THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Trade the party bus for a semi-private VIP loop along Old Mission Peninsula. This guided SUV tour pairs cellar access at Chateau Chantal with secluded tasting-room views at Hawthorne and a curated tasting experience across three wineries.
Trade the party bus for a semi-private VIP loop along Old Mission Peninsula. This guided SUV tour pairs cellar access at Chateau Chantal with secluded tasting-room views at Hawthorne and a curated tasting experience across three wineries.
A late-morning sun lifts off Grand Traverse Bay and the tour’s GMC Yukon eases onto Old Mission Peninsula, windows down, lake coolness nudging the group awake.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Movie Stars Wine Tours · Traverse City, Michigan
A late-morning sun lifts off Grand Traverse Bay and the tour’s GMC Yukon eases onto Old Mission Peninsula, windows down, lake coolness nudging the group awake.
Guests step from downtown Traverse City into a rhythm of vineyards tumbling toward the water, with the first stop atop Chateau Chantal where a guided cellar walk introduces the ice wine that once reached a White House table. From there the route threads past orchard steeps and limestone outcrops to Chateau Grand Traverse and the more secluded Hawthorne tasting room, each stop offering a contrasting take on Riesling, Pinot and small-batch reds.
Geology and microclimate make the trip legible: two long arms of Grand Traverse Bay buffer frost and extend the growing season, while glacially scoured soils—sandy loams over gravel—drive drainage and vine character. Culturally the peninsula is a mix of family-owned estates, experimental plantings and a modern tasting-room hospitality centered on storytelling and terroir.
Practical side: this is a semi-private, guided tasting loop — not a bus party. Samples are included; full pours, bottles and food are pay-as-you-go. Expect short cellar walks and patio views, intermittent standing and seated tastings, and a roughly 4–5 hour window on the road. Bring a government ID for legal tastings, dress in layers for shifting bay breezes, and plan ground transport for after the tour if you intend to purchase bottles. The tour balances relaxed scenery with focused wine education, making it a good fit for travelers who want informed tasting without a crowded bus experience.
Basic wine samples (splashes/flights) are included, but full glasses, bottles and food are extra and charged at the wineries.
Standard pickup is at the Hardy Street Parking Structure in downtown Traverse City; guides can coordinate downtown hotel pickups before the tour.
The tour combines small parties; groups of five or more typically receive a private luxury SUV, while smaller bookings may be semi-private.
Guides can accommodate basic dietary requests at wineries when notified in advance; the tour involves short walks and some cellar steps, so advise the operator of mobility needs before booking.
Movie Stars Wine Tours operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A late-morning sun lifts off Grand Traverse Bay and the tour’s GMC Yukon eases onto Old Mission Peninsula, windows down, lake coolness nudging the group awake.
A late-morning sun lifts off Grand Traverse Bay and the tour’s GMC Yukon eases onto Old Mission Peninsula, windows down, lake coolness nudging the group awake.
Guests step from downtown Traverse City into a rhythm of vineyards tumbling toward the water, with the first stop atop Chateau Chantal where a guided cellar walk introduces the ice wine that once reached a White House table. From there the route threads past orchard steeps and limestone outcrops to Chateau Grand Traverse and the more secluded Hawthorne tasting room, each stop offering a contrasting take on Riesling, Pinot and small-batch reds.
Geology and microclimate make the trip legible: two long arms of Grand Traverse Bay buffer frost and extend the growing season, while glacially scoured soils—sandy loams over gravel—drive drainage and vine character. Culturally the peninsula is a mix of family-owned estates, experimental plantings and a modern tasting-room hospitality centered on storytelling and terroir.
Practical side: this is a semi-private, guided tasting loop — not a bus party. Samples are included; full pours, bottles and food are pay-as-you-go. Expect short cellar walks and patio views, intermittent standing and seated tastings, and a roughly 4–5 hour window on the road. Bring a government ID for legal tastings, dress in layers for shifting bay breezes, and plan ground transport for after the tour if you intend to purchase bottles. The tour balances relaxed scenery with focused wine education, making it a good fit for travelers who want informed tasting without a crowded bus experience.