Great Beer Town, Wine Took the Day Off
Downtown Front Street · Traverse City · Brewpub / American Bar & Grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mackinaw Brewing Company’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Mackinaw Brewing and the room tells you exactly what this place is about: house-brewed craft beer, a buzzing downtown crowd, and a menu built for burgers and good times. The wine list shows up like an afterthought tucked at the bottom of the menu — a handful of options that feel like they were chosen to satisfy the one person at the table who doesn't drink beer. That person deserves better.
The list clocks in at somewhere between six and ten wines, which is fine for a brewpub, but the curation doesn't suggest anyone lost sleep over it. The one bright spot is a nod to the local wine scene — Traverse City sits in the heart of Michigan wine country, and Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling earns its place here. Beyond that, the list leans on crowd-pleasing varietals with no real regional depth or producer story to speak of. For a brewpub that's geographically surrounded by some genuinely interesting Michigan winemaking, this list barely scratches the surface.
Glass pours land somewhere in the four-to-eight range, which is adequate but not exciting. Don't expect a rotating selection or any seasonal adjustments — what's on the list is what's on the list, and it's been that way for a while. If you're here for wine by the glass, the Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling is your clearest path to a good pour.
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling — $
It's the one wine on this list that actually makes sense in context. Chateau Grand Traverse is a legit Northern Michigan producer, and a cold glass of their Riesling alongside pub food on a summer evening is genuinely hard to argue with. Local, honest, and appropriately priced for the room.
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling
Most people walking into a brewpub default to beer, which is fair. But Traverse City Riesling has real acid and fruit character that cuts through a greasy burger better than a lot of people expect. It's the only wine here with a sense of place — and that counts for something.
Generic House Red
Without specific producers named for the rest of the list, the unspecified house red options are flying blind. In a brewpub at this price point, anonymous red wine rarely punches above its weight — save your money and order a house lager instead.
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling + Burger
Riesling's bright acidity and a touch of residual sweetness do real work against a fat, savory burger. It's not a pairing you'd see on a fancy tasting menu, but it works — and frankly, it's your best move on this particular list.
❌ The Bottom Line
Mackinaw Brewing is a great place to drink beer in downtown Traverse City, and nobody should walk in expecting otherwise. If wine is your thing, order the local Riesling, appreciate the nod to Michigan wine country, and let the rest of the list do its quiet, unremarkable job.
Slabtown / West Front Street · Traverse City · American tavern fare with waterfront grill classics
West End Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something right by leaning into what grows in its own backyard. If you're in Traverse City and want local wine without ceremony, pull up a patio chair and order the Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
US-31 South / East Side · Traverse City · Mexican
Agave is a solid casual cantina — the margaritas are the move and everyone at the table knows it. The wine list is an afterthought, and there's no shame in treating it like one.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Front Street · Traverse City · Seafood/Raw Bar
Umbo is quietly one of the more interesting wine programs in northern Michigan, built with a clear point of view around Old World acid and seafood compatibility. The pricing is a stretch and the list could use more depth, but if you're eating oysters in Traverse City, this is where you want to be drinking.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Front Street · Traverse City · Steakhouse / Contemporary American
The Pretty Penny is a dependable date-night wine list in a beautiful lakeside town — not adventurous, not cheap, but competent enough to make your steak night work. If you're a wine explorer looking for discovery, you might leave a little flat; if you just want a solid Cabernet with a great meal on Front Street, you're in good hands.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Front Street · Traverse City · Steakhouse with Seafood and Contemporary American
Slate is a dependable steakhouse wine list that plays to its crowd — nothing wrong with that, but adventurous drinkers should zero in on the L. Mawby and call it a night. Send a friend here for a solid meal and a glass of something local; just don't expect the list to challenge them.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Union Street · Traverse City · Gastropub
7 Monks is a beer bar first and a wine program somewhere around fourth, but the short list is priced fairly, includes a local Michigan pour worth ordering, and doesn't try to be something it's not. Send a wine-drinking friend here if they're cool with keeping it simple.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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