Unique, limited production wines do make it all the way out to Maui!
Looking for Good Wine on Maui?
Although Maui does not come to mind when thinking about wine destinations like Napa or Tuscany, it is a beautiful place to vacation. Once you vacation here, it is easy to start thinking about buying a home here. So if you are a wine lover and decide to make this move, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to forego good wine while you are here. As a certified sommelier, I will tell you my favorite spots to enjoy some good juice.
Sunset view from Merriman’s Kapalua.
Here Are My 5 Favorite Restaurants to Get Good Wine on Maui:
1. Merriman’s Kapalua
This award-winning restaurant is hands down one of the best restaurants on the island. Located on a point overlooking Kapalua Bay, the view is breathtaking. The wine list boasts 30 pages of wines from regions around the world, with emphasis on small grower-producers and labels you are less likely to see at other establishments. And with such a great team, there’s always someone there to help guide you with your selections. Combine this with delicious food and live music, and you have a memorable evening in front of you.
Lamb chops and Rioja at Merriman’s, yes please!
2. Lahaina Grill
Another award-winning restaurant of excellent caliber. This restaurant is located in Lahaina town off Front Street, so you replace the view with a white linen, dinner-house atmosphere. Thus making it a great way to spend a night out on the town. Their wine program continuously provides wines of the utmost quality, and their wine list lends itself beautifully to their rich, upscale, bistro-inspired dishes.
3. Mala Tavern
This quaint oceanfront restaurant has been a West Maui favorite for years. With views of Lanai and Mala Wharf, it’s hard not to enjoy your oyster shooter while sipping on a refreshingly crisp white wine. It is a smaller restaurant with a smaller wine list, but they make sure to have plenty of variety. The wines are perfectly catered to match their Pacific Rim and Mediterranean-inspired menu. In addition, they have live music for happy hour and are open breakfast and lunch too.
A delicious happy hour…wine and oyster shooters.
4. Matteo’s Osteria
A lovely Italian bistro tucked away in a small shopping center in Wailea (there happens to be a killer wine shop a few doors down!). The food and pleasant atmosphere make you feel like you are on an Italian getaway, and who doesn’t love that? Their wine list boasts more Italian wines than you will find on any menu on the island. There are also some really intriguing older vintage bottles available.
Matteo’s bar is a good place to enjoy wine on Maui.
5. Monkeypod Kitchen Kaanapali & Wailea
Located in Whaler’s Village Kaanapali and in Wailea Gateway Center. These fun, vibrant eateries are great for families. There is usually live music at some point each day, and the bar is always a hot spot. The wine list is just a few pages, but there are a lot of fun wines, including some obscure varietals and regions thrown in there. Along with an eclectic wine list, they have a great bar program (home of the famous Monkeypod Mai Tai – yes, the same as the famous Merriman’s Mai Tai).
The not so commonly found Txakolina Rose offered by the glass at Monkeypod.
Now that you know a few of my favorite establishments to enjoy good wine on Maui, you are better equipped to make your vacation destination a more permanent destination. And you can read about one of my favorite West Maui neighborhoods here! So please contact us if you are interested in buying a home on Maui or have any questions about the local Maui real estate market.
David Arredondo
May 6, 2021
And the best wine selection I have found at a store, is at the Honolua store in Kapalua by the Ritz
Natalie Yrizarry
May 9, 2021
> Thanks for your input David! I agree, they do have a good wine selection, especially since they are primarily a convenience store and deli. It’s nice that they have an entire room dedicated to wine. I will write another post about my favorite stores to buy wine soon.