California's Greatest Hits, Poured Daily
Lincoln Center · Stockton · California Cuisine / American-Fusion Small Plates and Steaks · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026
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.
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