are the most open of any winery on the trail, with Adirondack chairs, tables under trees and a pavilion. Bowers Harbor is the easiest winery for families and dogs: it serves sparkling juice for kids, has a nature trail, and welcomes well-behaved dogs. The owners’ dogs have wines named for them. In winter, the heated pavilion, fire pit and a sledding hill make it a destination. Try the Pinot Secco, a sparkling Pinot Grigio. Reservations are strongly encouraged on Friday through Sunday.

Address: 2896 Bowers Harbor Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Bowers Harbor Vineyards

Phone Number: 231-223-7615

Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

A family-owned estate founded in 2005, with a barn-turned-guesthouse, an upper deck overlooking East Grand Traverse Bay and a lawn bar. In mid-July, its Secret Garden is in full bloom with more than 6,000 lavender plants, and visitors can cut their own flowers. The winery also makes hard cider, including lavender and rosé versions, and is known for its frosé, a slushy blend of Pinot Noir and Riesling. The gift shop sells lavender products, and cornhole is set up outside in summer.

Address: 3309 Blue Water Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery

Phone Number: 231-223-9303

Tabone Vineyards

The newest winery on the trail and a good choice when you want a quieter pour. Tabone is a small, family-owned estate with Maltese roots, and a red cross on the building honors that heritage. It specializes in classic Old Mission whites, including Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, and pours a Rosé of Pinot Meunier you will not see everywhere. The patio has yard games, nonalcoholic drinks are available for kids and designated drivers, and in winter you can sit in a heated igloo with mulled wine.

Address: 14916 Peninsula Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Tabone Vineyards

Phone Number: 231-223-4101

Chateau Chantal

A hilltop winery and boutique inn with views of both bays, the second bonded winery on the peninsula. Chateau Chantal has two patios, including a dog-friendly one facing West Bay. It is the best choice for events: wine-paired dinners, cooking classes, tapas tours and a Jazz at Sunset series on Thursday evenings from mid-June through August (reservations required). It even makes Malbec from grapes grown at its vineyard in Argentina.

In late January, the winery hosts a free Ice Wine Festival with vineyard and cellar tours, an ice sculpture luge, fire pits and snowshoeing on its Founder’s Trail. The winery has produced ice wine for more than 30 years. USA Today’s 2025 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards ranked the inn No. 2 among U.S. wine country hotels.

Address: 15900 Rue Devin, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: Chateau Chantal

Phone Number: 231-223-4110

2 Lads Winery

The northernmost winery on the trail, in a sleek, modern building high on a hill with floor-to-ceiling windows and sweeping views of East Grand Traverse Bay. 2 Lads focuses on dry reds, sparkling wine and small-run whites, and the Reserve Merlot is a standout. The building uses gravity flow, so grapes are processed upstairs and move down to tanks below without pumping, which is gentler on the wine. A guided tour and tasting, limited to six guests and priced around $75 at last check, includes charcuterie.

Address: 16985 Smokey Hollow Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686

Website: 2 Lads

Phone Number: 231-223-7722

What to Drink on the Old Mission Peninsula

• Riesling: Start here. Chateau Grand Traverse and Peninsula Cellars are the most Riesling-focused stops, and styles range from dry to Late Harvest.
• Gamay Noir: A lighter red that the peninsula does well. Chateau Grand Traverse is a good place to find it.
• Chardonnay and Pinot Gris: Hawthorne’s Barrel Reserve Chardonnay and Tabone’s estate Chardonnay are worth a try, and Pinot Gris shows up at most tasting rooms.
• Italian varieties: Mari’s Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Teroldego are unusual for Michigan.
• Merlot and Cabernet Franc: Look for 2 Lads’ Reserve Merlot and the red blends at Hawthorne and Mari.
• Sparkling: 2 Lads and Bonobo have the strongest sparkling programs, and Bowers Harbor’s Pinot Secco is a fun summer pour.
• Ice wine: Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse and Brys are the places to try Michigan’s Riesling-based ice wines.
• Cider and frosé: Brys (lavender cider and frosé), Bowers Harbor and Peninsula Cellars all make hard cider.

Experiences and Events Worth Planning Around

• Mari wine cave tours: Daily drop-in tours of the underground caves.
• Chateau Grand Traverse Art of Riesling tour: A Saturday-afternoon tour and tasting.
• Jazz at Sunset (Chateau Chantal): Thursday evenings from mid-June through August. Reserve ahead.
• Lavender season (Brys): Peak bloom is around mid-July.
• Ice Wine Festival (Chateau Chantal): Held on January 31 in 2026 and free to attend. Dates for 2027 were not set when this was written.
• Winter Wine Pass: The trail has offered a pass that runs December 1 through March 31, with a complimentary flight or glass at each participating winery and extra bottle discounts. The 2024–25 edition covered nine wineries.
• Snowshoe, Wine & Brew: A Sunday winter event run by TC Brew Bus that connects wineries, a distillery and a brewpub on snowshoe trails. The 2026 season ran January 4 through March 8, so check for next year’s dates.

When to Visit the Old Mission Peninsula Wineries

• Spring: Fewer crowds, lower lodging prices and blossom season, which usually peaks around May.
• Summer: The busiest season, with live music, patios and events. Expect crowds on weekends and book tastings ahead.
• Fall: Harvest, fall color and limited-release wines. It is also a popular time for leaf-peeping, so reserve lodging early.
• Winter: Quiet, cozy tasting rooms with fireplaces, fire pits and snowshoe options. Hawthorne is closed, and others run reduced hours.
• Weekdays: Monday through Wednesday is quieter than Friday through Sunday, when bachelorette parties and tour buses fill the tasting rooms.

