Up North Guide · Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula
The Guide
No. 07
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City
Chateau Chantal sits high on a ridge on the Old Mission Peninsula with 360-degree views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bay — it's genuinely one of the most beautiful spots you'll stand in Northern Michigan. The winery has been here since 1993, founded by the Begin family, and the second generation is running it now. They also have a B&B on the property if you want to make a full night of it.
No. 06
Leelanau Peninsula · Suttons Bay
Black Star is the closest thing to a full estate experience you'll find on the Leelanau Peninsula — 160 acres, a luxury inn, a bistro, hiking trails, horse paddocks, and over 40 award-winning wines and spirits to work through at their Suttons Bay flagship location. They've been making wine here since 1998 and it shows. The tasting fee includes a souvenir glass to take home.
No. 05
Leelanau Peninsula · Traverse City
Rove sits at 1,165 feet — the highest point on the Leelanau Peninsula — and on a clear day you can see Sleeping Bear Dunes, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Manitou Islands from the wraparound deck. It's a fifth-generation family farm that only started making wine in 2016, so everything here still has that rare, unhurried energy of a place that isn't trying too hard yet.
No. 04
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City
Mari was founded by Marty Lagina — yes, the guy from The Curse of Oak Island on the History Channel, along with his brother Rick — and it shows their character: ambitious, slightly obsessive, and better than it has any right to be. The name comes from their Italian grandmother Teresa Mari, and Marty planted grape varieties like Nebbiolo and Sangiovese that had never been grown on Old Mission before. The Tuscan villa-style tasting room is carved into a hillside, and the underground wine caves are worth a tour on their own.
No. 03
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City
Four miles from downtown up a winding private drive, Hawthorne feels genuinely removed from everything — quiet, unhurried, with postcard views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bay from the bluff. It's a small-production estate winery and the wines reflect it. Their Gewürztraminer is the best single glass you'll have anywhere on either peninsula. They also have a dedicated kids' play area, which makes it one of the only spots on Old Mission where you can bring the whole family without stress.
No. 02
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City
Bonobo was co-founded by Carter Oosterhouse — the HGTV carpenter from Trading Spaces — who grew up right here in Traverse City and actually picked cherries on the same land the winery now sits on. The deck overlooking West Grand Traverse Bay is one of the best outdoor tasting spaces in the region. Every glass of wine you buy comes in a branded stemless glass that's yours to keep. And if you know to ask for it, they make their own small-batch rye whiskey — it's not on the menu, but the staff will pour it.
No. 01
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City
The largest estate on Old Mission Peninsula — 155 acres, 53,000 vines, and one of the best tasting experiences in Michigan. Walt and Eileen Brys bought an old cherry orchard in 2000 on a dream they'd been sitting on since a Napa trip in the seventies. The Upper Deck sits above the vine rows with unobstructed views of East Grand Traverse Bay. Their Frosé — a frozen blend of Pinot Noir, Riesling, and strawberry — has become a full-on institution. Order the Tasting Tower flight, then sit outside and figure out which bottle you're taking home.
Where We Recommend Staying
After a long day on the wine trail, the last thing you want is a long drive to a generic hotel. Streamside sits right in the middle of everything — close enough to do it all, private enough to actually decompress.
A private, luxury hot tub and sauna are waiting when you get back. The fire pit and hammock grove near the running stream are perfect places to sip the wine you bring home. Three bedrooms are perfect if you're going with friends.
Twelve Free Guides · Northern Michigan
One new guide per week — breweries, restaurants, hidden gems, fall colors, kid-friendly days, romantic weekends. All free. All written by someone who actually lives here.
You're in. First guide is headed to your inbox.
Wineries · Bars & Breweries · Foodie Guide · Nature Lovers · Best of Leelanau's Small Towns · The Perfect Long Weekend · Kid-Friendly Spots · Romantic Getaway · Hidden Gems · Fall Colors · Winter Wonderland · Peak of Summer