Michigan's Best Brunch Has a Wine Secret
Downtown State Street · Traverse City · American (Breakfast, Brunch & Lunch) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Towne Plaza’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You walk into a cozy downtown Traverse City brunch spot and the last thing you expect is a wine list that makes you stop scrolling. This isn't a wine bar — it's a 30-ish bottle list at a daytime café — but whoever curated it clearly gave a damn. The local Michigan presence alone earns immediate respect.
The list punches well above its weight class for a brunch spot. Michigan anchors the whole thing with Black Star Farms 'Arcturos' Dry Riesling from Leelanau and Chateau Grand Traverse 'Ship of Fools' white blend from Old Mission Peninsula sitting alongside a Domaine André Neveu Sancerre and a Touraine Noble Joué Rosé — that's a Loire Valley double-header most casual restaurants wouldn't touch. There's a South African Bloem Chenin Blanc/Viognier blend throwing a curveball, an Ethereo Albariño from Spain, and a Decibel Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand rounding out a genuinely international spread. The California contingent is minimal and predictable — just a Joseph Carr oaked Chardonnay — but it doesn't drag the list down.
With an estimated 10–15 by-the-glass options pulled from a list this size, nearly everything is available by the pour, which is exactly right for a brunch crowd that's splitting dishes and not committing to a full bottle at 11am. No visible rotation program, which is the one knock — the glass list appears to stay static rather than cycling with the seasons.
Black Star Farms 'Arcturos' Dry Riesling — Unknown
One of the Leelanau Peninsula's flagship producers, Black Star Farms makes a Dry Riesling that regularly outperforms its price tag. Getting it on a brunch list in its own backyard — and presumably at a fair markup given the restaurant's overall pricing — makes this the no-brainer order.
Touraine Noble Joué Rosé
Most people walk past Loire Valley rosé without a second glance, but Noble Joué is a rare appellation — a blend of Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir grown just outside Tours. You almost never see it on American restaurant lists, let alone at a Michigan brunch spot. Order it before someone notices it's there.
Joseph Carr Chardonnay 'Oaked'
It's fine. It's just the most predictable, safe-harbor California Chardonnay pick on an otherwise interesting list. When you've got a Domaine de la Grange Unoaked Chardonnay from France sitting right next to it, the Joseph Carr feels like an afterthought for guests who don't want to think too hard. Skip it and go French.
Bloem Chenin Blanc/Viognier + Chicken Benedict
The Bloem's Chenin Blanc backbone brings enough acidity to cut through hollandaise, while the Viognier adds a floral, stone-fruit note that flatters the chicken without fighting the egg. It's a brunch pairing that actually makes sense instead of just defaulting to a Mimosa.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Towne Plaza has no business having a wine list this interesting for a daytime brunch café — and that's exactly why we like it. If you're in Traverse City and want to drink local Michigan wine without sitting through a four-course dinner, this is your move.
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