Lodi's Backyard with a Decent Wine Rack
West Lodi / Lincoln Center area · Lodi · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 17, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Market Tavern’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Market Tavern reads like a greatest-hits reel of California favorites with a few smart Lodi locals tucked in — exactly what you'd hope for from a gastropub sitting in a shopping center. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's clearly not phoning it in either. The BTG selection is genuinely generous for a spot where burgers are the main event.
The list leans heavily California, with Napa, Sonoma, and Central Coast doing most of the work, but the Lodi representation is a real differentiator — Oak Farms' 'Tievoli' Red Blend and the Peltier Zinfandel give the list a sense of place that most gastropubs never bother with. There's no old-world depth to speak of beyond Chateau Miraval and La Marca Prosecco, and anyone hunting Burgundy or Rhône is going home disappointed. The range of styles — sparkling, rosé, white, red — is covered competently, even if nothing on the list will surprise a seasoned wine drinker. Think of it as a well-stocked neighborhood fridge: everything you need, nothing you didn't expect.
With somewhere between 18 and 22 options by the glass, this is a by-the-glass program that punches well above the gastropub average. Prices run from $8 up to $19.50, which keeps the entry point accessible without making the good stuff feel out of reach. There's no sign of a rotating or seasonal BTG program — what's on the menu is what's on the menu — but the sheer volume of pours means most tables will find something that works.
Peltier Zinfandel, Lodi 2022 — $38
You're literally in Lodi — drinking local Zinfandel here is the right call, and Peltier is a quality producer delivering a bottle that drinks well above its price point in a restaurant context.
Oak Farms 'Tievoli' Red Blend, Lodi 2022
Most tables will reach past this for something with name recognition, but Oak Farms is one of Lodi's most serious producers and 'Tievoli' is a genuinely interesting red blend that you won't find on many lists outside the region.
Josh Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2021
Josh is a grocery store brand dressed up in restaurant markup. With Peltier and Oak Farms on the same list, there's zero reason to order this.
Belle Glos 'Dairyman' Pinot Noir, Russian River 2022 + Burgers
Belle Glos runs richer and darker than most Pinot, which means it can actually hold its own against a juicy gastropub burger without getting swallowed. It's the move when you want something red but not a full Cab.
The Bottom Line
Market Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its place as the kind of reliable neighborhood spot where you won't feel bad about ordering a second glass. If you're in Lodi and skipping the local bottles, you're doing it wrong.
Downtown Lodi · Lodi · New American
Zin Bistro is the rare restaurant that actually belongs in its wine region — it champions Lodi producers with conviction and gives old-vine Zinfandel the platform it deserves. If you've been sleeping on Lodi as a wine destination, dinner here is a fast education.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Lodi / Lockeford Street corridor · Lodi · Wood-fired pizza and contemporary American small plates
Guantonio's is doing something genuinely rare: running a focused, producer-specific, locally-rooted wine program inside a casual pizza restaurant, and doing it at prices that don't punish you for being curious. If you're eating in Lodi, this is where you drink.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lodi Wine Region · Lodi · Winery Tasting Room
LVVR is a genuine Wild Card — a serious sparkling program planted in the last place most California wine drinkers would look for one. If you're road-tripping through Lodi or just tired of paying Napa prices for bubbles, this is exactly the kind of discovery that makes regional wine exploration worth it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Lodi · Lodi · Winery Tasting Room
Onus isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's a focused estate pour in a shared Lodi tasting room, and at $10–$20 for a flight, the price of admission is low enough that curiosity alone justifies the stop. If you're passing through Lodi and want to understand why the region is having a moment, this is a fine place to start.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lodi Wine Region · Lodi · Winery tasting room specializing in Spanish-style varietal wines
If you think Lodi means bulk Zinfandel and nothing else, Bokisch is the correction you didn't know you needed. Come for the flight, leave with a bottle of Graciano and a slightly revised worldview.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Lodi / Hwy 12 Corridor · Lodi · Winery Tasting Room
If you're in Lodi and haven't done the Michael David tasting room, you're leaving a gap in your California wine map. The prices are absurdly fair at the source, the Inkblot lineup rewards the curious, and the energy makes it easy to stay longer than you planned.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Abilene · New American / Gastropub
Cork & Pig Tavern is doing more with wine than Abilene probably demands, and we respect the effort — the by-the-glass program alone is worth the stop. If you're passing through West Texas and need a legit glass of something interesting, this is your place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Irvine · New American / Gastropub
Bosscat is a solid spot for craft cocktails and a good time — the wine list just isn't the reason to come. If you're committed to wine, go Emmolo or Austin Hope and call it a night; everything else is paying a premium for the familiar.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Redmond · Redmond · New American / Gastropub
Woodblock isn't a wine destination, but with fair markups, a legit half-price bottle program, and solid Washington State representation, it earns its keep as a neighborhood spot that won't insult your palate. Show up on a Wednesday and it's genuinely hard to complain.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
