Traverse City Travel Blog

Here in Traverse City, we are all about the vino. We’re also all about girl power, which is why we sat down with two of the leading women in wine in northern Michigan—Marie-Chantal Dalese, President and CEO of Chateau Chantal, and Sherri Fenton, Manager Owner of Black Star Farms—to chat about the industry…and get recs for our next favorite vintage!

Welcome to the fourth part in our series Behind the Tasting Room! We are continuing our look behind the winemakers' curtain focusing on wineries and vineyards in the Traverse City region. Today's feature is covering Black Star Farms, enjoy a sneak peek of the future and an in-depth look at what's happening in the cellar.

Welcome to the second installment of Behind the Tasting Room! We are continuing our look behind the winemakers' curtain focusing on wineries and vineyards in the Traverse City region. Today's feature is covering 45 North Vineyard & Winery, enjoy a sneak peek of the future and an in-depth look at what's happening in the cellar.

Welcome to the first installment of Behind the Tasting Room! The next several weeks we are taking a look behind the winemakers' curtain and will be highlighting several wineries in the Traverse City region. The first feature is covering Bonobo Winery, enjoy a sneak peek of the future and an in-depth look at the what's happening in the cellar.

As if you really need one… 

The sunny days, cooler nights, and Mother Nature’s dazzling display make the fall a perfect season to meander up the Old Mission Peninsula. Stretching 19 miles north out into Grand Traverse Bay, and only four miles wide at the broadest point, Old Mission Peninsula is a breathtaking travel destination! Take in the frenzy of fall color and do a little wine tasting along the wine trail. Did we mention there are nine distinct wineries to visit? 

A tale of two peninsulas begins on...M-22 or M-37? Mile for mile, these scenic Michigan highways run the lengths of the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. M-22 follows West Grand Traverse Bay and into Leelanau County, while M-37 goes north into the village of Old Mission. Both are easy drives from downtown Traverse City and can be explored in one day – or a few if you want to really take it all in. 

If Northern Michigan wine adventures are on your bucket list, this article is for you! The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail offers an exciting mix of year-round activities. How do you find the events that are right for you? Take a look at the suggestions below. Cheers! 

We've asked the folks of the nine distinct wineries from the Old Mission Peninsula Wine Trail for tips on how to experience the wine trail at its fullest.

“Every time we do late harvest, we ask ourselves why,” chuckles Kasey Wierzba, winemaker at Shady Lane Cellars in Suttons Bay,“ until the rewards of viscous, amber juice start to drip from the press, and then we know we wouldn't want it any other way.”