The Leelanau Peninsula has 27 member wineries in an appellation roughly 30 miles long and 8 miles wide, which means you can visit four or five in a single day without feeling rushed. The peninsula juts north into Lake Michigan between Grand Traverse Bay and the open lake, and the moderating influence of that surrounding water creates one of the most reliably productive cool-climate wine zones in the Midwest.
This is a practical guide to spending a long weekend on the peninsula — which wineries to prioritize, where to base yourself, what to eat, and how to sequence the stops.
Getting There
Traverse City is the natural base. Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) serves direct flights from Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, and several other hubs — check CheapOair for flights to Traverse City. From Chicago, the drive runs about four and a half hours via US-131 north. From Detroit, plan on four hours. From Minneapolis, it’s five and a half.
A car is non-negotiable. The peninsula wineries are spread across rural roads with no public transit connections.
Where to Stay
Traverse City base
Traverse City’s downtown has several well-regarded hotels within walking distance of restaurants and shops. The Park Place Hotel is the historic anchor of downtown, in operation since 1930. For something more modern, several boutique properties have opened along the waterfront in recent years.
Peninsula immersion
For a more immersive experience, vacation rentals on the Leelanau Peninsula itself — particularly around Suttons Bay and Leland — put you within five minutes of multiple tasting rooms. Waking up with a vineyard view and morning light on the bay is worth the slightly longer drive to Traverse City restaurants in the evening.
Day One: Old Mission Peninsula
Old Mission Peninsula is the narrower of the two peninsulas and easier to cover in a single day. Start at the southern end near Traverse City and work north toward the Mission Point Lighthouse at the tip. The peninsula sits almost exactly on the 45th parallel — the same latitude as Bordeaux — which produces some of the most complex Riesling and Pinot Noir in Michigan.
Morning: Chateau Grand Traverse and Peninsula Cellars
Chateau Grand Traverse, founded in 1974 by Ed O’Keefe, was the first winery to plant European vinifera grapes on Old Mission Peninsula. Their Late Harvest Riesling and Ice Wine are benchmarks. Open year-round at 12239 Center Rd, Traverse City. Peninsula Cellars operates out of a converted 1896 schoolhouse at 11480 Center Rd — their Gewurztraminer and off-dry Riesling are consistently among the peninsula’s best.
Afternoon: Brys Estate and Bowers Harbor
Brys Estate at 3309 Blue Water Rd has panoramic views of both bays and runs a seasonal sunset tasting series. Their Pinot Noir has earned attention from Michigan restaurant lists. Bowers Harbor Vineyards at 2896 Bowers Harbor Rd occupies a Victorian estate and specializes in Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio favored by local sommeliers. Eat lunch at the Bowers Harbor Inn next door before the afternoon tasting round.
Evening
Return to Traverse City for dinner. Trattoria Stella in the Village at Grand Traverse Commons pairs well with the day’s theme — they maintain a serious Michigan wine list and the food handles the region’s acidity-driven whites well.
Day Two: Leelanau Peninsula — Northern Loop
The Leelanau Peninsula is more spread out than Old Mission. A two-day approach works best: northern loop on day two, southern loop on day three. Suttons Bay is the logical overnight base for the northern section.
Black Star Farms
Black Star Farms at 10844 E Revold Rd, Suttons Bay operates as both a winery and a small inn with a creamery. Their Arcturos Riesling appears on Chicago and Detroit restaurant lists. The inn makes it possible to book a room, taste in the afternoon, have dinner, and wake up to vineyard views without driving anywhere.
Shady Lane Cellars
Shady Lane Cellars at 9580 Shady Lane, Suttons Bay converted a 1920s chicken coop into one of the peninsula’s more distinctive tasting rooms. Thirty acres of estate vines produce single-vineyard Riesling and Pinot Noir that reward attention. The Arcturos single-vineyard Riesling is the flagship.
North to Leland and Northport
Drive north through Suttons Bay toward Leland for lunch at the Leland Lodge, then continue to Chateau Fontaine at 2290 S French Rd, Lake Leelanau — a dry Riesling specialist with views over Lake Leelanau. The morning light on the vineyards near Northport is worth the drive even on a cloudy day.
Day Three: Leelanau Peninsula — Southern Loop
Bel Lago Winery
Bel Lago at 6530 S Lake Shore Dr, Cedar has been producing estate Cabernet Franc since 1987 — one of the oldest continuous Leelanau operations. Their experience with the variety shows. For Michigan Cab Franc, this is the reference point.
Chateau Fontaine and the drive south
Circle back through the southern appellation, stopping at smaller producers along M-22. The stretch between Traverse City and Suttons Bay along the bay-side of the peninsula has become dense with tasting rooms in recent years. Stop where the signs look interesting — the informal winery density on this corridor rewards unplanned stops.
What to Drink
Riesling is the anchor of northern Michigan wine. The Great Lakes moderate temperatures and extend the growing season, producing Riesling with natural acidity that keeps even off-dry styles from tasting heavy. Order both dry and off-dry versions at each tasting room — the contrast between styles at the same winery reveals more about the producer’s approach than any single bottle.
Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer are strong secondary bets. Michigan Cabernet Franc — particularly from the southern Leelanau producers who’ve been growing it longest — is worth seeking out.
To order Michigan wines without making the drive, search for Leelanau Peninsula wines on Amazon — several producers ship nationally.
Plan Your Visit
September and October are the best months — harvest is underway, foliage is turning, and the crowds are lighter than summer. Most Leelanau tasting rooms run limited winter hours; call ahead November through April. Summer weekends are busy but manageable if you start early.
For the full regional guide — including AVA details, winery maps, and the best stops on Old Mission — see the Michigan Wine Country Guide, the Leelanau Peninsula region page, and the Old Mission Peninsula region page.