California's Greatest Hits, Poured Daily
Lincoln Center · Stockton · California Cuisine / American-Fusion Small Plates and Steaks · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Midgley's Public House’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Midgley's reads like a California greatest hits playlist — comfortable, crowd-friendly, and built for the Lincoln Center dinner crowd that knows what they like. There's no pretension here, which is honestly refreshing. You're not going to find anything that challenges you, but you're also not going to get burned.
The list leans heavily California, working through Lodi, Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Livermore Valley with a few Pacific Northwest and Italian ringers thrown in for variety. Michael David earns a mini-takeover with the Inkblot Cab Franc, Freakshow Zinfandel, and Petite Petit — a nice nod to local Lodi producers worth acknowledging. The Napa contingent is pure crowd appeal: Caymus and The Prisoner show up exactly where you'd expect them to. What's missing is anything remotely adventurous — no Rhône-style blends, no Grenache, no skin-contact wines, nothing that wanders off the well-worn path.
Twenty-four by-the-glass options is genuinely impressive for a Lincoln Center neighborhood spot, and the spread actually covers whites, reds, rosé, and bubbly with reasonable depth. Quality skews toward the recognizable — Rombauer, Sonoma-Cutrer, Merry Edwards — so the familiar names carry this section. Rotation isn't advertised, but the list has enough range that most tables will find something worth drinking.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay — $12/glass
Sonoma-Cutrer's Russian River Ranches is a genuine step up from generic restaurant Chardonnay — restrained, apple-driven, and clean — and at $12 a glass it's priced where it should be. This is the move if you want something that drinks above its ask without committing to a bottle.
Michael David Inkblot Cabernet Franc, Lodi
Most people at this table are ordering Caymus on autopilot, which means the Inkblot Cab Franc gets ignored. That's a mistake. Lodi Cab Franc from Michael David is earthy, a little herbaceous, and genuinely interesting by the standards of this list — exactly the kind of thing that makes you look smart at dinner.
Caymus Cabernet, Napa Valley
Caymus is a fine wine that has been marked up into mythology at restaurants nationwide, and Midgley's is no exception. You're paying a Napa premium for a brand that has scaled aggressively — the juice in the glass doesn't justify what you'll pay versus the Austin Hope next to it on the list.
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, Russian River + Steaks
Merry Edwards Russian River Pinot has the structure to stand up to a seared steak without bulldozing it — the acidity does the lifting that tannins would in a heavier red, keeping the beef front and center. It's a slightly unexpected call at a steakhouse table, which is exactly why it works.
Daily — Happy hour every day from 3 PM to 6 PM with half off house wine in the bar, along with half off appetizers and draft beer.
The Bottom Line
Midgley's isn't trying to win any wine awards, and it doesn't need to — the daily happy hour pricing and a 24-glass pour lineup make this an easy yes for the Stockton dinner crowd. Send a friend here for a reliable Wednesday night out, not a wine pilgrimage.
East / North Stockton · Stockton · Italian Chain
This is the wine list equivalent of the Never Ending Pasta Bowl — familiar, functional, and not trying to be anything more than it is. If you're here for the food and want something reasonable to drink with it, the Ruffino Chianti does the job; just don't expect the wine to be the reason you came.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
March Lane / I-5 corridor · Stockton · Casual chain seafood and American
Red Lobster Stockton's wine list is functional the way a gas station umbrella is functional — it'll get the job done in a pinch, but you're not proud of it. Come for the biscuits, stay for the beer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront / Weber Point area · Stockton · Japanese / Sushi
Misaki is a fine spot for a Dragon Roll and a cold drink, but the wine list is on autopilot — low effort, predictable, and priced a little too confidently for what it delivers. Order the sake, order the sashimi, and save the serious wine drinking for elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lincoln Center · Stockton · Continental with Mediterranean and Greek flair
Papapavlo's is a solid neighborhood restaurant that happens to serve wine rather than a wine destination that happens to serve food. Come for the lamb chops and the patio; order the Rombauer or the Klinker Brick Zin and you'll have a genuinely good evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sherwood Mall / North Stockton · Stockton · American / Brewhouse
BJ's is a great brewhouse that happens to have wine on the menu as an afterthought, and that's fine — just order the beer. If wine is non-negotiable, show up on a Tuesday and keep your expectations calibrated to the surroundings.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Brookside / Ben Holt · Stockton · Italian / New American
Mezzo isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the work to be a reliable one — solid California producers, a smart sparkling section, and prices that won't ruin the night. Send your friends here knowing the wine won't let them down.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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