The Local’s Guide to Wine Tours

March 29, 2015

Every year, tens of thousands of visitors flock to northern Michigan to tour the more than 35 wineries dotted across Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas. But, for locals living with the vineyards in their backyards, it can be easy to take such amenities for granted – or to dismiss winetasting as an activity only for tourists.

Vintners are ready to make the case to residents that winery tours make a great – and affordable – staycation experience. From avoiding crowds to taking advantage of little-known perks and industry offerings, we’ve compiled insider tips from local experts to help you get the most out of Traverse City Wine Country.

When to Go

May through mid-November, peak crowds of tourists descend on area wineries in continuous waves, but year-round residents have an advantage those groups don’t: getting a tasting room – and its enticing products – all to themselves.

"This is the ideal time of year to go winetasting," says Chateau de Leelanau owner Matt Gregory. "A lot of places come out with their new vintages in early April. You might get a chance to taste some of the wines that are newly bottled you haven’t had before – before everyone else comes up."

President & CEO Marie-Chantal Dalese of Chateau Chantal agrees. "The off-season is the best time of year to come," she says. While Saturdays are still "typically pretty busy" during the winter months, they’re considerably slower than in the summer – and weekdays (for those wineries open) are even better.

"If you come during the week, you’re not going to be met by large crowds," Dalese says. "The staff will have much more time to work with you one-on-one as you taste through the wines. You can sit back and take in the views – which are still beautiful in the off-season – and enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese plate. It’s a more relaxed experience; you don’t have to fight for a spot at the bar."

If you do decide to venture out during the summer, Gregory and Dalese have advice for avoiding the biggest crowds. "On the Leelanau Peninsula, start your day at a smaller, more remote location and work your way back into town," says Gregory. "If you arrive at Good Neighbor (Organic Winery) in Northport at noon, hardly anyone will be there. From there, you can work your way through, back to Traverse City, and you’ll be going the opposite direction everyone else is going."

Friday through Sunday is going to be crowded all summer, says Dalese, but going either early or late in the day will offer more breathing room. "Mid-afternoon is the peak traffic period," she says. "In the summer, a lot of the wineries are open until 8 or 9. One good idea is to come out in the evening and have a glass of wine and an appetizer, then head back into town for dinner."

Ask ABout Perks

If you’re a serious oenophile and enjoy taking your time with tastings – learning about the history of each varietal – the frantic pace of summer tastings can leave something to be desired. Fortunately, wineries are more than willing to cater to clientele who demonstrate a keen interest in their products. "Most of the wineries, for either an additional fee or a commitment to purchasing a larger volume, offer after-hours private tastings," says Gregory. "It’s not just for high rollers. If you can get a group together, or are a serious wine buyer or drinker, you can call the winery and see what they’re willing to offer you."

Numerous wineries offer cellar or vineyard tours throughout the year, giving customers a unique inside look at the winemaking process. Hawthorne Vineyards provides a private VIP tour and tasting for up to eight people for $25 per person, including gourmet cheese plates, wine tastes and a tour of the grounds. Brys Estate also offers a complimentary VIP winery tour for its wine club members.

Wine clubs – which reward repeat visits and regular purchases – are widely available and another smart route for local buyers.

Either contacting a winery directly or ap proaching the Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail (www.lpwines.com) or Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (www.wineriesofoldmission.com) to ask what kind of perks or behind-thescenes experiences are available is a great way to access the wineries in a more intimate way, says Gregory.

Use A Driver

When wineries are just a 10-20-minute drive from home, it may seem counterintuitive to hire a driver for your outing. Yet, an influx of tour, bus and limo companies – now numbering close to two dozen – have driven market rates for services down, offering an inexpensive option for a safe and convenient afternoon of tasting.

Michael Rennie, owner of A Paradise Shuttle and Tours notes the majority of local tour companies are registered with the state and hold a limo license, allowing clients to drink wine and champagne in the vehicle between tastings. A 4.5-hour tour with Rennie’s company costs $50 per person, while a 5.5-hour tour costs $60 – typical industry rates.

Among the perks of using a driving service: operators will pick you up at your front door and drop you at home (or take you out to dinner and a night on the town, if you’re so inclined); they’re well-acquainted with most wineries and wines and can offer advice on both; and they’re willing to stop at sightseeing spots – such as the Mission Point Lighthouse – along the way. Tours can also be "mixed up," as Rennie puts it. If you want to hit up some breweries and distilleries, along with the wineries, on your outing, tour operators are happy to oblige.

"Most of our business comes from tourists, but we’re working to let locals know about us, too," says Rennie. "If you’ve got some friends visiting town and you all want to go out as a group, it’s a nice option. It’s also safer"¦not just because of drinking and driving, but because of how much traffic is out there in the summer."

Stay in town

Dealing with traffic and driving issues raises another attractive alternative for locals: walking or biking to your wine tasting. At The Village at Grand Traverse Commons on Eleventh Street, two wineries – Left Foot Charley and TASTES of Black Star Farms – are nestled within a nexus of restaurants, shops and hiking trails, in close proximity to downtown Traverse City.

"It’s wonderful to have a place to have a taste and a bite right in town," says Raymond Minervini of The Minervini Group, which manages the Commons. "People love doing a hike or going snowshoeing on the trails and then having a glass of wine or cider afterward. You’ve got the amazing views of the bay and downtown"¦ and if you’ve only got an hour, you can still have that [wine-tasting] experience."

In addition to neighboring restaurants like Trattoria Stella, Spanglish and Pepenero, both Commons wineries also offer food plates – providing numerous mix-and-match options for wining and dining.

Embrace the repeat visit

Ready to hit the wine trail? Gregory, Dalese and other area vintners have one final piece of advice: don’t fear the repeat visit.

"Wineries are continuously getting new products," says Gregory. "Even if it’s a vintage you’ve tried in the past, it’s going to have some different characteristics every single year." In an increasingly competitive marketplace, wineries are also on the lookout for the next cool thing that will draw customers in and set them apart. "A number of years ago, there was maybe one [winery] that had a big outside deck"¦now it’s the standard," Gregory says. "So, when you walk into a place you’ve been before, chances are there will be new things to experience."

Both winery associations also focus on hosting a large rotation of special events throughout the year. Whether it’s cooking classes or a winery "boot camp" – like at Chateau Chantal – or seasonal trail and tasting festivals on both peninsulas, there are myriad ways to experience the region’s harvest throughout the year.

"There’s always something new," says Dalese. "If someone’s going to do a staycation, I don’t think there’s anything more fun to do than visit the wineries here."