NON BUS Traverse City Old Mission Sunset Wine & Distillery Tour

Old Mission Peninsula is best explored with someone else at the wheel, and this tour keeps the group small instead of packing you into a party bus. You’ll visit several wine estates and Old Mission Distilling, often in a clean luxury SUV with guides such as Mike, Tony, Kyle, or Tracy.

I like the flexible stop planning and the relaxed pace. You get time to enjoy each place instead of racing through a tasting room, and the guides can share useful local tips. I also like the setting at Hawthorne Vineyards, where both Grand Traverse Bays may come into view.

The main thing to consider is that the exact wineries are not fixed. Weather, season, and availability shape the route, so you should book this for the overall experience, not for one promised lineup. Flights, glasses, bottles, and food cost extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Luxury SUV transport: Expect a GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban rather than an old tour bus, with a Cadillac Escalade planned for future use.
• Three wineries plus a distillery: Sunset tours usually visit three wineries and Old Mission Distilling, while other formats may include four winery stops.
• Flexible route planning: Hawthorne Vineyards, Bonobo Winery, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, and other Old Mission Peninsula stops may be used depending on conditions.
• Downtown pickup: Meet at the Hardy Street Parking Structure near the State Street entrance, across from the Park Place Hotel.
• A slower four to five hours: Each stop is planned for about 55 minutes, giving you time to taste, order food, and enjoy the setting.
• Extra costs matter: The $99 price covers transportation and guiding, but tastings, drinks, bottles, and food are separate.

Why this tour works better than driving yourself

The best feature here is simple: you can taste wine without worrying about the return drive. Old Mission Peninsula has several wineries spread along rural roads, and a sunset outing can run into busy afternoon traffic. A dedicated driver removes that pressure and lets you pay attention to the views, the wine, and the people in your group.

Movie Stars Wine Tours uses air-conditioned luxury SUVs and keeps the experience semi-private. The maximum group size is 20, but the company says groups of six or more will usually have their own vehicle. Smaller groups are combined, which can be a plus if you enjoy meeting other people, but it is not the right fit if you expect a fully private ride every time.

I also like the flexibility. A typical sunset route includes three wineries and the distillery, while private groups can often suggest four stops. The company lists Hawthorne Vineyards, Mari Vineyards, Bowers Harbor, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estates, Bonobo Winery, 2 Lads, and Old Mission Distillery as possible stops.

That flexibility comes with a tradeoff. You cannot count on a specific winery unless the company confirms it for your date. The route changes with the time of year, weather, and available space. If your heart is set on one particular tasting room, ask before booking.

Meeting downtown and managing the afternoon traffic

The main pickup point is the Hardy Street Parking Structure at 303 East State Street. Look along the east side near the State Street entrance, next to MiddleCoast Brewery and across from the Park Place Hotel. The vehicle should be a luxury GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban, which makes it easier to spot than a standard bus.

Downtown pickup is a practical advantage. You do not need to drive out to a distant park-and-ride location, and you do not have to leave your car at a remote meeting point after drinking. For some downtown groups, the company can arrange pickup at a local hotel or another downtown location if you contact them.

If you are staying outside downtown, plan carefully. Afternoon traffic can be heavy, so the company suggests getting downtown early by hotel shuttle or rideshare. Day tours may sometimes offer an early hotel pickup, but the return is generally downtown. Sunset tour passengers may be dropped at local hotels after the outing, depending on the arrangements.

This is one place where a little planning pays off. Arrive downtown with enough time to find the parking structure and settle in. If you buy several bottles, you may prefer to leave them downtown and collect them the following day rather than carrying a box around town for the rest of your evening.

Hawthorne Vineyards and the two-bay view

Hawthorne Vineyards is a strong opening stop because the setting does much of the work. The tasting room sits on a high bluff with possible views of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays. The property is described as secluded, with woods, water, and vines rather than traffic and nearby buildings filling the view.

You can buy a flight, a glass, a bottle, or join the wine club. White wine drinkers may want to ask about Auxerrois or dry Riesling, while red wine drinkers can try a Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend. A popcorn flight and charcuterie board may also be available, giving you something to eat before the next pour.

