Ski or snowshoe to wineries with these winter wine tours

January may not seem like the best time to do a winery tour in Northern Michigan, but that's because you haven't considered doing it via snowshoes or cross-country skis.

Located along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Traverse City is the heart of Northern Michigan wine country — especially for aficionados of the region's sweet ice wine. Wineries cluster along two nearby peninsulas, Leelanau and Old Mission.

Last winter, several Leelanau tasting rooms launched the Leelanau Ski/Snowshoe Wine Trail, which stretches 7.5 miles and connects two wineries and an artisan cider manufacturer.

This winter, Old Mission Peninsula joined the party, designing a trail that connects a brewery and two wineries.

The Leelanau trail "is an exciting way to experience great local wines and ciders," said Mike Norton, media relations manager for the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The trail connects Blustone Vineyards, Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery, and Tandem Ciders. Visitors can trek through the snow-covered countryside, then warm up in the three tasting rooms.

Forty-Five North offers tastings in a cozy reclaimed barn, while Blustone's tasting room is a modern space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the vineyard.

Tandem Ciders — named for the tandem bicycle on which the owners once toured England — has a tasting room in a small white barn. Visitors can sample hard ciders like the Smackintosh and the Crabster, as well as several craft sodas.

In addition to trekking the Leelanau Ski/Snowshoe Wine Trail, wine enthusiasts can try the paved 17-mile Leelanau Trail, which connects Traverse City and Suttons Bay.

The reclaimed railroad corridor passes by many of the peninsula's wineries, including Black Star Farms, Shady Lane Cellars, Willow Vineyards, and Mawby. The latter is known primarily for its sparkling wines.

On Old Mission Peninsula, the region's newest winter trail connects one brewery and two wineries.

The Old Mission Snowshoe, Wine and Brew Trail is open Sundays only. Participants park at Jolly Pumpkin Brewery and take a free shuttle to Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery.

A flagged trail — running mostly downhill — connects it with Bowers Harbor Vineyard and the Jolly Pumpkin.

All three locations offer $5 tasting flights and other specials. And if you purchase any wines along the way, the shuttle will deliver them to you at the final stop.

If you don't own snowshoes or cross-country skis, you can rent them for the day. Suttons Bay Bikes, which rents both, is located just a block away from the Leelanau Trail trailhead. Brick Wheels, which is located in Traverse City, is closer to the Old Mission Peninsula trail.

If You Go

• Blustone Vineyards: 780 N. Sylt Road, Lake Leelanau; (231) 256-0146; blustonevineyards.com

• Bowers Harbor Vineyard: 2896 Bowers Harbor Road, Traverse City; (231) 223-7615; bowersharbor.com

• Brick Wheels: 736 E. 8th St., Traverse City; (231) 947-4274; brickwheels.com

• Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery: 3309 Blue Water Road, Traverse City; (231) 223-9303; brysestate.com

• Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery: 8580 E. Horn Road, Lake Leelanau; (231) 271-1188; fortyfivenorth.com

• Jolly Pumpkin Brewery: 13512 Peninsula Dr., Traverse City; (231) 223-4333

• Suttons Bay Bikes: 318 St. Joseph St., Suttons Bay; (231) 421-6815; suttonsbaybikes.com

• Tandem Ciders: 2055 N. Setterbo Road, Suttons Bay; (231) 271-0050; tandemciders.com