Gilded Walls, Decent Pours, Steep Tabs
Midtown · Detroit · American Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Whitney feels like stepping into a Jay Gatsby fever dream — carved mahogany, stained glass, and a wine list that tries to match the grandeur of the 1894 mansion it lives in. The list is long and covers serious ground, from Michigan locals to Brunello to Champagne. First instinct: this place takes wine seriously, even if your wallet is going to feel it.
The list earns genuine respect for its range — Michigan producers like Black Star Farms and Chateau Grand Traverse sit alongside Masi Amarone, Arigano Brunello di Montalcino, and Chateau Lassegue Grand Cru St. Emilion. That's a rare and commendable nod to local viticulture in a fine dining context. California is well-represented with Belle Glos 'Clark & Telephone' and Bravium Russian River Chardonnay, and Burgundy shows up through Louis Jadot. The weak spot is the markup structure — entry-level bottles like Don Miguel Gascon Malbec at $65 retail for $18 are quietly punishing, and the list doesn't offer enough value at the lower tiers to justify the pricing.
At least 18 by-the-glass options running $12–$17 is a solid spread for a restaurant of this caliber, and the range hits most major categories. Nicolas Feuillatte Brut and Moet & Chandon Brut Rosé make the bubbles category genuinely fun by the glass. The glass program leans crowd-pleasing but does the job for guests who aren't ready to commit to a bottle.
Bravium Chardonnay Russian River Valley — $59
At 111% markup, this is the least punishing bottle on the list — and it's actually a quality pour. Russian River Chardonnay at this price point in a Gilded Age mansion is about as reasonable as The Whitney gets.
Black Star Farms 'Sur Lie' Chardonnay Michigan
Most guests will reach past this for a California or French Chardonnay, but Black Star Farms is one of Michigan's most serious producers. The 'Sur Lie' method adds texture and complexity that surprises people who write off Midwest wine on principle.
Don Miguel Gascon Malbec Mendoza
At $65 a bottle for something you can grab off a grocery store shelf for $18, this is the list's most cynical markup at 261%. It's fine Malbec — but it's a $18 bottle, and the restaurant is charging nearly four times that. Order something that earns the price tag.
Chateau Lassegue Grand Cru St. Emilion Bordeaux + Beef Tenderloin
Right Bank Bordeaux and beef tenderloin is a classic for a reason — the Merlot-dominant blend from St. Emilion has the structure to stand up to the meat without overpowering it. In a room this beautiful, this is the move.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Whitney's wine list is like the building itself — impressive on the surface, with some genuine highlights underneath, but you're paying a premium for the atmosphere. Go in eyes open on the markups, stick to the better bottles, and the experience absolutely delivers.
Renaissance Center · Detroit · Regional Steakhouse
Highlands is a reliable special-occasion wine stop backed by a knowledgeable sommelier in Kevin Williams and a Wine Spectator Award it's held since 2022. The list won't surprise you, but at 71 floors up with a bone-in ribeye in front of you, you probably weren't asking it to.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Corktown · Detroit · Italian, Swiss
Alpino is doing something genuinely unusual for Detroit — an alpine-themed kitchen with a wine list that actually matches the room's ambition, not just its vibe. Send your friends here, tell them to order Austrian, and sit near the fireplace.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southfield · Detroit · Northern Italian
Bacco is the kind of wine program that makes you feel like Detroit's been holding out on you — 11,000 bottles, a sommelier who actually knows the cellar, and a room serious enough to let a 2000 Gaja breathe properly. The prices will make your eyes water, but this is a destination list worth the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Rochester Hills · Detroit · Italian
La Collina is a perfectly decent neighborhood Italian spot that treats its wine list like an afterthought — familiar names, steep markups, no real sense of curation or care. Drink the Brunello or order a Negroni and don't look back.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Detroit · Detroit · Contemporary American
The Apparatus Room is the wine list Detroit didn't know it needed — thoughtful, fairly priced, and backed by a sommelier who actually shows up. If you're eating downtown and you care about what's in your glass, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Unknown · Detroit · Steakhouse
Shanahan's is playing a different game than most Detroit restaurants — the wine list is destination-worthy on its own merits, even if the markups reflect the ambition. If you're serious about wine with your steak, this is where you go.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Side · Charleston · American Fine Dining
High Thyme is the best wine list in the room by a wide margin — the room being Charleston, West Virginia, but still, credit where it's due. Come on a Monday, grab the En Route Pinot at half price, and order the duck.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Crown Center · Kansas City · American Fine Dining
The American Restaurant is the real deal — a Kansas City institution with a wine program that could hold its own in any major dining city. Markups are what you'd expect at this level, but the depth of the Guigal collection alone makes it worth the trip if you care about serious Rhône.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Wade Avenue · Raleigh · American Fine Dining
Nanas is a Raleigh institution that earns its reputation on the wine side — deep list, fair markups, and a sommelier on the floor who actually knows what's on it. It's not the most adventurous program in town, but it's one of the most reliable, and that counts for a lot when you're spending real money on dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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