Ready for a wine-tasting adventure?
This dreamy road trip through Michigan will take you to 10 scenic wineries with unforgettable ambiance!
1. Bonobo Winery (Traverse City)
Nestled on the Old Mission Peninsula, Bonobo Winery is like that overachieving cousin who’s good at everything.
With its sleek tasting room and panoramic views of Grand Traverse Bay, it’s the kind of place that makes you want to cancel all your plans and move in.
The winery’s modern barn-style building is a far cry from your uncle’s rickety shed.
It’s all clean lines and picture windows, perfect for gawking at the rows of meticulously groomed vines stretching out to the horizon.
And let’s not forget the tasting patio – it’s so inviting, you half expect it to pour you a glass itself.
But the real star here is the wine.
Bonobo specializes in cool-climate varieties, which is a fancy way of saying they make wine that pairs perfectly with Michigan’s famously fickle weather.
Their Chardonnay is like liquid sunshine, and their Pinot Noir?
It’s so smooth, it could teach a masterclass in charm.
2. Chateau Chantal Winery and Inn (Traverse City)
If Bonobo is the cool, modern cousin, Chateau Chantal is the sophisticated aunt who spent a semester in France and never lets you forget it.
Perched atop a hill on Old Mission Peninsula, this winery-inn combo is what happens when European elegance meets Midwestern hospitality.
The chateau itself looks like it was plucked straight out of the Loire Valley and plonked down in Michigan.
It’s the kind of place that makes you want to start speaking with a fake French accent – but please, for everyone’s sake, resist the urge.
Their wine list reads like a who’s who of grape nobility.
From crisp Rieslings to bold Cabernet Francs, each sip is a mini vacation for your taste buds.
And if you’re feeling particularly fancy, you can even stay the night in one of their luxurious suites.
Just don’t be surprised if you wake up thinking you’re in Bordeaux instead of the Midwest.
3. Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery (Traverse City)
Brys Estate is like that friend who always throws the best parties – effortlessly cool, endlessly entertaining, and with a view that’ll make your Instagram followers weep with envy.
Situated on a 155-acre estate (because go big or go home, right?), this place is a feast for both the eyes and the palate.
The tasting room, with its cozy fireplace and expansive deck, is the perfect spot to while away an afternoon.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, take a stroll through their Secret Garden.
It’s not so secret anymore (sorry, cat’s out of the bag), but it’s still a charming hideaway filled with lavender, a bubbling fountain, and enough photo ops to fill a memory card.
Their wines are as varied as Michigan’s weather, ranging from crisp whites to robust reds.
The Pinot Noir is a standout – it’s so good, you might be tempted to skip the glass and go straight for the bottle.
But pace yourself, champ.
There’s still plenty more wine country to explore.
4. Black Star Farms (Suttons Bay)
Black Star Farms is the overachiever of Michigan wineries.
Not content with just making great wine, they’ve gone ahead and created an entire “agricultural destination.”
It’s like a theme park for grown-ups, minus the rollercoasters and with a lot more Riesling.
The property is anchored by a stunning inn that looks like it was ripped from the pages of a fairy tale.
Seriously, don’t be surprised if you see Cinderella’s carriage pull up.
The tasting room, housed in a soaring post-and-beam barn, is a cathedral to the grape.
It’s the kind of place that makes you want to genuflect before your glass of Arcturos Pinot Noir.
But wine is just the beginning here.
They also make their own spirits, grow their own produce, and even raise their own livestock.
It’s like they’re preparing for the wine apocalypse, and honestly, I’m here for it.
5. 2 Lads Winery (Traverse City)
With a name like 2 Lads, you might expect a couple of guys in backwards caps serving wine out of red Solo cups.
But this modern, minimalist winery on Old Mission Peninsula is anything but fratty.
In fact, it’s so sleek and sophisticated, it makes Apple stores look cluttered.
The tasting room is a marvel of glass and steel, perched on a hill with views that’ll make your jaw drop faster than their Rosé disappears on a hot summer day.
It’s the kind of place that makes you feel cooler just by being there.
You might even be tempted to start using words like “terroir” and “mouthfeel” in casual conversation.
(Pro tip: Don’t.)
Their focus is on cool-climate reds and sparkling wines, because nothing says “party” like bubbles.
Their Sparkling Pinot Grigio is so refreshing, it should come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous happy dances.”
6. Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant (Buchanan)
Tabor Hill is like that friend who’s not content with just being good at one thing.
Not only do they make fantastic wine, but they also run a restaurant that’ll make you question why you ever eat anywhere else.
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It’s a one-two punch of culinary and viticultural excellence that’ll leave you happily dazed.
The winery itself is a sprawling affair, with vineyards that seem to stretch to the horizon.
The tasting room is warm and inviting, like a hug from your favorite aunt (you know, the one who always sneaks you an extra cookie).
But the real star here is the restaurant, with its panoramic views of the vineyards and a menu that reads like a love letter to Michigan produce.
Their Classic Demi-Sec is a crowd-pleaser, perfect for sipping on the patio as you watch the sun set over the vines.
And if you’re feeling adventurous, try their Cherry Wine.
It’s like summer in a glass, minus the sunburn and sand in uncomfortable places.
7. Fenn Valley Vineyards (Fennville)
Fenn Valley is the winery equivalent of that laid-back friend who’s secretly a genius.
They might not have the flashiest tasting room or the most Instagram-worthy views, but what they lack in frills, they more than make up for in seriously good wine.
The winery is nestled in the heart of Michigan’s “Fruit Belt,” which sounds like something out of Willy Wonka but is actually a prime grape-growing region.
Their tasting room is cozy and unpretentious, the kind of place where you can ask “dumb” wine questions without fear of judgmental looks from sommelier wannabes.
Their Capriccio is a red blend that’s so smooth, it should come with a warning label: “May cause excessive relaxation and spontaneous naps.”
And their Late Harvest Riesling?
It’s sweeter than your grandma’s smile and twice as delightful.
8. St. Julian Winery (Paw Paw)
St. Julian is the grandaddy of Michigan wineries, the OG of grape fermentation in the Great Lakes State.
Founded in 1921, it’s older than sliced bread (literally – sliced bread wasn’t invented until 1928).
But don’t let its age fool you – this winery is like that cool grandparent who still knows how to party.
Their tasting room in Paw Paw (yes, that’s a real place, not a dance move) is a shrine to Michigan wine history.
It’s got all the charm of a vintage postcard, but with much better drinks.
And speaking of drinks, their selection is more diverse than a United Nations meeting.
From classic vinifera wines to fruit wines that taste like summer in a glass, they’ve got something for every palate.
Their Blue Heron semi-dry Riesling is a perennial favorite, perfect for sipping on a hot day or pairing with spicy food.
And if you’re feeling brave, try their Sweet Nancie Peach.
It’s like biting into a ripe peach, if that peach had decided to live its best life and turn into wine.
9. Bowers Harbor Vineyards (Traverse City)
Bowers Harbor Vineyards is like that friend who’s effortlessly cool without even trying.
Nestled on Old Mission Peninsula (because apparently, all the cool wineries hang out there), it’s a family-run operation that feels more like a backyard party than a commercial winery.
The tasting room is housed in a restored barn that’s so charming, you half expect woodland creatures to help you pour your wine.
And the views?
Let’s just say they’re the kind that make you want to quit your job, buy an easel, and become a landscape painter.
Their 2896 Langley Vineyard Pinot Noir is so good, it might make you believe in love at first sip.
And their Unwooded Chardonnay is crisp and refreshing, like a cool breeze on a hot day, but, you know, drinkable.
10. Ciccone Vineyard & Winery (Suttons Bay)
No, it’s not owned by Madonna.
Ciccone Vineyard is a family-owned operation that proves you don’t need a pop star’s budget to make stellar wine.
Perched on a hill in Leelanau County, it offers views that are (almost) as intoxicating as their wines.
The tasting room is housed in a charming barn that looks like it was plucked straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.
It’s the kind of place that makes you want to trade in your city life for a pair of overalls and a tractor.
Their Gewürztraminer is a spicy, floral delight that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
And their Cabernet Franc?
It’s bold enough to stand up to your aunt’s infamous pot roast, yet smooth enough to sip on its own while you contemplate the meaning of life (or just where to get your next glass).
So there you have it, folks – a tour of Michigan’s wine country that’s sure to leave you grape-ful for the Great Lakes State’s viticultural prowess.
Satisfy your taste for adventure!
This map has all the stops you need to make every meal a memorable one.
Remember: sip responsibly, tip generously, and never, ever say “I’m not drunk, I’m just wine-ding down.”
Cheers!