Solid Sips on the Hilo Waterfront
Downtown Hilo · Hilo · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Cafe Pesto’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cafe Pesto is short and familiar — you've seen these names before, probably at your local grocery store. That's not a knockout, but in downtown Hilo, it's also not a crime. Prices stay reasonable, and nothing here is going to embarrass you at the table.
The list runs 20-35 bottles leaning on Italian, California, and New Zealand producers — a logical enough lineup for a restaurant doing wood-fired pizzas and fresh catch. Santa Margherita and Kim Crawford are crowd-pleasing workhorses, not deep cuts, and there's no real regional adventure happening here. The Italian angle feels like a missed opportunity — a few more southern Italian or Sicilian options would actually complement the food better than a parade of Pinot Grigio. What you get is a list built for low friction, not discovery.
Six pours by the glass at $10-$15 is a reasonable spread for a spot like this — enough to cover the table without overthinking it. The selection mirrors the bottle list: approachable, predictable, nothing that'll make you lean in and ask questions. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — $13
At the lower end of the glass price range, Kim Crawford is a known quantity — bright, citrusy, and actually well-suited to the fresh catch of the day. You know what you're getting, and that's not always a bad thing when you're watching the boats roll in.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Most people bypass Meiomi as a supermarket brand, and they're not wrong — but the rich, fruit-forward profile actually holds up against the heavier pasta specials and wood-fired pizzas. It's not subtle, but it works on this menu more than you'd expect.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is one of the most marked-up wines in restaurants across the country, and it rarely delivers enough to justify the premium over cheaper Pinot Grigios. You're paying for the name recognition here, not for what's in the glass.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Fresh Catch of the Day
The high acidity and citrus edge of the Sauvignon Blanc cuts through whatever preparation the kitchen throws at the day's fish — whether it's a light butter sauce or something with a little island heat. It's the most food-friendly option on the glass list.
The Bottom Line
Cafe Pesto isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair one — reasonable prices, an approachable list, and enough to keep the table happy while you focus on the view and the pizza. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to keep it simple on the wine.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Hilo Bay Cafe isn't a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely thoughtful one for where it sits — geographically and price-wise. Send a friend here if they want a solid pour with their fish without getting taken for a ride.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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La Tavola deserves a real wine list — the food and the room both demand one. Right now, five bottles with no reds and no whites is a disservice to a kitchen that's clearly cooking at a higher level than the wine program suggests. Order the Ca' Del Bosco if you're drinking wine, and hope they overhaul this list before your next visit.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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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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