A new beginning on Old Mission Peninsula…
and a historic Tasting Room in town.

In 1999, Barry and Laura O'Brien made the decision to leave New York City and return to Traverse City, Michigan. Laura set out to find a property on Old Mission Peninsula with a few key features: several acres of land, a west-facing slope, and a barn. She found exactly that—an elevated former fruit farm along Center Road, once home to cherries, peaches, plums, and raspberries.

Following the sale of his Fifth Avenue apartment in Manhattan, Barry purchased the farm and set out to transform the land. He cleared the aging fruit trees and initiated a process of soil restoration, planting rye and clover to enhance organic matter and correct the naturally acidic pH. The soil was allowed to regenerate from 2000 to 2006 before being planted with Vitis vinifera grapevines - the European varieties that we know by their common names, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Cabernet Franc etc.

In 2023 we opened our Tasting Room on the grounds of the historic Grand Traverse Commons. Visit us there to taste/purchase our wines: 1380 Yellow Drive, Traverse City, MI. Hours: Wednesday - Thursday 3pm - 6pm, Fridays 3 - 7pm. Saturdays 1-6pm, and by appointment.

Crafting a vineyard with global insight and local roots

With decades of experience as a wine importer and extensive travel through the world’s great wine regions, Barry brought a clear vision of what he wanted the vineyard to become. In 2006, he selected and planted ENTAV-certified clones of Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer—grape varieties well-suited to Northern Michigan’s cool-climate growing conditions. These plantings laid the foundation for a diverse and expressive portfolio: elegant, aromatic blended white wines; structured and age-worthy Pinot Noirs; and crisp, mineral-driven Rieslings that reflect the peninsula’s unique terroir.

In 2009, the vineyard was further expanded with the addition of Tempranillo, Graciano, and Cabernet Franc. These varietals, traditionally associated with warmer regions, have shown remarkable character in the mesoclimate of the Old Mission Peninsula. Tempranillo and Graciano contribute to bold, complex reds with a balance of spice and dark fruit, while Cabernet Franc yields vibrant, medium-bodied wines with herbaceous and red berry notes. The result is our Tintō Finō, a fine medium bodied red wine with vibrancy and finesse.

Laura had just one request: to produce sparkling wines. The result was the Brut Rosé—an elegant expression of Old Mission Peninsula’s cool-climate terroir and a hallmark of the ŌBV portfolio. In 2020, Épicé, a Méthode Traditionelle sparkling wine made from Gewürztraminer was introduced. And in 2021 we released Verde, a light, fruity and fizzy sparkler­—a delight of freshness and fun. 

The wonderful grape Riesling was among the first cultivars planted at ŌBV with a focus on dry table wines in the tradition of Alsace in France. These wines have great intensity of flavor and balance making them perfect for the dinner table.