The outdoor patio, fireplace, and bay views make this a good place to slow down. The stop is planned for about 55 minutes, so you should have enough time to taste and look around without feeling pushed out the door.

The catch is that wine and food are not included in the tour price. If you order a flight and a board at every stop, your final cost will rise quickly. I suggest choosing a few tastings that interest you and sharing food when that makes sense.

Bonobo Winery for polished wine and extra choices

Bonobo Winery brings a different mood. Founded by Traverse City brothers Todd and Carter Oosterhouse, it combines a polished setting with a broad drink list. The company presents it as a place where you can sample serious reds, sparkling wine, white wine, and even whiskey.

For red wine, ask about the BDX or Pinot Noir. White wine options may include Blanc de Blancs, Chardonnay, or Fumé Blanc. Bonobo is also noted for a whiskey pour, a frozen lemonade with lavender vodka, and small food options such as pretzel bites, charcuterie, or fried goat cheese when available.

That range makes Bonobo useful for mixed groups. One person can focus on wine, another can try a cocktail-style drink, and someone else can order food. You do not need to be a committed wine drinker to enjoy the stop.

The 55-minute visit will pass quickly if you want a flight, food, and a look around. Keep an eye on the clock, especially if you are ordering at the bar. The tour does not include drinks or food, so decide in advance how much you want to spend at each stop.

Old Mission Distilling adds a change of pace

A distillery stop keeps the tour from feeling like four versions of the same tasting room. At Old Mission Distilling, you can buy mixed drinks, wine, food, or a mixed-drink flight. The focus is on spirits made with ingredients sourced from local farms, orchards, and grain fields on the peninsula.

This is a useful stop for anyone in the group who prefers cocktails to wine. It also gives regular wine drinkers a break from another flight of Riesling or Pinot Noir. The drink menu is described as distinctive, but the exact offerings and food availability can change.

You should pace yourself here. A mixed-drink flight after several winery stops may be more alcohol than you expect, especially if you have also ordered glasses along the way. The guide can help you understand the timing, but you are responsible for choosing what to drink.

The distillery is often the surprise of the route because it brings a different style and flavor to the afternoon. If you have already visited Old Mission’s best-known wineries, this stop can make the tour feel less predictable.

Bowers Harbor Vineyards, the seasonal alternate

Bowers Harbor Vineyards is a seasonal alternate rather than a guaranteed stop. It opened in 1991 and occupies a former horse farm, with a tasting room in the old stable. That past gives the property a different feel from a newer tasting room.

The estate has 20 acres of grapevines and grows Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Pinot Secco, a sparkling Pinot Grigio, is one of the more distinctive choices, and the Pinot Secco Rosé is another bottle worth asking about.

You can take a flight, order by the glass, buy bottles, or join the wine club. Outdoor seating may include a patio, fire pit, pavilion, and tables beside the vines. Dogs are sometimes around the property, which explains the local nickname, the dog winery.

Bowers Harbor may appeal to you if you like an informal setting and a wide list of familiar grape varieties. It is less useful to think of it as a guaranteed part of the sunset tour. Ask about the route before arrival if this stop is important to you.

The guides shape the experience

The company is owned and operated by a former law enforcement professional and presents itself as friendly to law enforcement, first responders, and military members. The guides are local, with University of Michigan and Michigan State University connections among the staff.

Names that appear repeatedly in the operation include Mike, Tony, Kyle, Tracy, Bryan, and others. Their roles can vary by date, but the strongest part of the tour is the personal attention they give to pickup, driving, winery introductions, and pacing.

Mike is described as funny, kind, safe, and easy to talk with. Tony is associated with a lively, educational approach. Kyle has been praised for taking care of the group and keeping the stops unhurried. Tracy is noted for a warm, familiar manner. Those details matter because a wine tour is not just transportation. You spend four or five hours with the guide, and the tone can make or break the outing.

The guides may also help with winery suggestions and local dinner ideas. One useful detail is that a guide may be able to help you get seated or oriented at a stop, but that should not be treated as a guarantee. The winery controls its own service and availability.

