Riverfront bubbles and classics, no surprises
Downtown · Sacramento · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Scott's Seafood – Downtown’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 Scott's Seafood reads exactly like the restaurant looks — upscale-ish, riverfront, reliable. It leans hard into sparkling and California whites, which is the right instinct for a seafood spot, but there's not much here that makes you put down your fork and actually pay attention.
The list covers the expected bases: California, France, Italy, with a sparkling section that punches above its weight given the rest of the list. You've got Zonin Prosecco at the entry level all the way up to a 2016 Louis Roederer Cristal and Dom Pérignon for the special occasion crowd. The problem is the middle — the everyday drinking range feels thin and underdeveloped, with no real exploration of what's happening in Burgundy, the Loire, or even domestic producers outside Napa. For a riverfront seafood restaurant with $30-$50 entrees, we'd expect more interesting pours to anchor the meal.
Glass pours run $8.25 to $16.25, which is a reasonable spread but not particularly exciting. The by-the-glass program isn't publicly detailed beyond the price range, and given the list skews safe, we wouldn't expect much rotation or adventurous pours. You're likely looking at the usual California suspects — Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, maybe a Pinot Noir — without much to get excited about.
2021 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs — $33+
Schramsberg is one of California's best sparkling producers, and the Blanc de Blancs is a genuinely sharp wine — crisp, toasty, and built for seafood. Relative to the Champagne options on this list, it's the move that keeps money in your pocket without sacrificing quality.
Mumm Napa Brut Rosé
Most people walk past Napa sparkling rosé on a restaurant list, but Mumm Napa punches well for its price and brings enough red fruit brightness to cut through richer seafood dishes. It's not the flashiest bottle on the table, but it earns its spot.
Dom Pérignon
Dom Pérignon on a restaurant list at a mid-tier Sacramento seafood spot means you're paying a serious premium for a label more than a carefully sourced vintage. Unless you're celebrating something that genuinely warrants it, the 2016 Cristal or Schramsberg give you a better story for less money.
2021 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs + Macadamia Nut Crusted Halibut
The Schramsberg's bright acidity and fine bubbles cut right through the richness of the macadamia crust while letting the halibut's delicate flavor stay in the conversation. It's the kind of pairing that doesn't need explaining — it just works.
The Bottom Line
Scott's Seafood is a safe, solid choice for a riverfront dinner where you want to pop some bubbles without thinking too hard — just don't come here expecting the wine list to match the view. Stick to the sparkling section and you'll leave happy.
Midtown · Sacramento · Cocktail Bar / Irish-Influenced Bar with Snacks
The Snug is a cocktail bar first and a wine destination never — but for what it is, the wine list is shockingly well-curated and worth exploring if you're the one at the table who doesn't want a Negroni. Don't come here for a deep wine night; do come here knowing the glass of Gamay you order between cocktails will be better than it has any right to be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Midtown · Sacramento · New American, seasonal farm-to-table
Mulvaney's is doing something genuinely unusual for Sacramento: serious grower Champagne and left-field regional picks in a converted firehouse that doesn't take itself too seriously. If you eat here and order the house red without looking at this list, that's on you.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Midtown · Sacramento · New American, seasonal Californian
Hook & Ladder isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than most casual Midtown spots bother to do — a few smart pours at fair prices go a long way. Come for the food and the room, stay for the Crémant.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Sacramento · Southern / Farm-to-Table
The Porch isn't a wine destination, but it's a restaurant where you can order confidently from the wine list without getting burned — and in Midtown Sacramento, that's not nothing. Send your friends here knowing they'll drink well without overpaying.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Dorado Hills (Greater Sacramento) · Sacramento · California comfort food / cafe
Selland's El Dorado Hills isn't a destination wine stop, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood option — a short list curated with more care than the counter-service format would suggest. Send a friend here if they want something decent with dinner; don't send them here if wine is the whole point of the night.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Land Park / Broadway · Sacramento · California comfort food / cafe
Selland's Broadway is the rare fast-casual spot where the wine list has an actual opinion, not just SKUs. If you're in the neighborhood on a Monday, the half-price wine special makes it a no-brainer — show up, order a pizza, drink something you'd normally only find at a dedicated wine bar.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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