Solid Midtown Bistro, But Bring Your Wallet
Midtown · Sacramento · Seasonal New American with Northern Italian and Southern French influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Waterboy's wine list arrives looking the part — structured, thoughtful, clearly assembled by someone who knows the menu. The Old World leanings toward Piedmont, Provence, and the Rhône make sense alongside the kitchen's Northern Italian and Southern French DNA. But flip to the prices and that warm feeling cools off fast.
The list earns points for coherence — Italian and Southern French selections anchor the backbone, with California producers filling out the domestic side. Names like Bedrock Wine Co., Ramey, and Margerum show real curation, not just distributor defaults. There's a promising Austrian corner with the Loimer Grüner Veltliner and a nod to New Zealand via Craggy Range, which signals a list-maker who actually travels beyond the usual suspects. The gaps are real though: no obvious deep Burgundy bench, and the Champagne options lean heavily on big-house names at steep premiums.
The by-the-glass program shows flashes of personality — spotting a Schloss Vollrads Riesling on the pour list at a Sacramento neighborhood bistro is genuinely worth a double take. Full glass program counts aren't published, which is frustrating, but that Riesling alone tells you someone gave a damn when building it. Rotation cadence is unclear; this feels more like a set list than a living program.
Loimer Grüner Veltliner Lois 2022 — $42
Retails around $18, so yes, the markup stings like everything else here — but at $42 it's still one of the more approachable bottles on the list, and Grüner's bright acidity and white pepper kick are tailor-made for the lighter fish and chicken dishes coming out of this kitchen.
Schloss Vollrads Riesling 2019
A Rheingau Riesling by the glass at a Capitol Avenue bistro? Most tables are going to blow right past this and order the Chardonnay. Don't. Vollrads has been making wine since the 1300s and this pour brings real mineral tension and restrained fruit that cuts through rich preparations in a way the California whites simply can't.
Château de Trinquevedel Tavel Rosé 2022
At $58 for a bottle that retails at $23, this is the steepest markup on the list — 152% over retail. Tavel is great, and Trinquevedel is a solid producer, but you're paying nearly $35 above what a good wine shop charges. This one's carrying the restaurant's overhead on its back.
Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel Sonoma Valley 2021 + Steak frites
Bedrock's Old Vine Zin brings serious savory depth and enough structure to stand up to a properly seared steak, while the wine's dark fruit and subtle spice echo the fat and char of the frites. It's a California-proud combination that actually makes sense on this menu.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Waterboy is a genuinely good neighborhood restaurant with a wine list that respects the cuisine — the Old World backbone fits the kitchen, and the occasional left-field pick (hello, Vollrads Riesling) shows someone's paying attention. The markups are consistently steep across the board though, so calibrate your budget before you start pointing at bottles.
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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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
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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.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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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
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