Cut River Grille

You're at a lakeside grille in Northern Michigan — not exactly Napa Valley — and the wine list is longer than you'd expect. It's a California-forward list that doesn't pretend to be something it's not, which is honestly refreshing. The $30–$120 price range keeps things accessible for a resort crowd that's here to relax, not to impress.

The list sits in that 75–150 bottle range and leans hard into California, which is the right call for a place like this. You'll find recognizable names like Caymus, Jordan, and Rombauer doing the heavy lifting — these are wines people know and trust, and they're executed well here. There's not a lot of adventure or Old World depth, and anything outside California feels more like a token inclusion than a genuine commitment. Wine Spectator gave them an Award of Excellence in 2024, which tells you the list is curated with some care, even if it plays to the crowd.

Ten to eighteen options by the glass is a solid pour program for a lakeside spot that sees heavy seasonal traffic. The glass list mirrors the bottle list in its California focus, so expect Chardonnay and Cab to dominate. Rotation doesn't appear to be aggressive — this feels like a program that finds what works and sticks with it.