Sample Exclusive Wines & More With GR-Area Wine Tours

Grand Rapids’ status as the Craft Beverage Capital of the U.S. may be grounded in our decade-plus (and counting) reign as Beer City USA, but our artisanal drink expertise extends far beyond the 40+ breweries on our Beer City Ale Trail. Grand Rapids is also a destination for craft ciders, spirits, meads, coffees, sodas and wines.

Local beverage masters make extensive use of ingredients grown right here in West Michigan to differentiate and distinguish their offerings. This is especially true of area vineyards, which take advantage of the insulating effect of Lake Michigan to produce a variety of excellent “cool-climate” wines, from big, bold red varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot to sweet and rich ice wines made from grapes left to freeze on the vine.

One of the best ways to learn about the climate, soil, topography and other influences that contribute to the unique terroir of Grand Rapids and West Michigan is to take a guided wine tour. You can visit vineyards, wine bars and tasting rooms, taste samples, and absorb fascinating facts about local wine products. It’s a safe, fun and delicious way to explore wine!

Here are some of our favorite local wine tours.

Tours Around Michigan

Tours Around Michigan offers a public walking tour of wine bars and tasting rooms in downtown Grand Rapids. Guests will sample ice, fruit, red and white wines from top Michigan vineyards and get tasting tips from local sommeliers, all while learning about wine production in a cold climate. The three venues you visit may include Forty Pearl, which brings a taste of northern Michigan wines to Grand Rapids, and House of Wine, which has created a special wine flight just for this tour. Your guide will also share city history as you walk between locations.

Tours are conducted for groups of 4-20  people and are available on most Saturdays throughout the year. Wheelchairs, scooters and strollers can be accommodated, and there are alcohol-free options for guests under 21 years of age. The cost is $125 per person.

Tours Around Michigan also offers private tours of wineries from southwest Michigan all the way north to the Traverse City region, and public tours focusing on Grand Rapids art, churches, historic homes and more.

The Magic Shuttle Bus

With a fleet of vehicles accommodating from 14-20 people, The Magic Shuttle Bus lets you customize your wine tour from a menu of wineries and tasting rooms in and around Grand Rapids. You can also book a combined wine and beer tour. (Did you know a number of local breweries produce their own wines?) You’ll enjoy the services of an experienced driver who will keep you entertained and informed.

Each vehicle booked requires a minimum of a 4-hour tour and comes with a large beverage cooler for drinks or ice. The cost ranges from $150-$175 per hour. The Magic Shuttle Bus also offers brewery tours and wedding transportation.

Gail Andrus Tours

Uncork and unwind with a beverage tour from Gail Andrus Travel, which has been providing tour services since 1982. Choose a 4-hour Grand Rapids-area tour or 4-hour Southwest Michigan tour with transportation via luxury SUV (for 2-6 people), Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van (7-13 people) or executive mini coach (14-35). Prices start at $475 for Grand Rapids and $615 for Southwest Michigan, and in both cases, the hassle-free, chauffeured experience is just as deluxe as the transport vehicles.

You can visit wineries, breweries or a combination of both, and Gail Andrus Travel can also arrange for hotel accommodations, if you’d like. Let their knowledge and experience create a memorable day trip or weekend getaway for you and your friends, family or corporate colleagues.

Muskegon Tour Company

Michigan wines and sand dunes are a Pure Michigan combination – and you can enjoy the mix courtesy of Muskegon Tour Company. Their tour includes a 40-minute ride up, down and around spectacular Lake Michigan sand dunes in an open-air dune scooter plus a stop at a Michigan winery for samples of its classic and contemporary wine styles made with home-grown ingredients. Take in scenic views of the vineyard and Lake Michigan while you enjoy your wine.

Muskegon Tour Company also offers a variety of additional guided experiences focusing on Muskegon beaches, heritage, architecture, maritime history and more. Muskegon is a lakeshore community 45 minutes northwest of Grand Rapids.

Raise a Glass Wine Tours

Raise a Glass Wine Tours  is a venture that chauffeurs guests around the greater Grand Rapids area for a luxury, one-of-a-kind local wine tour, beginning when the chauffeur picks you up at your downtown hotel or location of choice.

Public tour options include a dinner wine tour and a brunch wine tour of local restaurants and wine bars, with each stop offering a variety of wine samples and food pairings. Each location selects pairings ahead of time and often includes items that are not on the regular menu. This allows for a truly unique experience that makes each tour different from the last. Raise a Glass promises you “a trip around the world through wine, food and culture,” so you won’t just encounter Michigan wines.

The public brunch and dinner tours are each priced at $169.99 per person and require a minimum of eight guests to run – it’s a great way to meet new people interested in wine if your group isn’t large enough on its own. Raise a Glass also offers private wine tours for small groups (starting at $194.99 per person for 5-7 guests) and couples (starting at $249.99 per person for 2-4 guests), and is happy to provide wine tours for bachelorette parties, birthday parties and corporate celebrations.

Plan Your Own Tour

Map out your own wine tour for a truly private experience. Browse the 31 wineries in our Drinks & Breweries listings – just check the Winery category at the left-hand side of the screen – and consult our list of the best local wine bars to make your list. Then contact Affordable Limousine or Five Star Sedan & Limo for a transportation quote.

Booking a Tour

Visit these tour operators online to book your wine tour. Tours book out weeks in advance and often sell out ahead of time, so the sooner the better. Be sure to book your reservation well in advance if you are bringing a large party for the experience. 

You’ll enjoy a one-of-a-kind Grand Rapids experience and develop a new (or greater) appreciation for our local wine community!