Fall colors, scenic wine tours, vineyard views, and the best things to do near Traverse City
There is wine tasting, and then there is wine tasting in Northern Michigan in the fall.
September and October bring harvest season to Michigan wine country, just as the forests surrounding Traverse City and the Leelanau Peninsula begin turning brilliant shades of red, orange, gold, and crimson. Vineyards change color, roadside farm stands fill with the season’s harvest, and some of the best places to view fall colors in Michigan happen to be along the same roads connecting the region’s wineries.
If you’re searching for things to do in Traverse City this fall, a Northern Michigan wine tour gives you three experiences in one: exceptional local wine, peak fall color, and one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the Midwest.
Here are five reasons fall may be the best time of year to go wine tasting in Northern Michigan.
1. Wine Tasting Meets Peak Northern Michigan Fall Colors
Let’s start with the obvious: Northern Michigan fall colors are spectacular.
The Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas are surrounded by water, vineyards, orchards, forests, and rolling hills. By late September and October, those landscapes begin changing from summer green to the deep reds, oranges, yellows, and golds that make fall in Northern Michigan famous.
And unlike a traditional fall color tour, a Traverse City wine tour gives you somewhere pretty wonderful to stop along the way.
Spend the morning following tree-lined country roads, stop for a wine tasting overlooking the vineyards, enjoy lunch in one of the peninsula’s small towns, then continue your color tour in the afternoon.
For travelers looking for fall things to do in Traverse City, it’s difficult to beat.
When Do Fall Colors Peak in Traverse City?
There isn’t one guaranteed date for peak color. Weather, temperature, rainfall, elevation, and proximity to the water can all influence when leaves change.
Generally, visitors begin seeing significant color in late September, with some of the strongest fall color typically arriving during October.
That variability can actually work in your favor. The peninsulas contain forests, vineyards, orchards, shorelines, and elevation changes, so there is often beautiful color throughout much of the fall season.
2. Fall Is Harvest Season in Northern Michigan Wine Country
If you want to experience wine country when it feels most alive, come during grape harvest.
Fall is when months of vineyard work culminate in picking, pressing, fermenting, and preparing the next vintage. Depending on the timing of your visit, you may see vineyard crews harvesting grapes or catch the unmistakable energy surrounding crush season.
It also creates an opportunity to understand what makes Michigan wine distinctive.
Northern Michigan’s cool climate is particularly well suited to varieties such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and grapes used in sparkling wine production.
When you visit a tasting room during harvest, the connection between vineyard and glass becomes much more tangible.
Local tip: Ask your tasting room host what’s currently happening in the vineyard or cellar. Fall is an especially interesting time to talk with the people who grow grapes and make the wines you’re tasting.
3. A Wine Tour Is One of the Best Fall Color Drives Near Traverse City
You don’t necessarily need to choose between a Northern Michigan wine tour and a fall color tour. Do both at once.
Leelanau Peninsula
A Leelanau Peninsula wine tour takes you through rolling farmland, vineyards, orchards, forests, and waterfront communities including Suttons Bay, Lake Leelanau, Leland, Omena, and Northport.
Build a route around three or four wineries rather than trying to visit as many as possible. You’ll have time for tastings, photographs, lunch, and spontaneous stops along the way when you find an especially beautiful view.
Old Mission Peninsula
An Old Mission Peninsula wine tour offers an entirely different landscape. The narrow peninsula stretches north from Traverse City between East and West Grand Traverse Bays, offering frequent water views alongside vineyards, orchards, rolling hills, and colorful hardwood forests.
Because the peninsula is relatively compact, it’s particularly convenient for visitors staying in downtown Traverse City.
How Many Wineries Should You Visit?
For most visitors, three to four wineries in one day is ideal.
Five may be reasonable with a well-planned route and reservations, but more isn’t necessarily better. Give yourself enough time to actually taste the wines, talk with your host, enjoy the property, eat something, and appreciate the fall scenery.
And if everyone in your group wants to participate in the tastings, book a wine tour, shuttle, taxi, or private driver rather than driving yourselves.
4. Wine Country Is Close to Some of the Best Places to View Fall Colors
Wine tasting can easily become the centerpiece of a larger Traverse City fall getaway.
Some of Northern Michigan’s best-known fall landscapes are close enough to combine with a wine-country weekend.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
For dramatic Lake Michigan scenery, Sleeping Bear Dunes is difficult to top. Forested trails, towering dunes, scenic overlooks, and brilliant blue water make the area especially impressive during fall.
Pair a morning near Sleeping Bear Dunes with an afternoon of wine tasting on the Leelanau Peninsula.
M-22 and the Leelanau Peninsula
The roads winding around Leelanau are an attraction themselves. A leisurely drive connects vineyards with orchards, forests, beaches, historic villages, and Lake Michigan shoreline.