What the $99 price really covers

At $99 per person, this tour is priced around transportation, driving, and local guiding rather than a prepaid tasting package. The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle and the tour service, but wine flights, glasses, bottles, cocktails, and food are extra.

That structure can work well if you want control over your spending. You can order a small taste at one stop and a fuller flight at another. It is less appealing if you expect every tasting fee and drink to be included.

The value comes from avoiding a designated-driver problem, getting a local route, and riding in a small luxury vehicle instead of arranging several rides yourself. The price also buys time. The tour usually lasts four to five hours, with each stop planned for about 55 minutes, so you are not simply being driven past the vineyards for a quick photo.

Groups of more than six receive a complimentary bottle when available. The bottle may be Gamay, Secco, or Gewürztraminer, depending on supply. That is a nice extra for a larger private group, but it should not be the reason you book.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this outing to couples, small friend groups, solo visitors who like meeting people, and first-time wine drinkers who want help choosing what to taste. You do not need to know wine in advance. The route includes enough variety for people who prefer dry whites, reds, sparkling wine, cocktails, or spirits.

It also suits anyone who wants scenery without giving up comfort. The peninsula views, patios, fireplaces, orchards, and vines add more than a simple sequence of tasting counters. The sunset timing can be especially appealing if you want your wine outing to lead into dinner downtown.

This may not suit you if you need a fixed itinerary, want a party bus atmosphere, or expect all drinks to be included. The vehicle is designed as a non-party-bus option. That means conversation and comfort matter more than loud music and a nightclub mood.

Solo passengers should note that the tour may combine couples and small groups. That can make the ride more social, but private space is not guaranteed unless your group qualifies for or books a private arrangement.

Booking details worth knowing

The tour is offered in English and accepts mobile tickets. It is near public transportation, and most people can participate. The maximum group size is 20, though the company says many larger groups receive their own vehicle.

The tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking point of about 26 days in advance. That is a useful sign to plan ahead during popular seasons, especially if you need a certain date or are traveling with a larger group.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and changes made inside 24 hours are not accepted.

Should you book the Old Mission sunset tour?

Book it if you want a comfortable, small-group way to taste across Old Mission Peninsula without driving. The strongest reasons are the luxury SUV, flexible routing, four to five hours of relaxed time, and guides who make the outing feel personal. Hawthorne’s bay views, Bonobo’s broad drink choices, Old Mission Distilling’s cocktails, and Bowers Harbor’s old horse-farm setting give the route useful variety.

Skip it if a particular winery is your main goal and you cannot accept substitutions. Also budget for drinks and food beyond the $99 ticket. For most visitors, though, the combination of a safe ride, local guidance, and several distinct stops makes this a practical choice for a Traverse City afternoon or sunset.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The tour costs $99 per person. Wine flights, glasses, bottles, cocktails, and food are available for an additional charge.

How long does the tour last?

The tour usually lasts about four to five hours. Each listed stop is planned for roughly 55 minutes, though the final timing depends on the group.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is at the Hardy Street Parking Structure, on the east side near the State Street entrance and next to MiddleCoast Brewery. It is across from the Park Place Hotel.

Does the tour offer hotel pickup?

The company may arrange pickup at some local downtown Traverse City hotels and locations. Visitors staying outside downtown should plan to reach the meeting point by shuttle or rideshare, especially for afternoon tours.

What vehicle is used?

The tour uses an air-conditioned GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban. A Cadillac Escalade is planned for future use.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 20. Groups of six or more will usually have their own vehicle, while smaller groups may be combined.

Which wineries will the tour visit?

Possible stops include Hawthorne Vineyards, Mari Vineyards, Bowers Harbor Vineyards, Chateau Chantal, Chateau Grand Traverse, Brys Estates, Bonobo Winery, 2 Lads, and Old Mission Distillery. The exact route depends on availability, weather, and the time of year.

Are wine tastings included?

Wine samples or splashes may be available, but flights, full glasses, bottles, cocktails, and food are not included in the $99 price.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted and are not refunded.