Solid pours in a lively Midtown hangout
Midtown · Sacramento · New American, seasonal Californian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Hook & Ladder, the wine list isn't the star of the show — the vibe, the wood-fired smells, and the buzz of a packed Midtown room are. But flip past the cocktails and you'll find a small, quietly interesting by-the-glass lineup that punches a bit above the room's casual energy.
The list is lean — we're not talking a deep cellar here — but whoever curated those by-the-glass pours clearly has a personality. A Basque Txakolina rosé, a Crémant de Limoux, and a Loire Chenin Blanc on the same card as California crowd-pleasers? That's deliberate. The regional spread nods at Spain, France, and California without feeling like a geography lesson, and the producers chosen (Ulacia, J. Laurens, Balleto) are legitimate, not filler. The gap is depth: there's no bottle list intel to speak of, so if your table wants to dig into a second bottle or trade up, options may be limited.
Five pours covering sparkling, white, and red with glass prices running $10 to $15 — reasonable for a Midtown Sacramento restaurant in 2024. The range is tighter than we'd like, but the quality-to-price ratio on a few of these makes the short count worth forgiving. No visible rotation program, which keeps things predictable but not adventurous.
J. Laurens Crémant de Limoux Brut NV — $10
A $10 glass of actual French sparkling wine with real structure and a clean finish. Retail is $18 a bottle, so you're paying a fair restaurant premium and getting something that tastes way more expensive than a sawbuck.
Ulacia Txakolina Rosé NV
Most people at this table are going to default to California Pinot or Chardonnay and miss this completely. Txakolina is briny, low-alcohol, and bracingly fresh — it's the kind of wine that makes the rest of the table ask 'wait, what is that?' Worth the $13.
California Chardonnay (by the glass)
At $11 for a mid-tier California Chardonnay with a 155% markup — the steepest on the list — this is the least interesting pour at the worst value. With the Crémant sitting right next to it for $10, there's no reason to default here.
St. Rey Chenin Blanc NV + Seasonal pasta
Chenin Blanc's natural acidity and slight textural weight cut through a cream-based pasta without overwhelming it, while its fruit stays bright enough to complement lighter vegetable or herb-driven preparations. It's a flexible, food-friendly pour that earns its $10 price tag.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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