Northern Michigan chophouse with California cred
Harbor Springs · Harbor Springs · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine cellar room with a fireplace sets expectations high — this feels like a place that takes wine seriously, at least aesthetically. Flip open the list and you're greeted with a California-centric parade of familiar faces: Caymus, Jordan, Duckhorn. It's a confident, crowd-pleasing lineup that plays well with the steakhouse crowd.
Vernales leans hard into California, and they do it without apology — Wine Spectator has been handing them an Award of Excellence since 2016, so the program clearly meets a real bar. Caymus Cabernet, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Sonoma-Cutrer: these are names your parents know and your date will recognize, which is probably the point. What's missing is any real adventure — no Oregon Pinot lurking in the wings, no Rhône varieties, no nod to European classics. At 100-200 bottles strong, there's enough depth to keep a table happy, but the list reads more like a greatest-hits album than a curated collection.
With 10-20 pours available, the by-the-glass program is workable for a restaurant at this level in northern Michigan. Meiomi Pinot Noir and Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay are the reliable anchors — familiar, crowd-safe, and competent. Don't expect a rotating slate of interesting pours; what's on the list is likely what's been on the list.
Jordan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon — $75
Jordan punches well above its price point relative to the Napa heavy-hitters on this list. It's the kind of bottle that drinks like a special occasion wine without the full sticker shock of Caymus or Duckhorn.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
It's not exactly obscure, but in a room full of people defaulting to Caymus, Stag's Leap gets consistently overlooked. More structure, better aging potential, and a Napa pedigree that actually earned its reputation — the 1976 Paris Tasting didn't happen by accident.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a grocery store bottle marked up to restaurant prices. It's soft, sweet, and engineered for mass appeal — nothing wrong with it at $15 retail, but paying restaurant markup for a wine you can grab at Kroger on the way home is a tough sell.
Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot + Filet mignon
Duckhorn's Merlot has enough plush dark fruit and structure to stand up to a well-seared filet without bullying it the way a big Cab might. It's the move for anyone who wants red meat with some elegance at the table.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Vernales is a dependable wine destination for northern Michigan — the setting is genuinely great, the California lineup is well-chosen even if it plays it safe, and the Award of Excellence is earned. Just don't come looking for surprises, and watch the markup.
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