Suttons Bay
Walk the waterfront, explore downtown shops and restaurants, then head into the surrounding countryside for a wine tasting. Suttons Bay makes an excellent home base for a Leelanau wine tour.
Leland and Fishtown
Historic Fishtown provides one of Leelanau County’s most recognizable waterfront settings. Combine it with nearby wineries and Lake Michigan views for an easy fall day trip.
Old Mission Peninsula
For a shorter scenic drive from Traverse City, head north through Old Mission Peninsula. Vineyards and orchards share the landscape with spectacular views of Grand Traverse Bay, especially as the trees begin changing.
5. Fall Wine Tasting Turns a Day Trip Into a Northern Michigan Getaway
One of the best parts of wine tasting near Traverse City is everything surrounding it.
Start with coffee and breakfast. Spend the day touring wineries. Stop for lunch. Browse the shops in Suttons Bay or Leland. Take a walk along the water. Have dinner featuring seasonal Northern Michigan ingredients. Then stay overnight instead of driving home.
For a longer trip, add Sleeping Bear Dunes, downtown Traverse City, hiking, biking, farm markets, or a second day of wine tasting.
At Black Star Farms, you can take that experience even further. Our Suttons Bay estate brings wine, food, lodging, and the Northern Michigan landscape together in one destination. Taste locally crafted wines, explore the estate, dine at Hop Lot, and make your fall wine tour a true wine-country getaway with a stay at the Inn at Black Star Farms.
Plan Your Fall Wine Tasting Trip to Northern Michigan
If you’ve been searching for things to do in Traverse City in the fall, put wine country near the top of your list.
Come for the fall colors. Stay for the wine.
Or come for the wine tasting and discover that the drive between wineries is every bit as memorable as what’s waiting inside them.
Either way, fall offers one of the most beautiful opportunities of the year to experience Traverse City, the Leelanau Peninsula, Old Mission Peninsula, and Northern Michigan wine country.
Ready to experience harvest season? Plan your visit to Black Star Farms and discover wine tasting, dining, lodging, and seasonal experiences on our Suttons Bay estate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fall Wine Tasting in Northern
Michigan
When is the best time to see fall colors in Traverse City?
Fall color around Traverse City generally begins developing in late September and continues through October, although peak color varies each year according to weather and location. Travelers planning specifically around peak foliage should check current color reports shortly before their trip.
What are the best places to see fall colors near Traverse City?
Popular places to view fall colors near Traverse City include the Leelanau Peninsula, M-22, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Suttons Bay, Leland, Old Mission Peninsula, and scenic roads surrounding the region’s vineyards and orchards. Combining these destinations with a wine tour is an easy way to experience both Northern Michigan wine country and fall foliage.
Is fall a good time for wine tasting in Traverse City?
Yes. Fall is one of the most exciting times for wine tasting in Traverse City and Northern Michigan because it coincides with grape harvest and fall color season. Visitors can experience active vineyards, seasonal wines, cooler weather, and colorful scenery during the same trip.
What should I wear wine tasting in Northern Michigan in the fall?
Dress in layers. Northern Michigan fall weather can change considerably between morning and afternoon. Comfortable shoes, a sweater or light jacket, and weather-appropriate outerwear are
useful, particularly if your wine tasting includes patios, vineyard walks, or other outdoor experiences.
Should I make reservations for Traverse City wineries in the fall?
Reservations are recommended whenever a winery offers them, particularly on September and October weekends. Fall color and harvest season are popular times for Traverse City wine tours, and larger groups should plan well in advance.
How many wineries should I visit during a fall wine tour?
Three to four wineries is a comfortable number for most one-day Northern Michigan wine tours. This provides time for tasting, lunch, scenic stops, and enjoying each winery rather than rushing between locations.
Which is better for fall wine tasting: Leelanau Peninsula or Old Mission Peninsula?
Both offer excellent wine tasting and fall colors. The Leelanau Peninsula is larger and lends itself to a full-day scenic road trip through wineries, forests, farmland, and waterfront towns. Old Mission Peninsula is more compact and convenient to downtown Traverse City, with vineyards, orchards, and frequent views of Grand Traverse Bay. If you have two days, spend one on each.
Can I book a driver or wine tour in Traverse City?
Yes. The Traverse City area has private drivers, shuttle services, taxis, and organized wine tour companies serving both the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. Using professional transportation allows everyone in your group to participate safely in wine tastings.
Can I combine Sleeping Bear Dunes with wine tasting?
Absolutely. Sleeping Bear Dunes and the Leelanau Peninsula make a natural combination for a fall day or weekend. Consider visiting Sleeping Bear Dunes in the morning, having lunch in Leland or Suttons Bay, and spending the afternoon wine tasting.
What wines should I try in Northern Michigan?
Northern Michigan is particularly well known for cool-climate varieties and styles, including Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and sparkling wine. Individual wineries offer different specialties, so trying several producers is part of the experience.