Sign In

or

No password needed โ€” we'll email you a sign-in link.

๐ŸŽฒThe Wild Card

The Station 100

Bavarian Town Hiding a Serious Wine Cellar

Downtown Frankenmuth ยท Detroit ยท Steakhouse, Seafood, European ยท Visit Website โ†—

deep-cellardate-nightold-world-focussplurge-worthy

Reviewed March 22, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupSteep
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

You're in Frankenmuth โ€” famous for chicken dinners and Christmas ornaments โ€” and then this list lands in front of you: 505 selections, 5,100 bottles in inventory, a sommelier on staff. It's the last thing you expect and exactly what you needed. The European fine-dining room matches the ambition.

Selection Deep Dive

The list leans hard into Bordeaux and Italy with France anchoring the old-world side, but California heavyweights like Opus One, Caymus Special Selection, Silver Oak, and Jordan make sure the crowd stays happy too. At 505 selections, there's genuine depth here โ€” this isn't a curated boutique list, it's a serious cellar that took years to build. Duckhorn Merlot shows up as a nod to more approachable American options, though the real weight is in the upper-tier Cabs and Bordeaux. The gaps are on the adventurous side โ€” don't come looking for natural wine or esoteric skin-contact bottles.

By the Glass

By-the-glass specifics weren't available at time of review, which is a minor frustration given the depth of the bottle program. With a sommelier on staff and a list this size, we'd expect a rotating glass selection worth talking about โ€” we just can't confirm it. Ask your server what's open; a cellar like this usually has something worth pouring.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon โ€” null

Jordan consistently punches above its price in the Alexander Valley tier โ€” it's the most food-friendly Cab on a list heavy with muscle-bound options, and it won't require a second mortgage. Ask about current pricing; it's the move if you want California Cab without going full Opus.

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

Duckhorn Merlot

Everyone skips Merlot in 2024 and that's exactly why you shouldn't. Duckhorn's is one of the benchmark Napa Merlots โ€” rich, structured, and genuinely delicious โ€” and in a room full of Cab-heads it flies under the radar every time.

โ›”Skip This

Opus One

Opus One is a trophy wine, full stop. At a restaurant with a $$$$ price tag, the markup on an already-expensive bottle is going to be painful. It's a flex purchase, not a value play โ€” and at this price tier, Jordan or Silver Oak will leave you just as satisfied with money left over.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon + Wiener Schnitzel

Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab has enough bright fruit and vanilla-forward oak to stand up to the richness of a properly fried schnitzel without trampling the delicate veal. It's an unconventional pairing by the book, but that's exactly the kind of move a wine list like this invites you to try.

๐ŸŽฒ The Bottom Line

A 505-bottle cellar with a sommelier in a Bavarian tourist town is genuinely wild, and The Station 100 earns its Wild Card badge by being exactly that โ€” unexpected, ambitious, and worth the detour if you care about wine. Pricing is steep, but the depth and seriousness of the program give it real credibility.

Comments

Cmd+Enter to post
Loading comments...

Sign In

or

No password needed โ€” we'll email you a sign-in link.

Get the Weekly Wingman

One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.