I’m not your typical wine drinker—I like my wine mixed with a little adventure. For me, wine tasting doesn’t have to mean sitting silently at a polished table, swirling a glass while pretending to identify notes of oak, cherry, or leather. Although most people imagine wine tasting as a sophisticated environment filled with well-versed individuals engaging in refined conversations, the reality is much simpler: you don’t have to be an expert to enjoy the benefits of drinking wine. You just have to be open to the experience.

That realization became clear during my trip to Traverse City, Michigan—a destination that quietly redefined what wine tasting could be for me.