Michigan's backyard, bottled and priced fairly
Old Mission Peninsula · Traverse City · Upscale American with regional seafood and steak · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Boathouse Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — 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 open the wine list at The Boathouse with West Bay shimmering through the windows and honestly, the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting. The list itself is a competent upscale-American affair — Michigan locals mixed with Napa heavyweights and Sonoma standards. It's not going to surprise you, but it's not going to embarrass you either.
The smart move here is leaning into the local anchor: Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling sits on the list as a literal neighbor, grown less than a mile from where you're eating, and it earns its spot. Mawby sparkling from Leelanau Peninsula rounds out a respectable Michigan section that most waterfront restaurants wouldn't bother with. Beyond that, the list defaults to the reliable hits — Caymus Cab, Jordan Alexander Valley, Sonoma-Cutrer Chard — which is fine but tells you the program is built for the safe middle of the crowd, not the curious edge. Pacific Northwest bottles add some range, but don't expect a deep dive into Willamette Valley Pinot or anything that requires explanation.
The by-the-glass program runs a solid 12-plus options, covering the basics from sparkling through red without any obvious gaps. Rotation doesn't appear to be aggressive — this reads like a list that gets refreshed seasonally at best, not weekly. That said, having Chateau Grand Traverse and Mawby available by the glass would be a genuine differentiator; if they're on there, order them.
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling — $45
You're sitting on Old Mission Peninsula, one of the best Riesling appellations in the country. Drinking this here is the whole point — local, food-friendly with the whitefish, and priced reasonably relative to the imported options on the same list.
Mawby Sparkling Wine
Most tables at The Boathouse walk right past this. L. Mawby is a Leelanau Peninsula producer doing serious méthode champenoise work, and ordering it here — with water views and Great Lakes seafood — is exactly the kind of regional moment you can't replicate anywhere else. Don't let the table next to you order Caymus while you drink this.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a reliable crowd-pleaser but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurants, and The Boathouse is no exception. You're paying for the name recognition at a premium you'd never accept at a wine shop. The Jordan Alexander Valley Cab next to it drinks nearly as well and almost certainly costs less — go that direction instead.
Chateau Grand Traverse Riesling + Great Lakes Whitefish
Off-dry Michigan Riesling with lightly sweet stone fruit and snappy acidity cuts right through the richness of pan-seared whitefish. This is the local terroir handshake — both things made within 20 miles of your table. Order this combination and feel smarter than everyone else in the room.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Boathouse is a Reliable with real potential it hasn't fully grabbed — the Michigan wine story is right there, and the list leans into it just enough to be worth your attention. Come for the local pours, enjoy the view, and don't let anyone talk you into the Caymus.
Downtown Front Street · Traverse City · Brewpub / American Bar & Grill
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.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.