Dog-Friendly and Family-Friendly Wineries

• Dogs: Bowers Harbor is the most welcoming. Mari has a dog-friendly patio, and Brys, Chateau Chantal, Tabone, Chateau Grand Traverse and 2 Lads have designated outdoor areas. Keep dogs leashed, clean up, and call ahead.
• Kids: Bowers Harbor is the best for kids, with a nature trail, sparkling juice and space to run. Tabone and Brys also work for families, thanks to yard games and lavender fields.

Beyond the Wine: What Else to Do on the Peninsula

• Mission Point Lighthouse: At the northern tip of M-37, the lighthouse has guided Great Lakes ships since 1870. It is usually open for self-guided tours from May through November, Wednesday through Monday, and the beach and trails are open year-round. A marker nearby shows the 45th parallel, halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
• Old Mission Distilling: A distillery that is often paired with the wineries on tours.
• Food: Jolly Pumpkin (13512 Peninsula Drive) is known for wood-fired pizza and house-brewed sour ales, and The Boathouse (14039 Peninsula Drive) is a fine-dining spot on the water at Bowers Harbor. Most wineries also serve small plates.
• Buchan’s Blueberry Hill: A fifth-generation farm stand off Center Road (1472 Nelson Road) with U-pick blueberries in late summer and apples in fall.

Getting Around: Tours, Designated Drivers and Parking

Because most tasting rooms serve flights, plan for a designated driver or a tour. Several Traverse City tour operators run guided Old Mission winery tours, including three- to five-hour options that visit three or four wineries, and some services will drive your own car. Compare current prices and itineraries before booking, and allow extra time on summer weekends, when the roads get busy.

Where to Stay on and Near the Old Mission Peninsula

• Chateau Chantal: A hilltop inn with bay-view rooms.
• The Inn at Chateau Grand Traverse: Six adults-only rooms with private balconies, on the winery property.
• Brys Estate guesthouse: A converted barn on the estate.
• Traverse City: Most visitors stay in town, 10 to 25 minutes from the wineries. See our Traverse City guide and our things to do in Traverse City for hotels, restaurants and activities.

Sample Old Mission Peninsula Itineraries

A half day (three stops)

Start at Mari Vineyards for the caves, continue to Chateau Grand Traverse for Riesling, and finish at Chateau Chantal for the views.

A full day on the trail

Begin at Black Star Farms near the base of the peninsula, then Hawthorne or Mari, lunch at Jolly Pumpkin or The Boathouse, an afternoon at Bowers Harbor and Brys, and a final stop at 2 Lads. Finish at Mission Point Lighthouse for sunset on the beach.

A winter day

Use the Winter Wine Pass, pick three tasting rooms with fireplaces or fire pits, and add a snowshoe walk at Chateau Chantal’s Founder’s Trail or on a winter trek event.

A dog-and-kids afternoon

Bowers Harbor for the lawn and nature trail, then Tabone or Brys for yard games and lavender.

Old Mission Peninsula vs. Leelanau Peninsula

Read our Leelanau Peninsula wineries guide and our best wineries in Michigan guide to compare them in more detail.

Old Mission Peninsula Wineries Trail Map

Frequently Asked Questions About Old Mission Peninsula Wineries

How many wineries are on the Old Mission Peninsula?

The Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail has ten wineries. Some guides count eleven by adding Bonobo Winery, which is on Center Road but is not a trail member.

What is the best winery on the Old Mission Peninsula?

It depends on what you want. Chateau Grand Traverse is the best for Riesling and history, Mari Vineyards for the caves, Bowers Harbor for dogs and kids, Chateau Chantal for views and events, and 2 Lads for modern design and sparkling wine.

Which Old Mission Peninsula winery opened first?

Chateau Grand Traverse, which was planted in 1974 and licensed in 1976. It was also the winery behind the peninsula’s AVA petition in 1987.

Can you do the Old Mission Peninsula wine trail in one day?

Yes. Three to four wineries is a comfortable day, and the peninsula is only 19 miles long.

Are Old Mission Peninsula wineries dog-friendly?

Many are, in outdoor areas. Bowers Harbor is the most dog-friendly, and Mari, Brys, Chateau Chantal, Tabone, Chateau Grand Traverse and 2 Lads have designated outdoor spaces. Policies change, so call ahead.

Which Old Mission winery is open in winter?

Most of them, with reduced hours. Hawthorne Vineyards closes for the season. The trail’s Winter Wine Pass covers most of the others.

Do you need reservations for Old Mission Peninsula wine tasting?

Walk-ins are accepted at many tasting rooms, but reservations are strongly encouraged at Bowers Harbor on weekends and at Hawthorne, and are required for tours, Jazz at Sunset, wine dinners and tapas tours.

What is Old Mission Peninsula known for?

Cool-climate Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay Noir, plus ice wine, cherry orchards, bay views and the Mission Point Lighthouse at the 45th parallel.

Plan the Rest of Your Trip

Explore our Traverse City destination guide, our things to do in Traverse City, our Leelanau Peninsula wineries guide and our best wineries in Michigan guide.

Sources and Further Reading

• Spectrum News: Chateau Chantal ice wine harvest