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Hawaii is an idyllic place that is known for its sunshine, beaches, and serenity. It is a US state located in the Pacific Ocean approximately two thousand miles from the US mainland. The state is famous for its coastline and volcanoes as well as its rich ancient history of the state.

Just like any other state, Hawaii has many wineries that produce wine locally. This has led to many wine festivals cropping up across the state.

In this article, we are going to look at our top picks of wine festivals in Hawaii and let you know what you can expect while attending.

List of the Top Wine Festivals in Hawaii

Kapalua Wine & Food Festival
Twelfth Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Professional Women’s Network Fall Mixer
Wine, Cheese, Chocolate & More!

Deeper Look at the 4 Top Wine Festivals in Hawaii

1. Kapalua Wine & Food Festival

Location: The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. 1 Ritz Carlton Dr, Kapalua, Hawaii 96761
Date: June 8, 2023 – June 11, 2023
Time: 11:00 on Day 1 until 20:00 on Day 4
Tickets: $100 – $325

The 2022 Kapalua Wine & Food Festival hosted several events over four days. Thursday began with a Food and Wine Pairing Luncheon that saw visitors enjoying a 5-course meal that was perfectly curated and paired with wines from the winemaker “The Rodfather” Rod Berglund.

At 18:15, the reception for the Hartford Court Winery Winemaker Dinner began where Jeff Stewart, a renowned winemaker, showcased a variety of wines from Hartford that were paired with a fine dining experience. Another option that evening was An Evening with Winemaker Fred Scherrer.

Friday had three main events starting with Taste Like a Master hosted by Michael Jordan, a sommelier, who took visitors through a blind tasting.

Next was the West Coast is the Best Coast event where three winemakers took visitors through selected wines from the West Coast’s wine regions. Finally, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua Winemaker Dinner occurred where five winemakers gave visitors a once-in-a-lifetime wine tasting experience.

Saturday boasted two tasting seminars, Brotherhood of Eternal Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Originals where several wines made in the region were showcased.

A Walkabout Tasting Gala occurred that evening where a wide menu was available for visitors to enjoy and boasted panoramic vistas and signature wines from Peju Winery.

The final day of the festival allowed visitors to experience an Aloha Brunch at 11:00 with Champagne and Rosé as the featured beverages and a Wine Down with Hors d’oeuvre and appetizers paired with wine and cocktails.

2. Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival

Location: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. 2424 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Date: October 21, 2022 – November 6, 2022
Time: 10:00 on October 21 to 18:00 on November 6
Tickets: $300 to $400

The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival hosts more than 150 internationally known master chefs, winemakers, mixologists, and culinary professionals.

The program is run by the nonprofit, Hawaii Ag and Culinary Alliance whose mission is to attract attention, both nationally and internationally, to the culinary expertise and diversity local to Hawaii.

In recent years, the event has expanded from three days with 30 chefs to 20 events with 10 thousand attendees and 120 chefs. Over $3 million has been donated from the festival to community organizations that support agriculture, culinary programs, and sustainability.

The first event is the 25^th Annual Roy Yamaguchi Golf Classic in Maui, followed by the Big Bold & Beautiful the following day. This event sees visitors enjoying fine wines and wine tasting paired with culinary “heavy hitters”.

October 23^rd will see visitors enjoying the Stars, Beards & Diamonds event where a five-course meal is paired with wine pairings from Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Hawaii.

Bourbon, Brews & BBQ will occur on the Island of Hawaii from 18:00 to 21:00 on October 28^th with Cuisines of the Sun occurring the following day at the CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection. This event will showcase cooking styles from across the globe with a five-course meal and fine wines.

Various other events are available for the remaining nine days that will boast rich wines, fine cuisine, and an enjoyable experience for visitors.

3. Professional Women’s Network Fall Mixer with Wine Tasting, Pupu, Jazz

Location: Bottleheads, 315 Uluniu Street, ##102, Kailua, Hawaii 96734
Date: Sunday, October 23^rd
Time: 18:30 to 21:00
Tickets: $50 to $165

The Fall Mixer is an ideal event for men and women over 21 years of age to network while enjoying music, wine tasting, and food.

The event is a fundraiser for the Professional Women’s Network to raise money for the network while providing a night of entertainment for visitors.

A Live Auction will occur where visitors will stand to win a host of prizes. Sheila from Wrede of Wellness Becomes You will provide Pupu including vegan and meat options for a meal choice for visitors.

This can be enjoyed while listening to Little Jazz with the DragonFly Duo who will provide music to create a fun and festive ambiance for the evening.

Wine tastings will occur from 18:30 to 21:00 and will allow visitors to try a variety of wines. If there is a wine that they like, there is an option to buy a bottle on the way home which will be provided by the Bottleheads Wine Bar.

4. Wine, Cheese, Chocolate & More!

Location: Hilo Yacht Club, 77 Laehala Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Date: Sunday, November 6^th, 2022
Time: 16:00 to 19:00
Tickets: $150

Wine, Cheese, Chocolate & More is an event run by the Hilo Medical Center Foundation. The annual wine event is a fundraiser to generate funding for the foundation. Pupu will be available for the food option which will pair well with the superior cheeses available for tasting.

Beverages will be served as fine wines with distinct flavors and aromas and cold beer which is sure to provide an option for all taste palates.

Local ingredients are used in the making of the food, ensuring that the foundation continues to support local sources.

Live and silent auctions will occur throughout the evening, giving visitors the chance to win something from a range of prizes available. Physician waiters will serve visitors appetizers and refreshments during the evening.