NON BUS Traverse City Old Mission Sunset Wine & Distillery Tour

Old Mission Peninsula has the right ingredients for a memorable wine tour: water views, cool-climate grapes, and tasting rooms with very different personalities. This small-group sunset tour trades the usual old bus for a luxury SUV, then links three wineries with Old Mission Distilling in roughly four to five hours.

I like the flexibility and the easy downtown pickup. I also like that guides such as Mike, Tony, Kyle, and Tracy are part of the experience rather than simply drivers. The main consideration is that the exact wineries are not fixed, and flights, food, bottles, and cocktails cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• A luxury SUV instead of a party bus: Expect a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, with a Cadillac Escalade planned for future use.
• Four tasting stops on the sunset route: The usual pattern includes three wineries and Old Mission Distilling.
• Scenery is part of the tour: Hawthorne Vineyards offers views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays.
• The itinerary can change: Winery selection depends on availability, weather, season, and the pace of the group.
• Small groups feel more personal: Groups of six or more are usually given their own vehicle and may suggest stops.
• Extra costs add up: The $99 tour price covers transportation and guiding, but tastings, food, glasses, bottles, and cocktails are separate.

Why this Old Mission sunset tour works

The best part of this experience is the combination of safe transportation and a local guide. You can taste wine without choosing a designated driver, then enjoy the peninsula scenery instead of watching the road. The tour returns to downtown Traverse City, and afternoon groups can often receive hotel or motel drop-off after the tour.

This is not built as a loud party-bus outing. The vehicle is air-conditioned, the group size can reach 20, and smaller bookings are often combined in a semi-private setting. Groups of six or more usually have their own vehicle, which gives larger parties more say in the route.

The tone depends on the guide, but the strongest names connected with this tour are Mike, Tony, Kyle, and Tracy. Mike is described as funny, attentive, and well informed about the wineries and the area. Kyle has been praised for a calm, careful approach, while Tony is known for mixing wine facts with plenty of conversation. That personal touch matters when you are new to wine and do not want a formal lecture.

The $99 price is fair if you value the driver, the four to five hours on the road, and the local direction. It is less of a bargain if you expect every tasting, meal, and bottle to be included. You should budget beyond the tour fee, since flights, individual pours, food, bottles, and mixed drinks are purchased at the stops.

Starting downtown without a long shuttle ride

The main pickup point is on the east side of the Hardy Street Parking Structure, near the State Street entrance and MiddleCoast Brewing Company. It is across from the Park Place Hotel. Look for the tour vehicle, usually a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban.

This location is useful because you do not need to drive to a remote parking lot, leave your car there, then ride back into town after drinking. If you stay downtown, the pickup is simple. The company can also arrange pickup at some downtown locations if you send your location by text or email.

If you are staying outside downtown, plan carefully. Afternoon traffic can be heavy, and the company recommends getting downtown early by hotel shuttle or rideshare. Day-tour riders may be dropped downtown after the outing, so you can eat there until traffic eases. Sunset riders can often get back to a local hotel or motel after the tour.

The trip ends at the starting point, unless a downtown hotel drop-off has been arranged. If you buy a case or several bottles, the practical move is to enjoy downtown afterward and collect the wine the next day.

Hawthorne Vineyards and the two-bay view

Hawthorne Vineyards is often the scenic highlight. The tasting room sits high on a bluff with views toward both East and West Grand Traverse Bays. The setting is away from traffic and close neighbors, with woods, water, and vines filling the view.

You have about 55 minutes here. That gives you time to sample wine, order a flight, buy a glass, or browse bottles without turning the stop into a rushed checkout. A patio and outdoor fireplace add another place to sit when conditions allow.

The wine list includes reds such as a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend. White wine drinkers can try Auxerrois or dry Riesling. Food options may include a popcorn flight or charcuterie board, but these are extra and availability can vary.

Hawthorne is a good early stop for anyone who wants the countryside setting as much as the tasting. I would not count on a full vineyard tour or a formal production lesson, since the supplied schedule centers on tasting and free time. The reward is the view and the chance to settle into the pace of the afternoon.

Bonobo Winery brings a more social mood

Bonobo Winery offers a different feel. It was founded by Traverse City natives Todd and Carter Oosterhouse, and the stop combines polished service, views, wine, and a few unusual drink choices.

You can sample serious reds such as BDX and Pinot Noir. White options may include Blanc de Blancs, Chardonnay, and Fume Blanc. Bonobo is also a place where the usual wine-only pattern loosens. You might find whiskey by the glass, or a frozen lemonade and lavender vodka drink.

Food depends on availability. Possible choices include pretzel bites, charcuterie, or fried goat cheese. Since food and drinks are not included in the tour fee, ask the guide how much time you have before ordering a full plate or another pour.

This stop suits a mixed group. Wine fans have enough range to stay interested, while people who prefer spirits or sweeter frozen drinks have alternatives. The drawback is simple: the many choices can raise your bill quickly. I would decide in advance if you want a tasting flight, a single glass, or a snack at each location.

Old Mission Distilling breaks up the wine

Old Mission Distilling gives the route a useful change of pace. Instead of moving from one winery to the next, you can sample spirits, order a mixed drink, or choose wine in a more bar-like setting.

The distillery uses local fruit, grains, and other ingredients from the peninsula. The staff explains how orchards and farms supply the raw materials, giving you a sense of how the area’s agriculture reaches the bottle.

