Tabone Vineyards

Tabone Vineyards is a small estate winery on Old Mission Peninsula in Traverse City, Michigan, built around fruit Mario A. Tabone has farmed on this property since 2003. He owns the winery, makes the wine, and released the first vintage in 2014. That gives the place a straightforward identity: estate-grown wines from a mature vineyard, made in small batches by the person who has worked the site for years.

The core lineup stays close to what Old Mission Peninsula does well, with Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris leading the way, plus Pinot Meunier showing up in rosé and sparkling bottlings. The wine list goes broader than many small Michigan wineries, with Bubbly Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, reserve red blends, and a few limited releases that lean a little playful, including a barrel-strength Chardonnay aged nearly three years and bottled at 18% ABV. Awards back up the program: the 2023 Renell Sparkling Rosé of Pinot Meunier won Gold at the 2024 Finger Lakes International, the 2022 Bubbly Chardonnay took Gold at the 2024 Michigan Governor’s Cup, and the 2020 Bubbly Riesling earned 93 points from Tastings.com.

For visitors, Tabone keeps things easygoing rather than formal. The tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seating, reservations are recommended, and walk-ins work when space opens up. Flights replace traditional guided tastings, and the patio is pet-friendly, family-friendly, and set up for lingering with snacks, cheese, or charcuterie when the seasonal food menu is running.