The stop can include a mixed-drink flight, along with food and individual cocktails for purchase. The exact offerings can change, so keep your expectations flexible. You are not promised an included spirit tasting, and the tour fee does not cover drinks.

This is a particularly useful stop for couples or groups with different tastes. One person can order wine while another tries a cocktail. It also keeps the afternoon from feeling like four copies of the same tasting room.

Bowers Harbor adds dogs, vines, and a former stable

Bowers Harbor Vineyards is a seasonal alternate stop, not a guarantee on every departure. When it is used, you will visit one of the area’s original wineries, founded in 1991 on a former horse farm.

The tasting room occupies a former horse stable, and the property has about 20 acres of vinifera vines. You can order flights, wine by the glass, or bottles, then take your drink to the patio, fire pit, pavilion, or tables near the vines.

The selection includes Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The special draw is Pinot Secco, a sparkling Pinot Grigio, along with a Pinot Secco Rosé.

Bowers Harbor is sometimes called the dog winery, so you might see dogs on the property. That detail gives the stop a relaxed, informal character, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed animal encounter.

How the flexible itinerary affects your day

The company lists several possible wineries, including Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estates, 2 Lads, and Old Mission Distillery. Sunset tours usually visit three wineries and the distillery. Semi-private daytime tours generally visit four wineries, while private groups can often request a route.

That flexibility is useful when a tasting room is full, weather changes, or seasonal hours shift. It also means you should not book the tour expecting Hawthorne, Bonobo, or Bowers Harbor in a precise order. The route is shaped on the day.

For a group of six or more, you can usually suggest stops. This is a strong reason to book together rather than split into separate cars. Still, a request is not a promise, so confirm your priorities before departure.

The normal tour length is four to five hours, but the pace of the group matters. A relaxed group may spend more time at each stop. If you are trying to visit four places in a tight window, tell the guide early. The best approach is to accept that the afternoon is about tasting and scenery, not racing through a checklist.

What the $99 fee really buys you

The tour price covers the vehicle, driver-guide, and transportation between stops. It also buys you the convenience of not driving after tastings. That is the core value.

The vehicle matters. A clean, comfortable SUV feels more personal than a large bus, and it gives the guide a better chance to talk with everyone. A guest with motion sickness was able to sit up front, which may be worth discussing with the guide before setting out.

The tour is also operated by a former law enforcement professional and is friendly to law enforcement, first responders, and military members. That detail may matter to some groups, but the practical benefit applies to anyone who wants a safe ride.

Add money for tasting flights, glasses, food, and bottles. Groups over six receive a complimentary bottle when available, with possible choices such as Gamay, Secco, or Gewürztraminer. Availability controls the exact bottle, so do not count on a particular varietal.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this tour if you want a relaxed introduction to Old Mission Peninsula and prefer conversation over a formal winery seminar. It is especially good for couples, small friend groups, solo riders who enjoy meeting people, and first-time wine tasters who want help choosing what to try.

It also suits people who care about views and local context. Hawthorne supplies the broad bay outlook, Bonobo adds a polished social stop, Old Mission Distilling brings spirits into the mix, and Bowers Harbor offers a seasonal old-farm setting.

You may want a different option if you need a fixed winery list, included tastings, or a private itinerary for two. The route can change, and the $99 fee is only the starting cost. A fully private booking may make more sense for a larger group with firm requests.

The experience is accessible to most participants, is near public transportation, and allows mobile tickets. The maximum group size is 20, although the SUV format generally feels more intimate than that number suggests.

Cancellation and planning details

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made inside 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, so check your plans before the cutoff.

This tour is often booked about 26 days ahead. That does not mean you cannot find a later opening, but it is a useful sign to reserve early for peak dates, larger groups, or a preferred sunset departure.

The tour is offered in English. Pickup is in downtown Traverse City, and the activity returns there unless a local hotel drop-off is arranged.

Should you book the Movie Stars Wine Tours experience?

Book it if you want a safe, small-group ride with a human guide, broad Old Mission views, and a route that mixes wineries with a distillery. The strongest reasons are the comfortable SUV, the downtown pickup, and the guides’ personal attention. Mike, Tony, Kyle, and Tracy each bring a friendly, conversational style rather than treating the trip as a simple shuttle run.

Skip it if your top priority is knowing the exact four wineries in advance or having tastings and meals bundled into one price. The itinerary changes, and the extras can add up.

For most visitors spending a day or evening in Traverse City, this is a sensible way to sample the peninsula without driving. Keep your plans loose, bring room in your budget for a few purchases, and let the guide shape the route around the day.

FAQ

How long does the sunset wine tour last?

The tour usually lasts four to five hours. The exact length depends on the pace of the group.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is at the Hardy Street Parking Structure in downtown Traverse City, on the east side near the State Street entrance and MiddleCoast Brewing Company. It is across from the Park Place Hotel.

How many wineries will the sunset tour visit?

Sunset tours usually visit three wineries and Old Mission Distilling. The specific wineries depend on availability, weather, season, and timing.

Are tastings and food included in the $99 price?

No. Flights, wine by the glass, bottles, food, cocktails, and other purchases cost extra. Wine samples or splashes may be available at the stops.

Can larger groups request specific wineries?

Groups of six or more are usually private and can suggest stops. The final route still depends on availability, weather, season, and timing.

What vehicle is used for the tour?

The tour uses a luxury GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban. A Cadillac Escalade is planned for future use. The experience is not operated as a party bus.